how do i file a complaint against a lawyer in tennessee

To bring a disciplinary proceeding against an attorney in the state, the Tennessee Supreme Court

requires that you first file a Memorandum of Complaint with the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Tennessee Supreme Court that includes your name, the name of the attorney and a description of the facts leading to the complaint.

Full Answer

How do I file a complaint against a judge in Tennessee?

To file a complaint, you must fill out a complaint form. The form must be typed or legibly hand-printed, dated and signed. Once you have completed the form, mail it to the following address: TENNESSEE BOARD OF JUDICIAL CONDUCT. Attn: Marshall L. Davidson III.

How do I file a complaint against an attorney?

Some states rely on their state bar associations to discipline their attorneys. You can find out where to send attorney complaints by looking at your state court system's website. If they review complaints against attorneys, there will be a link with instructions on how to file.

Are consumer complaints subject to the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs?

Yes, all consumer complaints submitted to the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs are subject to the Public Records Act, T.C.A. Title 10, Chapter 7. Who can file a complaint with the Division of Consumer Affairs? What should I do before filing a complaint? If you have a consumer complaint, contact the business first. Try talking to a manager.

How do I submit a complaint about an ethical violation?

For alleged ethical violations of a serious nature, check, "I am submitting this form as a formal complaint." For concerns which do not rise to the level of serious ethical violations, check, "I am submitting this form as an informal request for assistance." CLICK HERE to print a blank copy of the complaint form.

What is the most common complaint against lawyers?

Perhaps the most common kinds of complaints against lawyers involve delay or neglect. This doesn't mean that occasionally you've had to wait for a phone call to be returned. It means there has been a pattern of the lawyer's failing to respond or to take action over a period of months.

How do I file a complaint with the Tennessee attorney General?

For more consumer resources, or to file a complaint, visit the DCA website at tn.gov/consumer or contact us at 800-342-8385 or consumer.affairs@ag.tn.gov.

What is legal complaint process?

Your complaint is assessed by senior staff at the OLSC and an initial assessment is made as to whether it is a consumer matter or a complaint that raises issues of unsatisfactory professional conduct or professional misconduct. After an initial assessment has been made, an acknowledgment letter will be sent to you.

How do I file a complaint against Tennessee?

Consumer ComplaintCall 1-800-778-4215 to receive a consumer complaint form.Consumer Complaint Form (PDF version of complaint form)Request a form via e-mail at tdfi.consumerresources@tn.gov.Mail a completed consumer complaint form to: Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions. Tennessee Tower 26th Floor.

Does filing a complaint with the FTC do anything?

The FTC cannot resolve individual complaints, but it can provide information about what steps to take. The FTC says that complaints can help it and its law enforcement partners detect patterns of fraud and abuse, which may lead to investigations and stopping unfair business practices.

What is the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act?

What Is the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act? The Tennessee Consumer Protection Act of 1977 was passed for the purpose of protecting consumers and businesses from unfair and deceptive acts or practices in trade or commerce by providing civil legal means to ensure ethical dealings between businesses and consumers.

What is the professional misconduct?

Professional misconduct means dereliction of duty relating to Legal profession. Under S. 35 of the Advocates Act, An Advocate is punishable not only for professional misconduct but also for other misconduct. Other misconduct means a misconduct not directly connected with the legal profession.

What are two rights that must be upheld when managing complaints?

Confidentiality – personal information related to complaints is kept confidential. 7. Remedy – if a complaint is upheld, the organisation provides a remedy. 8.

What are the stages of the complaint process?

The complaints procedure has two stages:Stage 1 – trying to sort things out with the local service.Stage 2 – getting someone else to look into your complaint.

How do I file a civil lawsuit in Tennessee?

How to File a General Sessions/Small Claims Lawsuit in TennesseeGet a Civil Warrant. ... Complete the Warrant. ... File and Serve the Warrant. ... Know Your Court Date. ... Prepare Your Evidence. ... Going to Court. ... Presenting Your Case. ... Judge's Rulings.

How do I complain about overcharging?

Helpline number: You can dial the helpline number 1800-11-4000 or 1800-11-14404, to inform the authority any day between 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM except the National Holidays. Send an SMS: You can also register the complaint by sending an SMS to 81300 09809.

How do I file a complaint against a local government?

Contact the law enforcement agency involved. Submit your complaint in writing to the chief of police or the head of the law enforcement agency involved. Send a copy of your complaint to the Internal Affairs Division of the law enforcement agency. Be sure to keep a copy for yourself.

Why do lawyers lose trust?

A lawyer may lose the trust and confidence of a client for various reasons. In some cases this may result from unethical conduct. In other cases, grounds for discipline may not exist because the lawyer may not have violated the Rules of Professional Conduct. Disciplining a lawyer requires evidence - proof of misconduct - to justify disciplinary ...

What happens if an attorney violates the Rules of Professional Conduct?

Attorneys who violate the Rules of Professional Conduct are subject to discipline, which could mean suspension of the right to practice law, or even disbarment. All lawyers, however, are not of equal abilities.

Does a mistake alone constitute misconduct?

An honest disagreement about how a case should have been handled does not constitute misconduct, even if the outcome of the case is disappointing. A mistake alone does not constitute misconduct. Like all others, lawyers make mistakes.

How to file a complaint against an attorney in Tennessee?

To bring a disciplinary proceeding against an attorney in the state, the Tennessee Supreme Court requires that you first file a Memorandum of Complaint with the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Tennessee Supreme Court that includes your name, the name of the attorney and a description of the fact s leading to the complaint. You should also provide any paperwork that supports your complaint. If, for example, you have alleged that your attorney missed several important filing deadlines, include relevant judicial orders and state or local rules that set out the limits for filing lawsuits.

What are the rules of attorney ethics in Tennessee?

Attorneys' Ethics Violations. All lawyers who practice in Tennessee must abide by the Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct, which govern the client-lawyer relationship. These rules require attorneys to generally act with diligence and competence. For example, an attorney must not miss important deadlines, which would put a client's case at risk.

What is the purpose of discipline in a lawyer?

The main purpose of discipline is to correct the lawyer's wrongdoings. To warrant discipline, the lawyer must have engaged in professional misconduct; merely making a mistake, ...

What is Christina Whitaker's degree?

Christina Whitaker began her writing career in 2005 in newspaper journalism. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from UCLA and a law degree. Her legal experience includes work in Federal Court, and civil and criminal litigation. She also maintains a blog on social, pop-culture and cultural matters.

Can a hearing committee recommend discipline?

The hearing committee can recommend discipline, but the entire board renders the final decision based upon the hearing committee's findings. Attorneys who have been disciplined by the board can appeal to the Tennessee Supreme Court.

Can a lawyer disclose client information without permission?

He must also properly disclose fees to clients and maintain client funds in a properly designated account. Under the rules, lawyers may not divulge confidential client information without permission, or take on work that creates a conflict of interest with another client.

What happens if a complaint does not include specific facts?

If the complaint does not include specific facts which establish judicial misconduct, the investigative panel will dismiss the complaint and notify you and the judge of the dismissal. If the complaint contains information about a judge that sets out facts which, if true, indicate judicial misconduct, the disciplinary counsel will conduct ...

What to do if you believe a judge has violated the Code of Judicial Conduct?

If you believe a judge has violated the Code of Judicial Conduct, you may file a complaint with the Board of Judicial Conduct . Before filing a complaint, please review the Frequently Asked Questions for more information about the complaint process and what the Board of Judicial Conduct may consider. To file a complaint, you must fill out ...

What is the phone number of the Board of Judicial Conduct?

Phone: (615) 564-0425. Phone: (615) 922-0122. By law, all matters that come before the Board of Judicial Conduct are confidential and privileged unless formal charges are filed against the judge.

What is an anonymous complaint?

Anonymous complaints containing advertisements or other independent proof of a violation will be opened as complaint cases and processed according to the normal complaint procedures (independent proof is defined as proof which does not depend solely on the statement of the anonymous complaint).

What is the authority regarding complaints?

Authority Regarding Complaints. The boards and commissions were created to enforce their respective state licensing laws. Their power and authority exists only within the area authorized by the Tennessee Legislature. In order to protect the public welfare, only those who meet the requirements for licensure are licensed; furthermore, ...

What are some examples of independent proof?

Examples of independent proof are photographs, news articles, contracts, reports, advertisements, business cards, and other documentar y evidence. All other anonymous complaints will be subject to administrative closure without presentation to the board or commission.

Can a judge revoke a license?

In certain instances, a judge can revoke or suspend the license of the person against whom you are complaining, the Respondent. The boards and commissions may impose a civil penalty for unlicensed activity or refer the matter to a District Attorney for criminal prosecution.

What happens if a complaint is found to be true?

If the complaint is found to be true, the disciplinary board can fine the attorney, force the attorney to attend classes or perform community service, or take away the attorney's license. The disciplinary board typically does not give the person who complained about the attorney any money.

What is disciplinary action for an attorney?

For attorneys, a disciplinary action is very serious as it can directly affect their ability to earn a living. It may be best to first try and resolve any dispute you have with the attorney on your own.

What is the name of the board that handles complaints against lawyers?

In many states, a division of the courts handles these complaints. This is typically referred to as the disciplinary board . Some states rely on their state bar associations to discipline their attorneys.

Do lawyers make mistakes?

Most lawyers do their most to provide the best representation possible. However, every so often lawyers do not act properly or make serious mistakes, and in those cases their clients can file a complaint with the entity responsible for overseeing the practice of law in their state.

What are some examples of attorney practices that violate the Rules?

Some examples of attorney practices that violates the Rules include: Failure to provide an accounting of your money or property held by the attorney. Commingling your funds with the attorney's own money. Refusing to return your file at the conclusion of the representation.

What are some examples of attorney misconduct?

Some examples of attorney practices that violates the Rules include: Serious neglect of your case. Failure to provide an accounting of your money ...

What to do if you are unsure about an attorney?

If you are unsure whether your concerns with an attorney involve professional misconduct, in most states you can call or email the disciplinary office and discuss the matter prior to submitting a written complaint. Contact information for attorney regulatory authorities, by jurisdiction: