To file a complaint, or learn about grievance complaints against a Maine attorney, visit the Board of Overseers website. You may also download a grievance complaint form here. Maine State Bar Association does not have authority over attorney conduct, licensing, or fee disputes. If you wish to file a complaint, you must contact the Board of Overseers.
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Maine State Bar Association does not have authority over attorney conduct, licensing, or fee disputes. If you wish to file a complaint, you must contact the Board of Overseers. Get a referral and up to 30 minutes’ consult with a qualified, local lawyer for $25
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.
The Maine Bar Rules require that all attorneys admitted to practice in this State shall submit, upon the request of the client, to the resolution of any fee dispute in accordance with Rule 9. If you have a dispute about a lawyer’s fee, you may ask that your dispute be resolved by the Board of Overseers of the Bar’s Fee Arbitration process.
Contact the Maine Lemon Law Arbitration Program at lemon.law@maine.gov or call the consumer hotline number above.
The professional conduct of every lawyer practicing law in the State of Maine is governed by the Maine Rules of Professional Conduct and the Maine Bar Rules as promulgated by the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. The Board of Overseers of the Bar was created by the Court in 1978. The Board consists of six lawyers and three lay members (non-lawyer members of the public). The Board appoints members to three commissions established by the Bar Rules: the Fee Arbitration Commission, the Grievance Commission, and the Professional Ethics Commission. All members of the Board and its commissions serve as volunteers.
The Maine Bar Rules require that all attorneys admitted to practice in this State shall submit, upon the request of the client, to the resolution of any fee dispute in accordance with Rule 9. If you have a dispute about a lawyer’s fee, you may ask that your dispute be resolved by the Board of Overseers of the Bar’s Fee Arbitration process.
The Board of Overseers of the Bar was created by the Court in 1978. The Board consists of six lawyers and three lay members (non-lawyer members of the public). The Board appoints members to three commissions established by the Bar Rules: the Fee Arbitration Commission, the Grievance Commission, and the Professional Ethics Commission.
The profession does not need those who feel they must resort to deception to conduct their practice. A lawyer represents one party to a transaction while also the attorney for the other side.
An honest disagreement about how a case should be handled — or should have been handled — does not constitute unethical conduct, even if the outcome of the case is disappointing. A mistake does not necessarily constitute unethical conduct either. If a mistake causes a loss, the client may be able to recover the loss in a civil suit against ...
But a simple mistake or error in judgment by itself is not unethical conduct. There are situations that a client may find most annoying, but that do not constitute unethical conduct.
Allegations that a lawyer was rude, used bad language, or failed to pay a bill cannot generally be investigated by the disciplinary system. While it is impossible to list all of the acts or omissions which may constitute unethical conduct, here are a few examples of prohibited conduct which, if proven, may be cause for discipline.
Our consumer hotline accepts calls between 9 am - 12 noon and 1 pm - 4 pm, Monday – Friday.
Attorney General's Consumer Information and Mediation Service 6 State House Station Augusta, Maine 04333
Maine's Lemon Law applies to new vehicles in for repair before reaching 18,000 miles. The vehicle must still be covered by the manufacturer's warranty and be less than 3 years old. Contact the Maine Lemon Law Arbitration Program at lemon.law@maine.gov or call the consumer hotline number above.
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:
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.
Some examples of attorney practices that violates the Rules include: Serious neglect of your case. Failure to provide an accounting of your money ...
In most states, you can file your complaint by mailing in a state-issued complaint form or a letter with the lawyer's name and contact information, your contact information, a description of the problem, and copies of relevant documents. In some states, you may be able to lodge your complaint over the phone or online.
If there's no evidence of a violation, the board will dismiss the case and notify you. If the violation is minor, a phone call or letter to the lawyer usually ends the matter.
When a client fires a lawyer and asks for the file, the lawyer must promptly return it. In some states, such as California, the lawyer must return the file even if attorneys’ fees haven’t been paid in full. Lawyer incompetence. Lawyers must have the knowledge and experience to competently handle any case that they take on.
State Disciplinary Boards. Each state has a disciplinary board that enforces state ethics rules for lawyers. The board is usually an arm of the state’s supreme court and has authority to interpret ethics rules, investigate potential violations, conduct evidentiary hearings, and administer attorney discipline.
Lawyers are given a lot of responsibility and often deal with serious matters, from criminal charges to child custody to tax and other financial matters. When you hire a lawyer, you are trusting him or her to represent your interests in the best manner possible. To protect the public—and the integrity of the legal profession—each state has its own code of ethics that lawyers must follow. These are usually called the “rules of professional conduct.”
Lawyer incompetence. Lawyers must have the knowledge and experience to competently handle any case that they take on. They must also be sufficiently prepared to handle matters that come up in your case, from settlement negotiations to trial. Conflicts of interest.
issue a private reprimand (usually a letter sent to the lawyer) issue a public reprimand (usually published in the agency’s official reports and a local legal journal or newspaper ) suspend the lawyer (the lawyer cannot practice law for a specific time) disbar the lawyer (the lawyer loses his or her license to practice law), and/or.
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.
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.
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.
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.