how to complain about a lawyer india

by Will Boyer V 6 min read

A complaint against an advocate has to be in the form of a petition. It has to be duly signed and verified as required under the Code of Civil Procedure. The complaint can be filed in English or in Hindi or in a regional language where the language has been declared to be a state language.

Full Answer

How to file a criminal complaint in India?

A detailed procedure for filing criminal complaints has been laid down in India, as per the Criminal Procedure Code. The following steps will clear any doubts you may have over filing a criminal complaint in India: In case you are the victim of a cognizable offence, the first step you would take is to approach the police.

How to file a complaint against an advocate in India?

A complaint against an advocate has to be in the form of a petition. It has to be duly signed and verified as required under the Code of Civil Procedure. Click here to see the Advocates Act, 1961 Click here to see Parts I, II and III of the Bar Council of India Rules

How to file a complaint against a lawyer?

People can file complaints against such lawyers under the following authorities: An individual can file a complaint against a lawyer in the following manner as the law varies from state to state in an initial manner under the state bar council.

Are lawyers in India more inclined towards conning people?

Since the incorporation of the Judiciary system in India, it has been seen and now it has become a very common practice that lawyers instead of helping out the people in getting justice, are more inclined towards conning people and extracting the handsome amount of money from them.

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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.

What to do if your lawyer is not doing his job in India?

In case of misconduct by a lawyer, you can approach the disciplinary committee of the State Bar Council or the Bar Council of India. You can refer to Section 35 of the Advocates Act, which lists malpractices.

What is professional misconduct of a lawyer?

The expression professional misconduct in the simple sense means improper conduct. In law profession misconduct means an act done willfully with a wrong intention by the people engaged in the profession. It means any activity or behaviour of an advocate in violation of professional ethics for his selfish ends.

What is the punishment of advocates for misconduct?

[5] In various cases involving contempt of court, the court held that if any advocate or legal practitioner is found guilty of the act of contempt of court, he/she may be imprisoned for six years and may be suspended from practicing as an advocate (In re Vinay Chandra Mishra).

Why do lawyers ignore you?

If your attorney is not experienced or efficient, they may have missed a deadline or made another mistake and aren't willing to confess their error. There could also be some bad news that is entirely outside of the attorney's control.

What should you not say to a lawyer?

Five things not to say to a lawyer (if you want them to take you..."The Judge is biased against me" Is it possible that the Judge is "biased" against you? ... "Everyone is out to get me" ... "It's the principle that counts" ... "I don't have the money to pay you" ... Waiting until after the fact.

Which is the correct example of misconduct of advocate?

One of the cases of misconduct involved taking the signatures on blank watermarked paper for defrauding a client. The committee found the advocate guilty of the act. A complainant had alleged that her lawyer took the money and still did not appear in the court for the proceedings due to which she lost the case.

Can a lawyer lie to his client?

The American Bar Association's Model Rules of Professional Conduct states that a lawyer “shall not knowingly make a false statement of material fact.” In other words, lawyers aren't supposed to lie--and they can be disciplined or even disbarred for doing so.

What are examples of professional misconduct?

Some examples are:Obtaining a license fraudulently.Practicing with negligence.Practicing with incompetence.Being a habitual user of alcohol or drugs.Being convicted of a crime.Refusing to care for a patient because of race, creed, color or national origin.More items...

What is Section 35 of Advocates Act?

(1) Where on receipt of a complaint or otherwise a State Bar Council has reason to believe that any advocate on its roll has been guilty of professional or other misconduct, it shall refer the case for disposal to its disciplinary committee.

Who has the power to punish advocate and under which section?

The Bar Council is empowered under Section 35 of the Advocates Act, 1961 to punish advocates for professional misconduct.

What is other misconduct under Advocates Act?

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 happens if a complaint is found to be in order?

On a complaint being found to be in order, it shall be registered and placed before the Bar Council for such order as it may deem fit to pass.

What is required to refer a complaint to the Bar Council?

Before referring a complaint for misconduct of an advocate to one of its Disciplinary Committees to be specified by it, the Bar Council may require a complainant to furnish further and better particulars or may call for comments from the advocate complained against, within a time to be fixed by it.

What happens when the bar council refers a complaint to a disciplinary committee?

Once the Bar Council has referred the complaint to a disciplinary committee, the Registrar should expeditiously send a notice to the advocate.

What is an appeal to the Bar Council of India?

Appeal to the Bar Council of India. An appeal to the Council from the State Bar Council shall be in the form of a memorandum in writing. If the appeal is in a language other than English, it shall be accompanied by a translation in English.

Where a State Bar Council makes a report, the Secretary of the State Bar Council shall send to the Secretary of?

Where a State Bar Council makes a report, the Secretary of the State Bar Council shall send to the Secretary of the Bar Council of India, all the records of the proceedings, along with the report.

Who can call a complainant to remove defects?

The Secretary of the Bar Council may require the complainant to pay the prescribed fees if the proper fee has not been paid. He can also call the complainant to remove any defects and call for the particulars or copies of the complaint or other documents as may be considered necessary.

Which section of the Limitation Act applies to this sub-rule?

The provisions of Section 5 of the Limitation Act, 1963 shall apply to this sub-rule.

Most Consulted General Legal Advocates

Choose from our most consulted lawyers across India and get instant legal advice.

Advocate Mukesh Nanda

Advocate Mukesh Nanda practices at District Court Amritsar. He is enrolled with the Bar Council of Punjab in 1993. He is member of the High Court Bar Association and the District Court Bar Association.

Advocate Suhasini S

Advocate Suhasini S practices at City Civil Court Bangalore, Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) Delhi, and Karnataka High Court. She enrolled with the Bar Council of Karnataka in 2013. She completed her Masters (L.L.M) from the National Law Institute University, Bhopal.

Advocate Aditya Parolia

Advocate Aditya is Master of Laws in Commercial and Financial Services Law from National University of Singapore (NUS). His academic qualifications also include courses from prestigious institutes like Hague Academy of International Law, International Court of Justice. He is a member of various international and national bar associations.

Advocate Amarinder singh

Advocate Amarinder Singh holds expertise in various field of civil laws, criminal laws, family law, consumer cases, company law, copyright, patents, trademarks, landlord/tenant matters, revenue related matters, arbitration matters, matrimonial related matters and drafting and vetting of various agreements and documents.

Advocate Piyush Singh

Piyush is the founding Partner of Delhi based law firm named PSP LEGAL. Presently, Piyush and PSP Legal are representing over 5000 home buyers against around 25 builders/developers at National Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission. Piyush started his law practice as a trainee with a London based law firm, Bowling Co.

Advocate Tapesh Agarwal

Advocate Tapesh Agarwal is a Jaipur based lawyer and has been practising law since 2007. He has been providing legal and advisory services as an independent lawyer. Advocate Tapesh Agarwal got enrolled with the Bar Council in the year 2007.

How long does it take to get a complaint in India?

The date, hour and place of the enquiry are fixed by the chairman of the disciplinary committee. The date of enquiry must not be later than 30 days from the receipt of the reference. The registrar gives the notice regarding the date and time of enquiry to the complainant, the concerned advocate and the Attorney General or the Additional Solicitor General of India in whose presence the case is to be decided.

What is a complaint in criminal law?

In other words, a complaint is an allegation made to a magistrate so that a lawsuit can be initiated. It is defined under Section 2 (d) of the Criminal Procedure Code (Cr. P. C.), 1973. A complaint can be filed with a Metropolitan Magistrate or equivalent court with an intention to request action on it.

What is the difference between a complaint and a FIR?

Though the First Information Report (FIR) serves a similar purpose under Section 154 of the CrPC, the only difference is that the FIR is filed for a cognizable offence (serious offences) which sets criminal law into motion whereas a complaint can be filed for both cognizable and non-cognizable offences. The non-cognizable offences are the offences that are less serious and require the police to issue a warrant for doing an investigation on the matter.

What is the first step taken in the case of professional misconduct?

As per Section 35 of The Advocates Act 1961, in case an advocate commits a professional misconduct then he is liable for punishment. One can file a complaint in the Bar Council of the particular state and if the disciplinary committee of the council finds the complaint to be genuine then proceedings are initiated against that advocate. So, for initiating the proceedings, a complaint is the first step taken as per the procedure mentioned below-

What happens after a complaint is filed under Section 35?

After filing a complaint under Section 35 of the Act, the advocate concerned is given equal opportunity of being heard. After the advocate is heard, the disciplinary committee of a State Bar Council under Section 35 (3) of the same Act may make any of the following orders-

What is required in a complaint?

The complaint must contain the details of the lawyer against whom the complaint is made as well as the personal details of the petitioner. The details regarding the name, address, phone number, enrollment number of the lawyer must be there. The complaint has to be duly signed and verified as required under the Civil Procedure Code (CPC), 1908.

How long does it take to appeal an order in India?

After an order is passed against an advocate, the Advocate-General of the State may prefer an appeal to the Bar Council of India within 60 days from the date of the communication of the order. The appeal to the Council shall be made in the form of a memorandum in writing. Later, the Registrar of the Bar Council of India shall issue a notice to the State Bar Council for the complete records to be sent to the Council.

Where to complain about a lawyer?

Any complaints regarding your lawyer should be addressed to your state’s bar association. Most will have a complaint form given on their website and guidance on how to fill it out.

How long does it take to appeal a bar order in India?

The appeal has to be filed against the order within 60 days from the date of order. The party should be given a reasonable opportunity to be heard in court.

What language is plaint written in?

The plaint is to be written in Hindi, English, or any other regional language of the state. It should be written as directed by the Bar Council of India to the state authority. The copy of its translation is to be submitted in English in the Bar Council of India.

What information is required to be included in a plaint?

The petitioner is also required to mention his details in the plaint. Such as the name, contact, email-id, address, and any other relevant detail of the person. It should be filled in case the authorities want to contact the person filing the complaint. Step 3.

What happens if the state bar finds evidence of an ethical violation?

If the State bar finds that there is any evidence of an ethical violation, then it will usually notify your lawyer. It will allow him to respond to the said allegations. He might submit documents and evidence to justify his actions. The complaint will be reviewed again, after the lawyer’s response is received.

Is there a conflict of interest in a complaint?

All complaints are reviewed by lawyers employed by the State bar hence, there is no conflict of interest. If the State bar finds that the complaint is not an ethical violation, the case will be closed.

Can a complaint be filed against a lawyer?

As the law varies from state to state in an initial manner complaint is filed under the state bar council. The aggrieved party can file a complaint against a lawyer in the state bar council in the following manner: A complaint against a lawyer has to be in the form of a plaint.

How to file a complaint against the police?

1. You can meet the Superintendent of Police or other higher officers like Deputy Inspector General of Police & Inspector General of Police and bring your complaint to their notice. 2. You can send your complaint in writing and by post to the Superintendent of Police concerned.

How to file a criminal complaint with a judicial magistrate?

A victim or a person having knowledge about the commission of a particular crime can file a criminal complaint with a competent Judicial Magistrate. This is as per provisions mentioned under Section 200 in the CrPC, 1973.

What is a criminal complaint?

Criminal Complaint: The Plaint. It is a document submitted by the complainant to file a criminal complainant against an accused. In layman’s language, it is simply the written allegations of the complainant and it contains a summary of the facts of the case he seeks to present and the relief he seeks for the same.

What is the first step in a cognizable offence?

Filing an FIR. In case you are the victim of a cognizable offence, the first step you would take is to approach the police. The police, on receiving information, prepares a written document, known as a First Information Report (FIR).

Why is there no awareness of criminal cases in India?

This lack of awareness is among the major reasons because of which reporting of criminal activities is not a seamless process in India .

What happens after a police investigation is concluded?

If it is deemed that there is enough proof on the charge sheet the case goes to court.On the flipside, after their investigations if the police conclude that there is not enough evidence or proof that a crime has been committed they can close the case after justifying their reasons in court. If the police decide to close the case, they are bound to inform the person who filed the FIR of their decision.

How long has Vikram been a lawyer?

A lawyer with 14 years' experience, Vikram has worked with several well-known corporate law firms before joining Vakilsearch.

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:

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 to do if you believe an attorney has committed professional misconduct?

If you believe an attorney has committed professional misconduct, you have the option of filing a complaint with the attorney regulatory authorities in your juris diction (links below).

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 ...

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Introduction

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Whenever a person commits an offence, they become eligible to face the legal consequences for it. A Complaint is the first formal action taken against such a person. In other words, a complaint is an allegation made to a magistrate so that a lawsuit can be initiated. It is defined under Section 2(d)of the Criminal Procedure …
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Submitting The Complaint

  • Indian lawyers are governed by The Advocates Act, 1961. Under Section 4 of this Act, a statutory body called the Bar Council of India (BCI)was established. It is an apex governing body that regulates the legal practice and legal education of all the lawyers of India. It also governs all the other State Bar Councils and prescribes standards of professional conduct. The BCI has many c…
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Procedure For Filing Complaints Against A Lawyer

  • As per Section 35of The Advocates Act 1961, in case an advocate commits a professional misconduct then he is liable for punishment. One can file a complaint in the Bar Council of the particular state and if the disciplinary committee of the council finds the complaint to be genuine then proceedings are initiated against that advocate. So, for initi...
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Grounds on Which Enquiries Are Dropped

  • The enquiries before the disciplinary committee shall never be dropped solely because it has been withdrawn, settled or otherwise compromised or the complainant does not wish to proceed with the enquiry. There are certain grounds for the dropping of enquiries as mentioned below- 1. When the complainant dies during the proceedings of the enquiry and no representative is there to con…
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Consequences of Filing A Complaint

  • After filing a complaint under Section 35 of the Act, the advocate concerned is given equal opportunity of being heard. After the advocate is heard, the disciplinary committee of a State Bar Council underSection 35(3)of the same Act may make any of the following orders- 1. Dismiss the complaint if it does not seems to be a genuine one 2. Initiate the proceedings 3. Reprimand the …
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Related Case Laws

  • In a case, Suo Motto Enquiry vs Nand Lal Balwani [BCI Tr. Case No. 68/1999], the respondent (an advocate) hurled the shoes and shouted some slogans in the Supreme Court of India. Proceedings for both contempt of court and professional misconduct were initiated against him. The Supreme Court found him guilty and awarded him imprisonment for 4 months along with so…
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Conclusion

  • Society considers the legal profession as a noble profession. Just like any other profession, professional ethics is very important in law. To maintain the nobility of this profession, there are certain professional norms that a person has to observe. When a person does not comply with these norms, it leads to misconduct. There is a fair chance of a lawyer losing a case or having a …
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References

  • http://www.barcouncilofindia.org/about/professional-standards/procedure-for-complaints-against-advocates/
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