how to report a lawyer indiana

File a complaint against an attorney. It's always a good idea to try to work things out with your lawyer informally. If that doesn't work, you may file a grievance with the Disciplinary Commission within the Indiana courts system. Visit the Indiana Disciplinary Commission’s website to learn about what types of violations attorneys can be disciplined for, and how to file complaints.

Full Answer

How do I file a complaint against a lawyer in Indiana?

It's always a good idea to try to work things out with your lawyer informally. If that doesn't work, you may file a grievance with the Disciplinary Commission within the Indiana courts system. Visit the Indiana Disciplinary Commission’s website to learn about what types of violations attorneys can be disciplined for, and how to file complaints.

What are the rules of Professional Conduct for Indiana lawyers?

All lawyers must follow the Indiana Rules of Professional Conduct. The Disciplinary Commission enforces these rules. Matters that do not involve substantial claims of misconduct or that involve disputes over the amount of fees, unless the fees are clearly unreasonable, are not handled through the lawyer discipline system.

How do I become an attorney specialist in Indiana?

An attorney in Indiana may be certified as a specialist by a Commission-accredited certifying organization. In order to be certified, an attorney must attain a demonstrated proficiency. To be considered timely, your completed application for accreditation:

Is there a mandatory CLE for new lawyers in Indiana?

Mandatory CLE for new lawyers. New attorneys admitted by examination are required to complete a 6-hour applied professionalism course. If the course you attended or wish to attend is not already approved, you may apply for accreditation and report attendance using the Indiana Courts Portal.

How do I file a complaint against an attorney in Indiana?

What do I do if I have a complaint against a lawyer?Open and complete the form, save it to your computer, then attach it along with any supporting documents in an email to DCGrievance@courts.in,gov. ... Open and complete the form, print it and mail it to:

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.

Who is the governing authority for licensing and monitoring attorneys in Indiana?

The Disciplinary Commission is an agency of the Indiana Supreme Court. It is responsible for investigating and prosecuting claims of misconduct against lawyers licensed to practice law in Indiana and protecting lawyers against unwarranted claims of misconduct.

How do you write a complaint letter about a lawyer?

Formal complaint against [name of lawyer or law firm] describe what the lawyer had been hired to do for you [for example dealing with the sale or purchase of a house] • say when this was [give the date or dates when the problem occurred]. My complaint is that [list what you think went wrong or wasn't done properly.

What do you do when your lawyer lies to you?

The rules of legal ethics in most states require attorneys to be honest and to be able to do their job at a certain level of competence. If you feel that your legal representative has lied or misled you, or is performing their duties at a level below that of a competent attorney, you may want to file a lawsuit.

How do I know if my lawyer is cheating on a settlement?

Dennis BeaverThe attorney does not return phone calls in a reasonable amount of time, and;In a meeting with the client, if the lawyer is being very short, taking phone calls, trying to re-schedule, not giving enough time to the client, does not listen, ignores what is asked or is not answering questions.

What constitutes the unauthorized practice of law in Indiana?

Rule 5.5 - Unauthorized Practice of Law; Multijurisdictional Practice of Law (a) A lawyer shall not practice law in a jurisdiction in violation of the regulation of the legal profession in that jurisdiction, or assist another in doing so.

How do I contact the Indiana Bar Association?

Stay tuned for local hours and phone number, or call the general hotline at 1-800-266-2581. Hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Stay tuned for local hours and phone number, or call the general hotline at 1-800-266-2581.

What does the Indiana Bar Association do?

ISBA, engaging with lawyers and others within the legal profession from all backgrounds, strives to build a diverse pipeline to the legal profession, and to inform the broader legal community about issues surrounding diversity and inclusion.

How do you write a strongly worded complaint letter?

How to Write a Strongly-Worded Letter of Complaint: A SummaryStep 1: Make Sure You Send It to the Right Place. ... Step 2: Start the Letter With the Right Tone. ... Step 3: Explain the Problem Effectively. ... Step 4: Suggest a Solution. ... Step 5: Enclose or Attach Relevant and Necessary Documents. ... Step 6: Set a Time Limit.More items...•

How do I write a grievance letter?

Basic ruleskeep your letter to the point. You need to give enough detail for your employer to be able to investigate your complaint properly. ... keep to the facts. ... never use abusive or offensive language. ... explain how you felt about the behaviour you are complaining about but don't use emotive language.

How do you write a letter to a lawyer?

A letter to an attorney should be written in a formal letter format with the attorney's name, law firm and address at the top near the date, addressed using a salutation and signed off with a closing such as "Very Truly Yours" or "Sincerely."

How to File A Complaint

The Indiana Professional Licensing Agency and each of its boards and commissions is charged with the responsibility of disciplining license holders who have violated practice standards, acted dishonestly, or acted unethically. Indiana has standards of practice that apply to all regulated professions.

How the Process Works

A consumer complaint can be filed with the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency or directly to its ultimate home, the Indiana Attorney General. Either way, the first step for any complaint is a review by the Attorney General.

Commonly Used Terms

Administrative Complaint - a complaint filed with the board by the Attorney General that describes the alleged conduct a licensed professional has engaged in and the laws and administrative rules the professional has violated; sometimes referred to as disciplinary charges.

Do You Have a Customer Dispute?

Do you have a dispute with a company or a provider that might lead to your getting a resolution on the product or service you purchased? The Better Business Bureau supports consumers and businesses alike, and it sets standards for ethical business behavior and monitors compliance.

How to file a complaint against a lawyer?

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.

What happens if you don't report a violation of the law?

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.

What happens if a client fires a lawyer?

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.

What is the role of a disciplinary board in a state?

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.

What is the role of a lawyer?

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.”

What is incompetence in a lawyer?

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.

What is a public reprimand?

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.

The CLE Rule

Admission and Discipline Rule 29 outlines lawyer requirements for continuing education.

Approved Courses

Attorneys will only receive credit for attending accredited courses, which have been approved by the Commission for CLE.

Apply for accreditation and report attendance

If the course you attended or wish to attend is not already approved, you may apply for accreditation and report attendance using the Indiana Courts Portal.

Attorney specialization

An attorney in Indiana may be certified as a specialist by a Commission-accredited certifying organization. In order to be certified, an attorney must attain a demonstrated proficiency.

Deadlines & fees

To be considered timely, your completed application for accreditation:

Types of credit

Continuing education credit for attorneys can be labeled in four ways:

Course delivery methods

Generally, traditional courses have faculty in the room. For traditional presentation methods, the course must provide a discussion leader or two-way communication, a classroom setting away from attorneys’ offices, an opportunity to ask questions, and attendance must be monitored at the attendance site.

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 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 is the duty to report in Indiana?

Luckily, the duty to report (and most of what you need to know about it) is spelled out in the Indiana Rules of Professional Conduct. Here are three things you should know about an attorney’s duty to report an ethics violation by another lawyer. 1. Not all violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct need to be reported.

What is the Indiana Rules of Professional Conduct?

Rule 8.3 (a) of the Indiana Rules of Professional Conduct states that “ [a] lawyer who knows that another lawyer has committed a violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct that raises a substantial question as to that lawyer’s honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer in other respects, shall inform the appropriate professional authority.”

What happens if you know another attorney has committed misconduct?

Do not seek to report the attorney for your own personal gain – it could result in disciplinary sanctions.

What happens if you learn of an attorney's misconduct through the representation of a client?

Therefore, if you learn of an attorney’s misconduct through the representation of a client and the client will not consent to your report to the Disciplinary Commission and no other exception to Rule 1.6 applies, you are required to forever hold your peace . 2. You are required to self-report convictions for crimes.

Does Indiana require disclosure of information?

Specifically, Rule 8.3 (c) of the Indiana Rules of Professional Conduct states that the rule “does not require reporting of a violation or disclosure of information if such action would involve disclosure of information that is otherwise protected by Rule 1.6.”.

What is the Indiana Roll of Attorneys?

The Roll of Attorneys is the listing of all attorneys licensed to practice law in Indiana. Search for attorneys by name or attorney number. Each attorney’s record includes license status, disciplinary history, contact information the attorney has chosen to display, and any other names the attorney has practiced under.

Do attorneys have to provide email addresses?

Attorneys are required to provide their correct name, county of residen ce, and contact information (including email address) to the Clerk. Attorneys are responsible for updating their information displayed on this web site, and may do so on the Courts Portal.

How to File A Complaint

How The Process Works

• A consumer complaint can be filed with the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency or directly to its ultimate home, the Indiana Attorney General. Either way, the first step for any complaint is a review by the Attorney General. If evidence is found to suggest the complaint has merit, the Attorney General then brings it to the appropriate board or co...

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Commonly Used Terms

Do You Have A Customer Dispute?