how to write a letter to a judge complaining for a lawyer

by Prof. Rusty Donnelly PhD 8 min read

  1. Consider this your first option. If you have a legitimate complaint against your lawyer, start by sending them a personal letter.
  2. Draft your letter. When you sit down to write your complaint letter, use a computer and write in a professional tone.
  3. Submit the letter to your attorney. Once you have written your complaint letter, send it to your attorney, return receipt requested.
  4. Wait for a response. An attorney will usually respond to a complaint quickly, as they know the possible repercussions of having a formal complaint filed against them.

Full Answer

How to write a complaint letter to a lawyer?

Mar 03, 2022 · What the Letter is Going to Address Follow this format – “Re: Sentencing of First Name Last Name of Defendant, Case No. XXXXXXX” 5. Salutation Dear Judge Last Name Before you write the address on the envelope and on the letter itself, be sure you know the evaluate ’ s proper claim, whether it is chief Justice, Justice, Chief Judge, or Judge.

How to write a letter to a judge in court?

Mar 21, 2022 · The complaint should be succinctly and clearly stated so that the letter can be as short as possible. The client may want to make a list of complaints before starting to write to clarify their thoughts. Even if the client uses the lawyer’s first name in regular communication, the complaint letter should be address to the lawyer’s formal name. This maintains the 


How do I file a complaint against a lawyer anonymously?

Dec 15, 2018 · Cite the Rule of Professional Conduct that you believe your lawyer broke. If you have witnesses, name them and give contact information for them. You’ll have to sign the letter and include contact information for yourself as well, since most states will not allow you to make complaints anonymously. Where to Make a Complaint

Should I file a formal or informal complaint against my lawyer?

Oct 17, 2021 · A complaint letter against a judge is the only remedy that can cease the unfair practice of the judge.The judiciary in any country is considered to be the ultimate emblem of justice that serves justice to the countless citizens of the country. However, sometimes the same judiciary gets deviated from its noble's duties in the greed of money and other influences.

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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 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 you write a formal complaint?

What to include in a complaint letterdescribe your problem and the outcome you want.include key dates, such as when you purchased the goods or services and when the problem occurred.identify what action you've already taken to fix the problem and what you will do if you and the seller cannot resolve the problem.More items...

How do you write a threatening legal action letter?

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)Type your letter. ... Concisely review the main facts. ... Be polite. ... Write with your goal in mind. ... Ask for exactly what you want. ... Set a deadline. ... End the letter by stating you will promptly pursue legal remedies if the other party does not meet your demand.Make and keep copies.More items...

What is unethical for a lawyer?

Attorney misconduct may include: conflict of interest, overbilling, refusing to represent a client for political or professional motives, false or misleading statements, knowingly accepting worthless lawsuits, hiding evidence, abandoning a client, failing to disclose all relevant facts, arguing a position while ...

How do you know if a lawyer is scamming you?

Some common signs of a scam include:Payment needs to happen quickly. You can't ask questions or get clarification.It's an emergency. Someone may threaten you or your loved ones.Requests for money usually happen over text, email or phone.The person contacting you is not someone you recognize.Mar 29, 2021

How do you start a complaint letter example?

A complaint letter format will typically begin with the sender's details, followed by stating who it's addressed to, the date, and then the letter itself. The opening paragraph should state your reason for writing, and the meat of the text will go into detail about the matter.

What is the example of complaint letter?

I am complaining because ____ (the reason you are dissatisfied). To resolve this problem I would like you to ____ (what you want the business to do). When I first learned of this problem, I contacted ____ (name of the person, date of the call) at your company, and was told that nothing could be done about my problem.Aug 28, 2019

What should be avoided in complaint letter?

Also, avoid sounding temperamental as it sends repulsive signals. 7. A complaint letter should be written in a humble and polite manner. It is understandable that the complainant would be angry and frustrated but angry words only reciprocate the negative outcome.Jul 29, 2021

How do you write a letter before legal action?

What do I write in a letter before claim?your name and address;concise detail of the claim;summary of the facts;if the claimant is seeking to recover debt then they should list all of these debts;a reasonable time limit for the defendant to reply, usually 14 days;More items...

How do you write a demand letter?

Checklist: Sending a Letter of Demand clearly state in the letter that you intend to take legal action if they do not pay the debt; clearly state in the letter how the debtor can pay the debt; give a clear date in the letter by which you expect them to pay the debt; and.Jul 31, 2019

Do you have to respond to a letter from a lawyer?

It's always best to have an attorney respond, on your behalf, to a “lawyer letter,” or a phone call from a lawyer. If that's not an option for you, though, make sure that you send a typed, written response to the attorney (by e-mail or mail), and keep a copy for yourself.May 21, 2020

How to file a complaint against a lawyer?

1. Consider this your first option. If you have a legitimate complaint against your lawyer, start by sending them a personal letter. Oftentimes, an attorney will be happy to work with you to resolve your issue so it does not reach the state bar.

What to do before filing a complaint?

Before you file your complaint make sure you are sending it to the correct entity. Not only do you have to worry about whether to make a complaint to the bar association or to the district attorney, you also need to make sure you make the complaint to the correct office.

What happens if you hire an attorney to represent you?

When you hire an attorney to handle a particular legal matter, you are creating a relationship that comes with certain rights and responsibilities. If you feel your rights have been violated by the attorney you hired to represent you, you may be able to write a letter or file a complaint against that attorney. Steps.

What to include in a complaint?

Include as much information as possible, including times, dates, and places. A request for relief.

How long do you have to file a complaint with the state bar?

These time limitations will vary by state, but in general it is a period of years. For example, in Florida, you have six years from the time the matter giving rise to the complaint is discovered.

What is a grievance statement?

A description of the relationship between you and the lawyer (e.g., client, past client, opposing lawyer); Whether there is a court case associated with your grievance, and if so, what the case name and file number is; An explanation of your grievance, which includes a description of what happened ;

How long does it take to hear back from a state bar?

Wait for an initial response. After you send in your formal complaint, you should hear back in a matter of weeks. The initial response you receive will be based on a review of the information you submitted. In general, the response will let you know whether the state bar is:

Who has the right to complain against an attorney?

A person has the right to complain against any attorney who is involved in legal issues concerning that person. They may write a letter to an attorney who is representing them or to an attorney who is working against their case.

What are some examples of ethics violations?

Some examples of serious breaches of ethics for which the attorney can be disciplined are: 1 Not keeping their client fully informed about the developments of their case 2 Not properly accounting for the client’s money or returning money owed 3 Not returning the client’s case file if they hire another attorney 4 Intentionally making false statements 5 Committing malpractice or being negligent 6 Charging an excessive or illegal fee

The Nature of Your Complaint

If your complaint with your lawyer involves a personality conflict, you may not get very far registering an official complaint about him. Even if you’re dissatisfied with the way he handled your case because you ultimately lost, complaining probably won’t do you any good unless he did something ethically or legally wrong.

What to Say in Your Complaint

Assuming your problem with your attorney rises to the level of misconduct, your state may or may not have a form available for you to fill out. If one isn’t available, you can write a letter, which you might elect to do anyway so you have more space to clearly explain your allegations.

Where to Make a Complaint

Exactly to whom you should submit your complaint varies by jurisdiction, but you can check your state’s website or call the state bar association to find out. New York has grievance committees assigned to each court district, but in California, you would go to the state bar.

Attorney Fee Disputes

If your complaint concerns your attorney’s bill for services, you may have another option. Some states have fee dispute resolution programs. In New York, if your complaint is of this nature, the grievance committee will most likely send your matter to the program to resolve the dispute rather than investigate.

What Happens Next

If your state’s grievance committee or ethics committee agrees that you have a legitimate complaint and finds that the lawyer committed some wrongdoing, he may receive a written warning or, in extremely serious cases, be suspended or disbarred, which means he'd be prohibited from practicing law in the state, either for a set period of time or forever.

How to write a complaint letter to an attorney?

Use this sample complaint letter to an attorney as a template for your formal complaint letter. 1 ​#N#Not keeping their client fully informed about the developments of their case 2 Not properly accounting for the client’s money or returning money owed 3 Not returning the client’s case file if they hire another attorney 4 Intentionally making false statements 5 Committing malpractice or being negligent​ 6 Charging an excessive or illegal fee

Who has the right to complain against an attorney?

Legal Issues. A person has the right to complain against any attorney who is involved in legal issues concerning that person. They may write a letter to an attorney who is representing them or to an attorney who is working against their case.

What is the Canon 2A of the Code of Conduct for Judges?

Canon 2 of the Code of Conduct for United States Judges provides that “a judge should avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety in all activities.” (Emphasis added.) Canon 2A is entitled “Respect for Law.” It provides that “A judge should respect and comply with the law and should act at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary.” (Emphasis added.) This rule is “critical—the judiciary's ability to decide cases efficiently and effectively would be severely impaired, and public confidence in the courts would be undermined, if litigants had reason to suspect judicial bias. In other words, ‘to perform its high function in the best way “justice must satisfy the appearance of justice.”’”14

What did Judge Jones say about race?

Judge Jones made several statements demonstrating racial bias and indicating a lack of impartiality.7 She said that “certain racial groups like African Americans and Hispanics are predisposed to crime” and “‘prone’ to commit acts of violence.” She made “generalized and stereotypical comments about racial groups and their ‘criminal tendencies.’” Judge Jones stated that “race” was merely a “red herring” “thrown up by opponents of capital punishment,” and that no case had ever been made for “systemic racism.” She also asserted that “certain systemic classes of crimes” exist and that “certain racial groups commit more of these crimes than others.” She said that “[s]adly some groups seem to commit more heinous crimes than others.” When asked to explain her remarks, she stated that there was “no arguing” that “Blacks and Hispanics” outnumber “Anglos” on death row and “sadly” it was a “statistical fact” that people “from these racial groups get involved in more violent crime.” By way of example, she asserted as a “fact” that “a lot of Hispanic people [are] involved in drug trafficking,” which itself “involved a lot of violent crime.” She “dismiss[ed] race as a legitimate concern in how the death penalty was administered.” See Ex. A, at ¶¶ 27-28; Ex. B, at ¶¶ 27-28, 35; Ex. C, at ¶¶ 13-14; Ex. D, at ¶ 12; Ex. E, at ¶13; and Ex. F, at ¶ 11. During the question-answer portion of the program, Judge Jones “lost her composure” to an extent that “[t]he host of the program ended the program abruptly.” See Ex. E, at ¶ 17; Ex. D at ¶ 15; Ex. F, at ¶ 15.

What did Judge Jones say about the death penalty?

Ex. D, at ¶ 5; Ex. E, at ¶ 5. She stated that “a killer is only likely to make peace with God and the victim’s family in that moment when the killer faces imminent execution, recognizing that he or she is about to face God’s judgment.” Ex. A, at ¶ 9. In support of that justification, Judge Jones cited an article that she said her husband had found on the Internet, entitled “Hanging Concentrates the Mind” (attached as Exhibit J), which she said discussed the Vatican’s perspective on capital punishment while executions were occurring within the Vatican’s jurisdiction. Id. “Judge Jones used what I would call moral language in praising the death penalty as a means to help people come to terms with the crime they committed . . . . She talked about how the imminent prospect of execution forced the criminal to confront his deed, and she said this as justification for the death penalty.” Ex. B, at ¶ 10. As one of the attendees stated: “I thought it seemed out of place for a Court of Appeals judge to cite the Bible as legal support for the death penalty.” Ex. E, at ¶ 5.

What did Judge Jones say about mental retardation?

Judge Jones also characterized capital defendants’ assertions of “mental retardation”10 as “red herrings.” She stated that she believes it is a disservice to the “mentally retarded” to exempt them from the death sentence, and “expressed disgust at the use of mental retardation as a defense in capital cases.” Ex. A, at ¶¶ 15-16, 18-19, 21; Ex. B, at ¶¶ 12, 16, 18, 21; Ex. E, at ¶¶ 7-8. She consistently asserted that the manner in which these defendants committed their crimes, such as the fact that one had allegedly worked as a “hitman” or another had gone on a “burglary spree,” proved that they were not “mentally retarded.” Ex. B, at ¶16; Ex. D, at ¶ 9; Ex. E, at ¶ 8. As one audience member stated, “[i]n describing . . . what Judge Jones said about these cases, I am not able to capture the complete outrage she expressed over the crimes or the disgust she evinced over the defenses raised, particularly by the defendants who claimed to be mentally retarded.” Ex. A, at ¶ 19; Ex. B, at ¶18. Judge Jones’s disgust at how these defendants were “using mental retardation” was very evident and very disconcerting. Ex. D, at ¶ 9; Ex. E, at ¶ 8.

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