Kramer & Connolly | Representing Maryland Attorneys in Disciplinary Proceedings
According to Bar Counsel, Maryland lawyers who are "subject to a complaint should certainly consider retaining counsel experienced in disciplinary matters." Indeed, "[s]uch counsel can be invaluable in assessing the attorney's disciplinary exposure and can assist in composing a response that addresses the complaint squarely and objectively." Grossman, The Client Grievance, Maryland Bar Journal at 62 (May 2011).
Those who fail to take this advice may ultimately regret the consequences, unwittingly prompting further proceedings and, in some instances, harsher sanctions.
Rather than place their law licenses at greater risk, many Maryland attorneys have retained Irwin Kramer to compose responses designed to satisfy their duty to cooperate with disciplinary investigations without inviting even greater scrutiny. By ghost-writing these letters for their signatures, Mr. Kramer may counter contentions of professional misconduct with articulate responses that exemplify the professionalism of my clients.
If successful in addressing Bar Counsel's concerns, these lawyers may avoid protracted investigations, more formal proceedings and sanctions. But even if the matter goes beyond an initial inquiry, retaining counsel at an early stage lays a positive foundation for responding to more formal charges, peer reviews and adversarial hearings.
In many cases, legal malpractice insurance carriers will cover the cost of representation relating to disciplinary investigations and proceedings -- making it even more prudent to take Bar Counsel's advice and retain counsel of your own.
To minimize the disruption of an otherwise ominous process so that Maryland lawyers may do what they do best -- represent their clients rather than respond to their grievances.
A service of Kramer & Connolly | The Lawyer's Lawyers
