Ethics Defense Against Lawyer Grievances
When Your Professional Reputation Is on the Line
DON’T FACE THE ATTORNEY GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE ALONE
Your Fiercest Advocate
My practice focuses solely on professional responsibility, legal ethics, and character & fitness advice for current and aspiring lawyers. My approach prioritizes mitigation and prevention, managing risk through proactive strategies that aim for optimal outcomes. I can help you build a defense against lawyer grievances and *NY Bar Association complaints.
*“New York Bar Association complaint” is a common misnomer. Professional conduct complaints are handled by the New York Attorney Grievance Committee.
Lawyer Grievance and Conduct Complaint Defense Services
With a foundation of knowledge about your situation, you and David will develop an informed strategy to defend against any grievances or conduct complaints that put your reputation—and career—at risk.
Minimized Damage
David values and encourages honesty, cooperation, mitigation, de-escalation, and preventative measures to deliver the best defense against lawyer grievances and secure a positive outcome for your case.
Exceptional Judgement
Ethics is David’s sole area of practice, so you can be sure he’s knowledgeable. He can advise you on your case in front of the Attorney Grievance Committee, using both logic and creativity to resolve your matter.
Extensive Experience
As the former Chair of the NYC Bar Association’s Professional Responsibility Committee, and a member of numerous other committees, David has an outstanding reputation in the New York legal community.
If a Complaint Is Lodged Against You
Find your own attorney—immediately. The response period is limited, so you’ll want the right representation for your defense and avoid costly mistakes.
You take your reputation very seriously, so a complaint is a real threat. Whether you’ve been practicing law for decades without a complaint or you’ve received a frivolous grievance early in your career based on a misunderstanding or fee dispute, a New York ethics attorney can help build a strong defense against lawyer grievances.
There’s a well-known saying in the legal world that even lawyers shouldn’t represent themselves. That’s because it’s incredibly difficult to be both the client and the advocate—especially when the stakes are personal.
Schedule a personalized strategy session with David A. Lewis to build your defense.
Responding to an Attorney Grievance Committee Complaint
- Responding quickly and honestly to a complaint has the best chance of getting it dismissed. Work with David to identify all concerns and take sincere, proactive steps to address them.
- Proper advocacy can help present your case in the most credible manner. David aims to provide a sincere, impassioned defense that helps you truthfully and thoughtfully share your account.
- My approach is always focused on prevention, mitigation, de-escalation, and minimizing damage. The goal is to minimize interference with your professional life and achieve the best possible outcome.
- There is great value in understanding what the red flags are and how to address them. Knowing the key factors that contribute to any professional conduct analysis can be strategically critical.
Armed with years of experience as an ethics attorney, David can help you present a thoughtful response to NY Bar Association inquiries and a strategic defense against lawyer grievances and attorney conduct complaints.
The Process & Potential Outcomes
Your defense against lawyer grievances generally starts with a complaint communicated through the Attorney Grievance Committee.
1 Submit a Written Answer to the Complaint — Complaints should be met with a written response to the New York Attorney Grievance Committee. This is an important opportunity to provide relevant factual and legal background information, thereby placing everything in the proper context and perspective.
2 Respond to Follow-Up Questions and/or Requests — There may be additional follow-up questions from the Staff Counsel conducting the investigation. This could involve a request for documents or a request for an Examination Under Oath. Navigate these requests with extreme caution and with guidance from a New York ethics attorney.
3 Complaint Dismissal or Repercussions — This investigation may end in one of two ways: The complaint will either be dismissed and the Attorney Grievance Committee’s file can be closed, or some other action will be taken. David can help you develop a more thorough defense against lawyer grievances.
If The Complaint Is Not Dismissed
When a complaint is not dismissed, there is generally a range of potential consequences and outcomes.
Letter of Advisement
This is a confidential “warning” letter and does not constitute professional discipline. Although it is not public, a New York Attorney Grievance Committee or Court may consider it in the future when determining the action or the discipline to be taken on any subsequent complaints.
Admonition
This is a private form of discipline. Again, it is not public, but an Attorney Grievance Committee or Court may consider it in the future in determining the action to be taken or the discipline to be imposed upon a subsequent finding of misconduct.
Formal Charges
For serious misconduct, formal public charges may be brought against an attorney by the New York Attorney Grievance Committee. A hearing will likely be involved, increasing the complexity and costliness of the case. Potential outcomes can include:
- Suspension
- Public Censure
- Disbarment
Your best defense against lawyer grievances is a well-equipped attorney on your side, so reach out today for your detailed strategy session with NY ethics attorney, David A. Lewis.
Protect Your Legal Career
Why hire David instead of acting on your own?
While a substantial number of initial complaints are ultimately dismissed, that’s not a guaranteed outcome. Minimizing risk as much as possible will ultimately lead to the best result.
Consider this:
- Do you want to risk the consequences of potentially mishandling a defense against an unwarranted Attorney Grievance Complaint?
- Do you want to risk potentially raising other unexpected red flags that could trigger further investigation, even when you have nothing to hide?
What David provides is not just a basic defense—it’s a personalized legal strategy tailored to your unique circumstances and built to preserve your reputation and your career.
As one of New York’s top bar admissions, character and fitness, and legal ethics attorneys, David has extensive experience in the very environments where these complaints take shape.
Whether you need a comprehensive defense strategy against lawyer grievances, basic character and fitness guidance, or professional direction regarding bar admissions, this is where peace of mind can be found.
Where To Next?
Now that you understand how Professional Conduct Complaints representation works, you may want to learn about other services related to Legal Ethics Counseling.