how complain about a city attorney

by Dr. Elliot Kovacek 8 min read

If you have a complaint against an attorney, you may contact the Attorney Disciplinary / Grievance Committee. The office you need to contact depends upon the location of your lawyer's office. Please note that the New York State Unified Court System does not have jurisdiction to investigate complaints concerning representation by attorneys.

Dial 3-1-1 or call 415-701-2311(voice) or 415-701-2323 (TTY) if calling from outside a San Francisco 415 area code, operators will be able to assist you in reporting a problem or filing a request: Request/Report Services.

Full Answer

How do I file a complaint against an attorney?

Make a complaint about a lawyer located in the Bronx or Manhattan. By Phone. Agency: Departmental Disciplinary Committee. Phone Number: (212) 401-0800. Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM.

What happens if I file a complaint with the State Bar?

An experienced State Bar attorney will review the complaint to determine if the facts are sufficient to show that an ethical violation occurred. Additional documents from the complainant may be needed to complete this evaluation. If the review determines that the alleged facts establish a violation, the matter will be investigated.

What are the rights of a person who has a complaint?

If you have a complaint against an attorney, you may contact the Attorney Disciplinary / Grievance Committee. The office you need to contact depends upon the location of your lawyer's office. Please note that the New York State Unified Court System does not have jurisdiction to investigate complaints concerning representation by attorneys.

What happens after a complaint is filed or dismissed?

complaint. The materials in your complaint should include the names, phone numbers and addresses of you and your attorney as well as copies of any pertinent documents, papers, and other information connected to the complaint. After a complaint is …

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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.

How do I file a complaint against a district attorney in California?

For information on how to file a complaint, visit www.calbar.ca.gov or call the Attorney Complaint Hotline at (800) 843-9053.

How do I contact the California Attorney General?

For service on the Attorney General: Office of the Attorney General. 1300 "I" Street. Sacramento, CA 95814-2919. Phone: (916) 445-9555.

How do I contact Rob Bonta?

For questions regarding the Department of Justice contactPublic Inquiry Unit.Voice: (916) 210-6276 or.(Toll-free in California)(800) 952-5225.Fax: (916) 323-5341.

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 ...

Can I sue a lawyer for lying?

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.May 8, 2020

How do I file a complaint against California?

(888) 382-1222.TDD (866) 290-4236.

How do I file a complaint with the attorney general's office?

If you cannot complete the form online or need additional assistance with where to direct your complaint, please call our OAG Help Line at (800) 771-7755. Filing a false complaint is punishable as a Class A Misdemeanor. We need complaints in writing.

How do I file a complaint with the state of California?

You can download a complaint file from the link below and mail it to the Complaint Investigation address, or fax it to (916) 322-2603. Visit the link to file a complaint online.

How do you call a DOJ?

Phone Number: 1-202-514-2000.

What are the duties of the Attorney General?

The principal duties of the Attorney General are to:Represent the United States in legal matters.Supervise and direct the administration and operation of the offices, boards, divisions, and bureaus that comprise the Department.More items...•Oct 8, 2021

Who is Bonta in California?

On April 23, 2021, Rob Bonta was sworn in as the 34th Attorney General of the State of California, the first person of Filipino descent and the second Asian-American to occupy the position.

What happens if a complaint does not describe a possible violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct?

If the relevant Disciplinary or Grievance Committee determines that a complaint does not describe a possible violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct, it will advise the complainant that an investigation is not warranted and close its file.

Who is responsible for investigating and prosecuting complaints against New York State judges?

and non-lawyer members of the public, is responsible for investigating and prosecuting complaints against New York state judges, except for Housing Court judges (see below). A complaint may be submitted on a form obtained from the Commission’s website

What is the departmental disciplinary committee?

In New York City, the agencies that investigate complaints against lawyers are the Departmental Disciplinary Committee for the First Department (regarding lawyers whose offices are in Manhattan or the Bronx) or the Grievance Committees for the Second, Eleventh, and Thirteenth Judicial Districts (regarding lawyers whose offices are in Brooklyn, Queens or Staten Island). The Committees are composed of prominent lawyers and non-lawyer members of the public who act as volunteers, and are assisted by professional staff attorneys who investigate and, if necessary, prosecute any charges arising from a complaint. The Committees are supervised by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, and are not affiliated with the City Bar or any other bar association.

What is fee dispute?

fee dispute exists when a client believes that his or her lawyer has not given sufficient value for the money the client has paid or may owe the lawyer. A fee dispute is usually not subject to disciplinary review. However, where the fees in dispute in a civil (not criminal) case are between $1000 and $50,000, a client may arbitrate his or her dispute under a state sponsored program. Arbitration is designed to be a fast, informal and inexpensive way to resolve disputes. Most clients handle fee arbitrations without hiring a new lawyer to help them.

What to do if you believe a lawyer violated the Rules of Professional Conduct?

If you believe a lawyer may have violated the Rules of Professional Conduct, you can write a letter to the appropriate Committee or fill out and submit a form available from their websites.

How to investigate a violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct?

If the Committee determines that a complaint describes a meaningful violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct, it will begin an investigation supervised by one of its staff lawyers. Typically, the Committee will first obtain an answer to the complaint from the lawyer and then give the complainant a chance to reply to the lawyer’s answer. The Committee may also ask for additional documents or information, question witnesses, or take other investigative steps. This investigation process may take several months. In the meantime, the complainant may directly contact the appropriate Committee staff person to ask the status of the matter.

Can a client file a complaint against a lawyer?

However, when that is not possible or the misconduct is very serious, the client may file a disciplinary complaint, even if he or she has not discharged the lawyer. Third parties may also file complaints about someone else’s lawyer.

What should be included in a complaint letter?

The materials in your complaint should include the names, phone numbers and addresses of you and your attorney as well as copies of any pertinent documents, papers, and other information connected to the complaint.

What to do if you believe a lawyer violated the Rules of Professional Conduct?

If you believe a lawyer may have violated the Rules of Professional Conduct, you can write a letter to the appropriate Attorney Grievance Committee or fill out and submit a form available from their websites. The form or letter should be as clear, specific and detailed as possible when explaining your complaint.

Who to contact about a complaint?

If you have any questions concerning your legal rights or responsibilities, you should contact a private attorney. In investigating your complaint, the City Attorney may send a copy of your complaint and any documents that you provide to the entity about which you are complaining. The City Attorney may also use the information and documents ...

What does the city attorney do?

The City Attorney works with federal, state, and local government agencies to investigate complaints and coordinate law enforcement and may share your complaint and submitted documents with them. By submitting this complaint, you certify that the above complaint is true and accurate to the best of your knowledge and that any documents attached are ...

What does a city attorney do in California?

The City Attorney represents the People of the State of California (i.e., the general public) in investigating and prosecuting unfair, unlawful, or fraudulent business practices. The City Attorney cannot give you legal advice or represent you in court.

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

What is the Department of Police Accountability?

The Department of Police Accountability was originally the Office of Citizen Complaints which was created as a separate city department by an amendment to the San Francisco City Charter (section 4.127) in 1982 and placed under the direct supervision of the Police Commission. In 2016, an amendment to the San Francisco City Charter (section 4.136) renamed the Office of Citizen Complaints the Department of Police Accountability, removed the Department of Police Accountability from the police department’s budget and provided to the Department of Police Accountability the power to conduct periodic audits of the San Francisco Police Department. When Should You File a Complaint of Police Misconduct? A complaint should be filed when you feel that a member of the San Francisco Police Department has acted improperly in the course of their work. Whether the complaint is related to discourteous treatment, failure to take action, inaccurate report writing, an unjustified arrest, unnecessary force or any other police action that you feel is wrong, the Department of Police Accountability wants to know about it. How to Make a Police Misconduct Complaint The most effective way to file a complaint of police misconduct is to come into the DPA office. This will allow investigators to personally interview you and to do a thorough job of completing the initial, and one of the most important, phases of the investigation of a complaint.

What is the phone number for San Francisco?

3-1-1 is an easy-to-remember telephone number that connects customers with highly-trained Customer Service Representatives ready to help you with non-emergency City and County of San Francisco government matters, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Dial 3-1-1 or call 415-701-2311 (voice) or 415-701-2323 (TTY) if calling from outside a San Francisco 415 area code, operators will be able to assist you in reporting a problem or filing a request: 1 Request/Report Services 2 Graffiti removal 3 Pothole repair 4 Illegal signs 5 Street cleaning 6 Illegal dumping 7 Sidewalk defect 8 Broken news rack 9 Overflowing litter receptacle 10 Trim a city-owned tree 11 Public toilet damage 12 Clogged catch basins 13 Broken parking meter 14 File a Muni passenger complaint 15 Report a lost & found item for Muni 16 Obtain Muni route information

What is whistleblower program?

The City and County of San Francisco’s Whistleblower Complaints Program receives and tracks complaints about the quality and delivery of government services, wasteful and inefficient City government practices, misuse of government funds, and improper activities by City government officials, employees and contractors. The Controller’s Office operates the program and receives complaints by telephone, email, and the Web. When appropriate, the Controller’s Office investigates and attempts to resolve individual complaints. To learn more visit their Web site at http://sfcontroller.org/index.aspx?page=31

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