how to complain about an attorney in illinois

by Melyssa Nolan 9 min read

Clients, as well as judges and other lawyers, can file complaints with the state's disciplinary board when they believe that an attorney has violated those standards. The disciplinary boards are often called Bar Associations and investigate and prosecute complaints against lawyers.

Full Answer

How to file a complaint against an attorney?

Feb 03, 2014 · Anyone can go to iardc.org, which has a lawyer search option, and type in the name of the Illinois attorney they’re curious about. The database should tell you what, if any, disciplinary action the attorney has faced. If you are unsure about what you find, ask the attorney about it.

How do I file a complaint?

Illinois State Bar Association, P.O. Box 1330, Springfield, IL 62705-1330; Telephone: (217) 525-5297 or (800) 922 8757. Website: www.illinoislawyerfinder.com. Referral attorneys are located throughout Illinois. Illinois residents who cannot afford to hire a private attorney, may wish to seek assistance from a pro bono legal assistance organization.

What does the Attorney General do in Illinois?

May 24, 2020 · Reporting a lawyer for misconduct in Illinois Link. Displaying information for 60603 [ change ] A webpage from the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission that explains how to file a request that an Illinois lawyer is investigated for misconduct. This will take you to another website.

What are attorney general complaints?

Apr 03, 2017 · How to file a complaint against an attorney. Serious neglect of your case. 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. Representing you ...

image

How do you report an attorney to the bar association in Illinois?

Illinois State Bar Association, P.O. Box 1330, Springfield, IL 62705-1330; Telephone: (217) 525-5297 or (800) 922 8757. Website: www.illinoislawyerfinder.com.

How do I report attorney misconduct in Illinois?

E-mail the Inspector General's Office at [email protected]. Complete a complaint form, which you can obtain on this Web site or in the reception area of the Attorney General's Office. The State Officials and Employees Ethics Act (5 ILCS 430/15-5 et.

Who regulates attorneys in Illinois?

the Illinois Supreme CourtTotally. The regulation of the practice of law in Illinois, and its definition, are the exclusive province of the Judicial Branch of Government, specifically, the Illinois Supreme Court.

How do I contact the Illinois Bar Association?

For more information, call the ISBA Legal Department at (217) 525-1760 or (800) 252-8908.

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 I contact the Illinois Attorney General?

You can contact our office by e-mailing [email protected] or sending mail via U.S. Postal Service to: I'm sorry but your internet browser has JavaScript disabled.

What is the Illinois ARDC?

Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission of the Supreme Court of Illinois.

Who licenses attorneys in Illinois?

REGULATION: The Illinois Supreme Court Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC) registers Illinois attorneys annually. Supreme Court Rules affecting foreign-educated lawyers, including Rule 715 on Admission of Graduates of Foreign Law Schools and Rule 712 and 713 for Foreign Legal Consultants.

How many licensed attorneys are there in Illinois?

The findings indicate that nearly 70,000 attorneys actively serve the Illinois public. 68 percent of those attorneys, just over 47,000 attorneys, are in the private practice.Jun 28, 2017

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 to do if you have concerns about an attorney?

Criminal conduct. 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: Alabama. Alaska.

What is the disciplinary board?

In many states, a division of the courts handles these complaints. This is typically referred to as the disciplinary board. Some states rely on their state bar associations to discipline their attorneys. You can find out where to send attorney complaints by looking at your state court system's website.

What happens if a complaint is found to be true?

If the complaint is found to be true, the disciplinary board can fine the attorney, force the attorney to attend classes or perform community service, or take away the attorney's license. The disciplinary board typically does not give the person who complained about the attorney any money.

What is disciplinary action for an attorney?

For attorneys, a disciplinary action is very serious as it can directly affect their ability to earn a living. It may be best to first try and resolve any dispute you have with the attorney on your own.

Springfield Office

Illinois Bar Center#N#424 S. Second Street#N#Springfield, IL 62701-1779#N#( Map and Directions)#N#217-525-1760#N#800-252-8908#N#Hours: 8:30 – 4:30, Monday – Friday

Chicago Regional Office

20 S. Clark St., Suite 900#N#Chicago, IL 60603-1802#N#( Map and Directions)#N#800-252-8908#N#Hours: 8:30 – 5, Monday – Friday

Complaints About Lawyers

Contact the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission.

image