where to file attorney complaint in florida

Full Answer

How do I file a complaint against an attorney in Florida?

You must put your allegations in writing, either by using The Florida Bar's form or by providing the following information: 1. Give the bar your name, address and phone numbers as well as similar information on the attorney involved. You'll also need to say if you have another attorney.

How does the Florida Bar investigate a complaint?

The Florida Bar will not begin investigating your complaint until after Bar Counsel verifies that the bar has jurisdiction to review the allegations. If the bar has jurisdiction, the inquiry will be considered as a complaint.

How do I file a complaint against a funeral home in Florida?

Fraud Complaints (All Types) — File a Complaint Florida Attorney General’s hotline helps victims of any type of fraud or unfair trade practices get the assistance they need; toll-Free 1-866-966-7226. Funeral & Cemetary (Hotline)

How do I contact the Florida Bar?

The ACAP telephone number is toll-free: 1-866-352-0707. For public record information regarding any Florida Bar attorney, members of the public are asked to contact The Florida Bar via email at [email protected].

How do I file a complaint with the Florida Attorney General?

Citizens with general inquiries, or who want to file a consumer complaint, should contact the Office of Citizens Services by calling (866) 966-7226, (850) 414-3990 or filing out an online form here.

What is attorney misconduct in Florida?

Rule 4-8.4. Misconduct. Currentness. A lawyer shall not: (a) violate or attempt to violate the Rules of Professional Conduct, knowingly assist or induce another to do so, or do so through.

Who oversees lawyers in Florida?

The Florida BarAs an official agency of the Supreme Court of Florida, The Florida Bar and its Division of Lawyer Regulation are charged with the administration of a statewide disciplinary system to enforce Supreme Court rules of professional conduct of more than 109,000 lawyers admitted to practice law in Florida.

How do I contact The Florida Bar Association?

Contact The Florida Bar850-561-5600.The Florida Bar. 651 E. Jefferson St. Tallahassee, FL 32399-2300.Hours: 8:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Monday-Friday.Username/password questions? Call 1-866-854-5050 or email Member Records.

Are Florida Bar complaints public?

Florida Bar complaints are public record. Members of the public are then able to search those historical records for information about possible disciplinary actions.

Can you sue an opposing attorney in Florida?

Attorneys cannot serve clients whose interests are opposed to each other. We are not afraid to sue other attorneys who have ignored legal ethics, and have been careless with, or neglectful of, your interests.

Who is above the district attorney?

In practice, district attorneys, who prosecute the bulk of criminal cases in the United States, answer to no one. The state attorney general is the highest law enforcement officer in state government and often has the power to review complaints about unethical and illegal conduct on the part of district attorneys.

What does the Florida Bar Association do?

The Florida Bar's core functions are to: Regulate the practice of law in Florida; ensure the highest standards of legal professionalism in Florida; and protect the public by prosecuting unethical attorneys and preventing the unlicensed practice of law.

How do I email the Attorney General of Florida?

General Civil [email protected]. ... [email protected]. ... [email protected]. ... [email protected]. ... [email protected]. ... [email protected]. ... [email protected].

What's the difference between attorney and lawyer?

Attorney vs Lawyer: Comparing Definitions Lawyers are people who have gone to law school and often may have taken and passed the bar exam. Attorney has French origins, and stems from a word meaning to act on the behalf of others. The term attorney is an abbreviated form of the formal title 'attorney at law'.

Is The Florida Bar a state agency?

The Florida Bar as an organization has no control over attorney admissions. The Florida Board of Bar Examiners is the Florida Supreme Court agency charged with ensuring that only qualified people will be admitted to the practice of law in this state.

Is Florida a UBE state?

Florida is not a Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) state. Florida has its own bar exam that uses the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE), the national multiple-choice test. Florida also requires the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE).

What is a grievance committee in Florida?

Grievance committees of The Florida Bar are made up of volunteer members in your community, at least one-third of whom are not lawyers. Each of Florida's 20 judicial circuits has at least one such committee. The grievance committee investigates complaints with much the same purpose as a grand jury.

What is the Florida Bar?

The Florida Bar acts as a prosecutor in lawyer discipline cases , much like the state attorney's office does in criminal cases. Staff lawyers and grievance committees, of which one-third of the members are not lawyers, investigate alleged lawyer misconduct in those cases referred to the grievance committees.

What happens if the grievance committee finds probable cause to believe unprofessional conduct occurred?

If the grievance committee finds probable cause to believe unprofessional conduct occurred, Bar Counsel is directed to file a formal complaint against the accused lawyer with the Supreme Court of Florida. The Supreme Court then appoints a circuit or county court judge as a referee to hold a trial on the complaint.

What is a Florida pamphlet?

This pamphlet explains how and where consumer allegations regarding possible misconduct of a Florida lawyer may be filed. This brochure also explains The Florida Bar grievance system, established by the Supreme Court of Florida to enforce uniform standards of professional conduct. Please read carefully. The basic procedures outlined here are designed to prevent misunderstandings.

Why is the Florida Bar not handling fees?

Fee disputes are not handled by The Florida Bar's grievance system because of restrictions placed on us by decisions of the United States Supreme Court related to antitrust. Also, fee disputes generally do not involve questions of ethics or professional conduct unless the fee is clearly excessive. However, the Bar does have a statewide fee arbitration program available to resolve these problems. Information regarding the Fee Arbitration Program may be received by calling (850) 561-5600.

What does a referee do in Florida?

The referee then makes findings of fact and files a report and recommendations with the Supreme Court of Florida. The Supreme Court reviews the trial record, referee's report and recommendations.

Who issues admonishments in Florida?

Admonishments can be issued by grievance committees, referees, The Florida Bar Board of Governors or the Supreme Court of Florida. Sometimes, the Supreme Court allows an attorney to resign -- most often permanently -- from The Florida Bar when faced with serious disciplinary problems.

How to file a complaint against the Attorney General?

In accordance with 28 CFR 35.107, person (s) wishing to file a complaint or grievance against the Office of the Attorney General for denial of access to services to the public, as defined by 28 CFR 35.130, may do so through the Office of the Inspector General by using the on-line contact form, selecting Inspector General, and following the contact link or by calling the Office of Citizen Services at 850-414-3990 .

Is Florida conference registration a public record?

If you choose to provide information in a feedback form, conference registration form or other form on this site, unless specifically exempted by Florida Statutes, such information is a public record under Florida's Government in the Sunshine Laws and available for public inspection upon demand.

Does the Office of Citizen Services monitor emails?

PLEASE NOTE: The Office of Citizen Services' operators do NOT monitor emails on weekends, holidays, or after weekday business hours (M-F 8AM-5PM). Please do not rely on electronic communications to report urgent emergencies or safety concerns. Dial 911 instead.

How to file a complaint with the Florida Bar?

Otherwise your allegations must be in writing. The Florida Bar Inquiry/Complaint Form can be downloaded from the Bar website or you may obtain the form by calling ACAP. Because information provided will become public and is subject to disclosure to the lawyer about whom you inquire, your address and telephone number cannot be withheld. If your address and telephone number are not known to the lawyer, and you want it to stay that way, you should provide an alternative means for the Bar to contact you (such as a post office box or business address and telephone number, if proper). In addition to reading all of the information in this pamphlet, you must carefully read all of the instructions on the back of the inquiry /complaint form.

What is a Florida lawyer pamphlet?

This pamphlet provides general information relating to the purpose and procedures of the Florida lawyer discipline system. It should be read carefully and completely before any inquiry/complaint is filed with The Florida Bar.

What happens if the grievance committee finds probable cause to believe that a rule violation occurred and that discipline appears to?

If the grievance committee finds probable cause to believe that a rule violation occurred and that discipline appears to be warranted, the Bar counsel will file a formal complaint against the accused lawyer with the Supreme Court of Florida. The complaint is much like a complaint in a typical civil case.

Why is the Florida Bar important?

They pay membership fees that fund the total cost of the lawyer discipline system. The Florida Bar acts as a prosecutor in lawyer discipline cases, much like the state attorney’s office does in criminal cases. The Florida Bar does not and cannot represent any participant in a lawyer disciplinary case, other than the Bar.

How does the Florida Bar protect the public?

The Florida Bar’s lawyer discipline system protects the public by providing a means to address lawyer misconduct. The Florida Bar, as a prosecutorial agency, cannot and does not give individual legal service or advice to any person making allegations against a lawyer.

Why are lawyers disciplined?

Some are more competent than others. Some are better communicators than others. A lawyer may lose the trust and confidence of a client for various reasons. Client dissatisfaction is not, by itself, grounds for discipline. A lawyer may be disciplined only for violating the standards of conduct set forth in the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar.

Who issues admonishments in Florida?

Admonishments can be issued by grievance committees, referees or the Supreme Court of Florida. Discipline may be imposed after a contested trial and on order of the Supreme Court of Florida. The lawyer accused of misconduct may also enter a guilty plea and consent to discipline.

How to file a complaint against a lawyer?

All your allegations of a lawyer’s unprofessional or unethical conduct must be put in writing. To file a bar complaint, you can either use this Florida Bar’s form or provide the following information: 1 Provide your name and contact information, as well as your attorney’s name, address and phone number 2 Detail the facts on which your allegations are based (attach copies of any documents, letters, court papers, and other materials that establish your claims) 3 A statement providing: “Under penalty of perjury, I declare the foregoing facts are correct, true and complete” 4 Your signature

When will the Florida Bar investigate a complaint?

The Florida Bar will not begin investigating your complaint until after Bar Counsel verifies that the bar has jurisdiction to review the allegations. If the bar has jurisdiction, the inquiry will be considered as a complaint. When the bar opens a formal disciplinary file, Bar Counsel continues the investigation and has to decide whether ...

What happens when the bar opens a formal disciplinary file?

When the bar opens a formal disciplinary file, Bar Counsel continues the investigation and has to decide whether the complaint should be forwarded to a grievance committee, a group of people assigned to address bar complaints.

Does the Florida Bar charge fees?

The Florida Bar does not charge any fees or costs for filing a bar complaint against a lawyer. All members of the bar pay dues that cover the cost of lawyer discipline. If the Supreme Court of Florida rules against a lawyer, he or she will be ordered to pay the costs involved. Get help from our West Palm Beach legal malpractice attorneys ...

Can you disclose your address to the Florida Bar?

Note: Any information you disclose to the Florida Bar will become public record and shared with the lawyer about whom you complain to the bar. If you want to remain anonymous, provide an alternative means for the bar to contact you if the lawyer can recognize your address and phone number.

Can a bar counsel appeal a grievance decision?

Note: If Bar Counsel decides not to refer the complaint to a grievance committee, the claimant has no right to appeal the decision.

What is an inquiry concerning a Florida lawyer pamphlet?

Inquiry Concerning A Florida Lawyer pamphlet contains information about how to submit an Inquiry/Complaint form

What is the ACAP number in Florida?

If you feel you have been unfairly treated by a lawyer, call ACAP at 866-352-0707.

What to do if you are unsure about an attorney?

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:

What to do if you believe an attorney has committed professional misconduct?

If you believe an attorney has committed professional misconduct, you have the option of filing a complaint with the attorney regulatory authorities in your juris diction (links below).

What are some examples of attorney practices that violate the Rules?

Some examples of attorney practices that violates the Rules include: 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.

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 ...

How long has the Florida Bar been posting discipline documents?

The Florida Bar posts public record attorney discipline documents for the past 10 years.

How to find out if an attorney is disbarred?

Directly under the name on the lawyer’s page, you’ll see the status of the attorney, e.g., Member in Good Standing, Disbarred–Not eligible to practice, etc. You’ll also see an attorney number, contact information and year of admittance to the Bar.

What is the phone number for the Communications Office?

Members of the media: Call the Communications Office Media Line at 850-561-5666. The office is open Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5:30 p.m.