What kinds of misconduct typically lead to discipline?
The two main areas of ethical misconduct that lead to serious discipline are money violations and failure to communicate or perform competently. Disbarment is usually imposed only when the attorney has a history of misconduct and has committed one or more serious violations, such as perjury or stealing client funds. Attorneys who ignore discipline charges or fail to comply with disciplinary conditions imposed on them will also be disbarred. Attorneys convicted of a felony, or of a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, such as theft, are placed on interim suspension as soon as possible, pending a disciplinary hearing on the merits in State Bar Court. Most errant lawyers either don’t know their ethical duties or find themselves in over their heads as a result of psychological problems, addiction, or personal or family crises. Depending on the seriousness of the offense, first-time offenders tend to get a warning or formal reproval. Recent rule changes require all disciplined attorneys t
