How to file a misconduct inquiry about a lawyer in Virginia State

Before you file a misconduct inquiry about a lawyer, you need to realize that an accusation of unethical conduct is very serious and should not be made without trying to resolve the conflict by an honest communication with the lawyer first. However, if you did all you could to resolve the conflict and you still think the lawyer should be disciplined for his/her actions, you can file a misconduct inquiry to the Intake Office of the Virginia State Bar.

Prior to filling, make sure to check if your situation is a subject to the Virginia State Bar’s disciplinary process or if it should be resolved in other ways. Examples of situations not covered by the disciplinary process include disputes concerning lawyer’s fees, disagreements concerning the advice received or a lawyer’s rude behavior.

To file a misconduct inquiry about a lawyer, you have three options: you can choose to submit your inquiry online; you can use an official Inquiry Form provided by the Intake Office of the Virginia State Bar; or you can simply write a letter. Should you decide to choose the latter option, you need to make sure that your letter contains all the required information, such as your full name, address and your phone number, as well as the lawyer’s name, address and phone number (bear in mind that the complaints about law firms cannot be accepted – you can only file an inquiry about an individual lawyer). In addition, your letter should contain a brief explanation of the situation that you think shows a lawyer’s unethical behavior and, last but not least, do not forget to sign the letter.

After you file a misconduct inquiry about a lawyer, it will be carefully reviewed and analyzed by the Intake Office. This process can take a few weeks and you will be notified about the result. If the situation described in your inquiry does not involve violation of any ethic rules, no further action will be taken. However, if it is concluded that the situation presented by you might have shown a possible violation, a case will be opened and both you and the lawyer in question will be notified. Depending on the complexity of the situation, it might take between two months to a year to fully investigate the case and reach a decision, of which you will be notified in writing.