OLR Annual Report
Fiscal Year 2000-2001
Regulating the Legal Profession

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The new lawyer regulation system became effective on Oct. 1, 2000. This first report from the Office of Lawyer Regulation looks at the disposition of grievances against lawyers from July 1, 2000 to June 30, 2001, and presents an overview of the OLR's structure and responsibilities.

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Figure 1
Lawyer Regulation System Organization

Figure 2
Survey of Grievances Received During Fiscal 2001

Allegations	Total	% of Total
Conflict of interest	93	4.8
Criminal conduct	18	0.9
Failure to return property	77	4.0
Frivolous action	13	0.7
IFOR (Inquiries falling outside the rules)	250	12.8
Improper advertising	7	0.4
Improper advocacy	84	4.3
Improper communications	42	2.1
Improper termination	36	1.8
Incompetence	92	4.7
Lack of communications	272	14.0
Lack of diligence	411	21.1
Medical incapacity	3	0.1
Misrepresentation/dishonesty	163	8.3
Reciprocal discipline	1	0.1
Revealing confidences	17	0.9
Scope of representation	71	3.6
Statutory violation	5	0.3
Supervise subordinates	9	0.5
Trust account violations	94	4.8
Unauthorized practice	22	1.1
Unreasonable fees	51	2.6
Violation of decision	2	0.1
Violation of oath	25	1.3
Not available	19	1.0
Other	74	3.7
Total	1,951	100.0

Area of Practice	Total	% of Total
Administrative/government law	33	1.6
Bankruptcy/receivership	72	3.6
Collections, garnishments	38	1.9
Contracts, commercial, consumer law	24	1.2
Corporate/banking	18	0.9
Criminal law	558	28.6
Environmental law	2	0.1
Estate/probate, guardianship & wills	141	7.2
Family law & juvenile	464	23.7
Immigration & naturalization	14	0.7
Insurance	7	0.4
Labor/unemployment compensation	30	1.5
Landlord/tenant	20	1.0
Litigation	164	8.4
Patent/trademark	2	0.1
Real property law & foreclosure	79	4.1
Taxation	6	0.3
Torts, inc. PI, auto accidents & civil rights	127	6.5
Worker's Comp./Social Security	32	2.0
Not available	24	1.2
Other	96	5.0
Total	1,951	100.0

Source of Grievance	Total	% of Total
Client	1132	58.0
Adverse party	177	9.1
Other person	467	24.0
Attorney	64	3.2
Board	3	0.2
Staff	104	5.3
Judge	4	0.2
Total	1,951	100.0

Figure 3
Attorneys Disciplined Compared to Total Membership

	Attorneys Publicly Disciplined	State Bar Membership	% of Lawyers Publicly Disciplined
2000-01	37	20,551	0.2
1999-00	24	20,167	0.1
1998-99	34	19,984	0.2
1997-98	37	19,581	0.2
1996-97	28	19,301	0.1
1995-96	33	18,938	0.2
1994-95	47	18,558	0.3
1993-94	55	17,974	0.3
1992-93	69	17,648	0.4
1991-92	50	17,407	0.3
1990-91	45	16,334	0.3
1989-90	33	15,876	0.2
1988-89	38	15.451	0.2
1987-88	39	14,942	0.3
1986-87	32	14,533	0.2
1985-86	45	14,312	0.3
1984-85	38	14,096	0.3
1983-84	45	13,536	0.3
1982-83	36	13,300	0.3
1981-82	28	12,700	0.2
1980-81	20	12,300	0.2
1979-80	16	11,900	0.1
1978-79	11	11,600	0.1

Figure 4
Type of Misconduct Found in Public Discipline Decisions
Fiscal 2000 -2001

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