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OLR Annual Report
FiscalYear 2000-2001
Regulating the Legal Profession
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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