Illinois Lawyer Referrals and Legal Guidance
Misconduct by Lawyers and Legal Malpractice in Illinois
Findgreatlawyers.com is a free service, run by Illinois lawyers, to find an attorney or obtain guidance for any Illinois legal matter, including Illinois legal malpractice cases. Basically we allow you to speak with our attorneys for free, ask questions and if we know someone, obtain a recommendation that fits your needs. If you would like our help please contact us at (312) 346-5320 or (800) 517-1614. All inquiries are kept in strict confidence. We are based out of Chicago, but help throughout Illinois.
Lawyers can commit a huge range of unethical behavior from representing clients when they have a conflict of interest to lying or deceiving someone. Lawyers may pad their bills and overcharge clients, or they could assist a client in committing fraudulent or criminal acts. Frequently, this unethical behavior overlaps with a claim for legal malpractice. Sometimes, however, an attorney does something unethical or inappropriate, but there is no claim for malpractice. While no grounds may exist for a lawsuit against the attorney, this does not mean that he should get away with unethical behavior.
A legal malpractice lawsuit is a civil complaint, not a criminal complaint. In a malpractice suit, you are suing for money or other damages, but its outcome will not affect the ability of the attorney to practice law. To deal with concerns regarding the behavior or performance of an attorney, you should contact the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC).
The ARDC is the regulating agency for lawyers in Illinois. The Illinois Supreme Court created the agency, and it is responsible for (1) maintaining current records of registration and discipline information for lawyers licensed to practice in Illinois, (2) investigating allegations of attorney misconduct, and (3) prosecuting the cases in which a lawyer’s misconduct suggests a threat to the public or to the integrity of the legal profession.
Lawyers who act inappropriately or unethically are disciplined in various ways, but only if you bring a complaint forward so that an investigation is launched. An attorney can receive a private or public reprimand, a sanction (order to reimburse client), or in more serious cases, he can have his license to practice law suspended. The ultimate form of discipline against a lawyer is to have his license revoked, meaning he is disbarred and can no longer practice law at all. Of course, if he has committed a crime, he can also be arrested, prosecuted, and sentenced for that, but the disciplinary process is separate from the criminal justice system.
If you are not sure how to proceed with a complaint against an attorney, you should contact the ARDC and ask to speak with a case manager. The ARDC does not charge for its service. Their phone number is (312) 565-2600.
If you have any additional questions or would like us to help you find an Illinois legal malpractice lawyer please do not hesitate to contact us. All inquiries are free and confidential.
Findgreatlawyers.com is a free service, run by Illinois lawyers, to help people with any Illinois legal matter. From Chicago to Belleville, to Peoria to Rockford and all locations in between, we will use our best efforts to help you with your legal situation.