When people refer to “bad lawyers,” they often think of attorneys who exhibit unethical behavior. They generally fail to live up to the ethical standards they have sworn to uphold. In contrast, other lawyers are credits to the legal profession. They value ethical practices and work hard to present their clients well.
Lawyers in Cincinnati and throughout Ohio are bound to uphold several codes of conduct that guide their law practice. In particular, they must take an oath to represent their clients without compromise or conflict. Lawyers who do not act in good faith must be held accountable, and it is appropriate to report them when there is evidence of misconduct.
“Bad lawyers” who do not follow or violate the standard ethical codes of the legal profession tend to do one or more of the following:
- Knowingly lie to or mislead a client
- Misuse a client’s money or spend funds in ways their client does not approve
- Settle, file, or dismiss a case without a client’s permission
- Neglect to handle a case that they agreed to take for a client
- Reveal a client’s confidential information without their permission
Report a Bad Lawyer in Cincinnati
The experienced lawyers at Clements, Taylor, Butkovich & Cohen, L.P.A., Co., can guide you through the steps for reporting a lawyer for malpractice. One of the first things you can do is file a legal malpractice complaint against a lawyer practicing in Cincinnati or Ohio.
You can file your ethics complaint against a Cincinnati or Ohio attorney with one of the organizations listed below. Once you file your complaint, an investigation into the lawyer’s activities and potential ethics violations can begin.
Office of Disciplinary Counsel
The Ohio Supreme Court of Ohio
65 E. State St., Suite 1510
Columbus, Ohio 43215
P: 614-387-9700 or 800-589-5256
F: 614-387-9709
https://www.odc.ohio.gov/fileagrievance
Ohio State Bar Association
1700 Lake Shore Drive, Suite 300
Columbus, Ohio 43204
P: 614-487-8585 or 800-232-7124
Osba@ohiobar.org
https://www.ohiobar.org/contact-us/
Columbus Bar Association
175 S. Third St., Suite 1100
Columbus, Ohio 43215
P: 614-221-4112
F: 614-221-4851
info@cbalaw.org
https://www.cbalaw.org
The Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline
Supreme Court of Ohio
65 S. Front St., 5th Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215-3431
P: 614-387-9370
F: 614-387-9379
How can you recover damages?
If your lawyer’s negligence has caused you to suffer damage or violations of your rights, consider consulting another attorney to see if you can file a legal malpractice claim. Ethics complaints and legal malpractice lawsuits are separate actions, and you need to pursue them separately.
A legal malpractice law firm in Cincinnati can help you understand your rights. An attorney who specializes in this area can help you make sense of legal malpractice and ethics laws within the state of Ohio.