Legal malpractice occurs when a client is harmed as a result of the failure to render competent legal service by the hired attorney.
To be successful in a legal malpractice case against your attorney, you have to generally prove:
the existence of an attorney-client relationship
whether the attorney was negligent
whether there was a breach of contract
whether such acts caused plaintiff's damages
whether the case would have been successful without the legal malpractice.
These are some forms of legal malpractice:
Improper or incompetent legal counsel
Poor performance causing economic harm
Conflict of interest cases
Charging excessive fees
Failure to properly advise
Missing the statute of limitations
Breach of fiduciary duty
Ethical matters
Incorrect title searches in real estate transaction
Intellectual property law malpractice
Entertainment lawyer malpractice
Every state has an agency that investigates ethical, billing and theft complaints against lawyers and law firms.
Attorney Grievance Program will help resolve ethical complaints Fee Arbitration Program deals with billing complaints Client Security Trust Funds deals with theft of client funds entrusted to the attorney.
These lawyer programs are often affiliated with the state bar associations and can take disciplinary actions against the attorney such as: reprimand, dismissals, suspensions and disbarment.
ARKANSAS Legal Malpractice Help, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
2224 Cottondale Lane
Little Rock, AR 72202
501-375-4606 | 800-609-5668 | Fax: 501-375-4901
CALIFORNIA Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
Sacramento
1201 K Street, Ste 720
Sacramento, CA 95814
916-442-8018
San Francisco (Main Office)
180 Howard Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
415-538-2000
Los Angeles
1149 South Hill Street
Los Angeles, CA 90015
213-765-1000
Fee Arbitration and Fee Agreement Forms
415-538-2020
Complaints Against Attorneys
800-843-9053
(in California)
213-765-1200
California Rules of Professional Conduct and State Bar Act (Publication 250) 415-538-2112
COLORADO Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
1900 Grant St, 9th Floor Denver, CO 80203Phone: (303) 860-1115
CONNECTICUT Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
30 Bank Street. PO Box 350. New Britain CT 06050-0350
Phone: (860) 223-4400 Fax: (860) 223-4488
DELAWARE Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
301 North Market Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19801
Phone: (302) 658-5279 TOLL FREE: (800) 292-7869 (from Kent & Sussex Counties) FAX: (302) 658-5212
The District of Columbia Bar
1250 H Street NW, 6th floor Washington, DC 20005-5937 Phone: 202-737-4700
1016 16th Street, NW Suite 101 Washington, DC 20036
Phone (202) 223-6600
Fax (202) 293-3388
FLORIDA Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
651 E. Jefferson Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-2300
(850) 561-5600
GEORGIA Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
Atlanta Office
104 Marietta St. NW, Suite 100
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
(404) 527-8700
(800) 334-6865
FAX: (404) 527-8717
Tifton Office
244 E. Second St. (31794)
P.O. Box 1390
Tifton, Georgia 31793-1390
(229) 387-0446/0455
(800) 330-0446
FAX: (229) 382-7435
Attorney Discipline
(800) 334-6865 ext. 720 or (404) 527-8720
ETHICS Helpline
(800) 682-9806 or (404) 527-8741
Lawyer Assistance Program
(800) 327-9631
Unauthorized Practice of Law
(404) 527-8743
Professionalism
(404) 225-5040
Fee Arbitration
(404) 527-8750
HAWAII Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
1132 Bishop Street, Suite 906
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Phone (808) 537-1868 Fax (808) 521-7936
ILLINOIS Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
20 S. Clark St., Suite 900
Chicago, IL 60603-1802
(312) 726-8775
(800) 678-4009
Illinois Bar Center
424 S. Second Street
Springfield, IL 62701-1779
(217) 525-1760
(800) 252-8908
INDIANA Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
One Indiana Square
Suite 530
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Voice: (317) 639-5465
Toll Free: (800) 266-2581
Facsimile: (317) 266-2588
IOWA Legal Malpractice Help, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
625 East Court Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50309 Phone:
(515) 243-3179
KENTUCKY Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
514 W. Main Street
Frankfort KY 40601-1812 Phone: (502) 564-3795
LOUISIANA Legal Malpractice Help, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
601 St. Charles Avenue New Orleans, LA 70130 (800) 421-LSBA(5722) - (504) 566-1600
MAINE Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
124 State Street
Augusta, ME 04330
Phone: 207-622-7523 - 207-623-0083
Mailing Address:
Maine Bar Association
PO Box 788
Augusta, ME 04332-0788
MARYLAND Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
520 W. Fayette St
Baltimore, MD 21201
Phone: 410-685-7878 - 800-492-1964 Fax: 410-685-1016
MASSACHUSETTS Legal Malpractice Help, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
20 West St.
Boston, MA 02111-1204
(617) 338-0500
Massachusetts Bar Association
73 State St.
Springfield, MA 01103
(413) 731-5134
MISSOURI Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
PO Box 119 Jefferson City, MO 65102
Phone: 573-635-4128- FAX: 573-635-2811
MONTANA Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
7 West 6th Avenue, Suite 2B
P.O. Box 577
Helena, MT 59624
406.442.7660
Fax 406.442.7763
NEBRASKA Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
635 S.14th Street
P.O. Box 81809
Lincoln, NE 68501
Phone: (402) 475-7091
(800) 927-0117
Fax: (402) 475-7098
NEVADA Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
600 E. Charleston Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89104 Phone: 702-382-2200
State Bar of Nevada
Attn: Discipline Department
9456 Double R Blvd. Suite B, Reno, NV 89521 Phone:
(775) 329-4100
NEW HAMPSHIRE Legal Malpractice Help, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
2 Pillsbury Street, Suite 300, Concord NH 03301
Phone: (603) 224-6942 Fax: (603) 224-2910
NEW JERSEY Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
One Constitution Square
New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901-1520
Phone 732 249-5000 Fax 732 249-2815
NEW MEXICO Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
400 Gold Avenue SW, Suite 800
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102 Phone: (505) 842-5781
MAILING ADDRESS: Post Office Box 1809, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87103-1809
The Disciplinary Board is an agency of the Supreme Court of New Mexico. The purpose of the Board is to look into complaints about attorneys licensed in the state of New Mexico to determine whether the attorney has violated the Rules of Professional Conduct, which are part of the New Mexico Statutes.
NEW YORK Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
1 Elk Street, Albany, NY 12207 PH: (518) 463-3200 FX: (518) 487-5517
The Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection 119 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 11210, Toll-Free: 1-800-442-FUND.
Attorney-Client Fee Dispute Resolution Program Phone: 877-FEES-137 (877-333-7137)
GRIEVANCE COMMITTEES:
Kings, Queens and Richmond Counties:
Grievance Committee for the Second and Eleventh Judicial Districts
Renaissance Plaza
335 Adams Street, Suite 2400
Brooklyn, NY 11201-3745
(718) 923-6300
Committee on Professional Standards
40 Steuben Street
Albany, NY 12207
(518) 474-8816.
Warren and Washington Counties: Albany, Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Clinton, Columbia, Cortland, Delaware, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Hamilton, Madison, Montgomery, Otsego, Rensselaer, St. Lawrence, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Schuyler, Sullivan, Tioga, Tompkins, Ulster,
Grievance Committee for the Eighth Judicial District
438 Main Street
Suite 800
Buffalo, NY 14202-3212
(716) 845-3630. Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genessee, Niagara, Orleans and Wyoming Counties.
Grievance Committee for the Tenth Judicial District
150 Motor Parkway, Suite 102
Hauppauge, NY 11788
(631) 231-3775. Nassau and Suffolk Counties
Departmental Disciplinary Committee for the First Department
61 Broadway, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10006
(212) 401-0800. New York and Bronx Counties.
Grievance Committee for the Seventh Judicial District
Atttorney Grievance Committee
50 East Avenue, Suite 404
Rochester, NY 14604-2206
(585) 530-3180
Fax: (585) 530-3191. Cayuga, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne and Yates Counties.
Grievance Committee for the Fifth Judicial District
224 Harrison Street
Suite 408
Syracuse, NY 13202
315-471-1835. Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Oneida, Onondaga and Oswego Counties.
Grievance Committee for the Ninth Judicial District
399 Knollwood Road, Suite 200
White Plains, NY 10603
(914) 949-4540. Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland and Westchester Counties.
NORTH CAROLINA Legal Malpractice Help, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
NC Bar Association
8000 Weston Parkway
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 677-0561
1-800-662-7407. Mailing Address: PO Box 3688 · Cary, NC 27519 · 8000 Weston Parkway · Cary, NC 27513 · Phone: (919) 677-0561
NORTH DAKOTA Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
State Bar: 504 N. Washington St. Bismark, ND 58501 Phone: (701) 255-1304 - (800)-472-2685
Inquiry Committee investigates complaints against attorneys and recommend disciplinary action as part of the Supreme Court's disciplinary process.
Bismarck 2009 701-223-6400
Dickinson 2010 701-227-1841
Cando 2009 701-968-3324
East Grand Forks 2008 795-3000
Fargo 2008 701-235-5515
Grafton 2010 701-352-9311
Grand Forks 2008 701-775-5595
Forman 2010 701-724-3366
Langdon 2010 701-256-3717
Mandan 2010 701-663-6568
Wahpeton 2010 701-642-2668
Watford City 2008 701-444-2211
OKLAHOMA Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
Oklahoma Bar Association
Office of the General Counsel P.O. Box 53036, 1901 N. Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73152-3036
Phone (405) 416-7007; Fax (405) 416-7001
PENNSYLVANIA Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
Bar Association, 100 South Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101 Phone: 800.932.0311
RHODE ISLAND Legal Malpractice Help, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
Bar Association 115 Cedar St. Providence, RD 02903
Phone: (401) 421-5740
Fax: (401) 421-2703
SOUTH CAROLINA Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
State Bar 950 Taylor Street Columbia, South Carolina 29201
Phone: (803) 799-6653 - Fax: (803) 799-4118
Lawyers Fund for Client Protection P.O. Box 87
Greenville, SC 29602
Phone: (864) 240-2433
Fax: (864) 240-2475
SOUTH DAKOTA Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
State Bar: 222 East Capitol Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501 Phone: (605) 224-7554 -
(800) 952-2333
Disciplinary Board c/o State Bar of South Dakota
222 East Capitol Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501
TENNESSEE Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
Bar Association
221 Fourth Avenue North, Suite 400
Nashville, Tennessee 37219
Telephone (615) 383-7421
Fax: (615) 297-8058
Board of Professional Responsibility
Oaks Office Tower, Suite 730
1101 Kermit Drive
Nashville, TN 37217
615-361-7500 or 800-486-5714
TEXAS Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
Client-Attorney Assistance Program (CAAP)
PO Box 12487, Austin, Tx 78711-2487
(800) 204-2222, ext. 1790 - (800) 932-1900
Grievance Information - fee disputes: (800) 932-1900
UTAH Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
Utah State Bar
645 South 200 East
Salt Lake City, UT 84111 Phone: 801-531-9077
VERMONT Legal Malpractice Help, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
35-37 Court Street
PO Box 100
Montpelier, Vermont 05601-0100
Phone: (802) 223-2020
Fax: (802) 223-1573
VIRGINIA Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
Virginia State Bar 707 East Main Street, Suite 1500 Richmond, Virginia 23219-2800
804-775-0500 TDD/Voice Line (Hearing-Impaired): 804-775-0502
WASHINGTON Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
Washington State Bar Association
1325 Fourth Ave., Ste. 600
Seattle, WA 98101-2539
Phone: 206-443-WSBA (9722)
Toll-free: 800-945-WSBA (9722)
Fax: 206-727-8319
Office of Disciplinary Counsel: (206) 727-8207 / (206) 727-8325 Fax
WEST VIRGINIA Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
State Bar 2006 Kanawha Boulevard, East - Charleston, WV 25311-2204 Phone-(304)558-2456/Fax-(304 )558-2467/WV Toll Free Phone-(866)989-8227
OFFICE OF DISCIPLINARY COUNSEL
2008 Kanawha Boulevard, East Charleston, WV 25311
Phone: 304/558-7999 Fax: 304/558-4015
WISCONSIN Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
State Bar of Wisconsin, P.O. Box 7158, Madison WI 53707-7158.
Customer service, (800) 728-7788.
State Bar's ethics Phone: (608) 250-6168 or (800) 444-9404, ext. 6168
DISCLAIMER: The law will vary depending on your state and the specifics of your case. The information provided by USAttorneyLegalServices.com is intended for educational purposes only. All the content on this website should NOT be considered professional legal advice or a substitute for professional legal advice. For such services, we recommend getting a free initial consultation by a licensed Attorney in your State.