Independent Legal Ethics Journalism

How-To Guides

Practical guides for navigating the legal discipline system.

Guide

How to File a Bar Complaint Against Your Lawyer

A step-by-step guide to filing a formal bar complaint against an attorney who has engaged in misconduct, negligence, or unethical

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Guide

How to File a Complaint Against a Judge

A step-by-step guide to filing a formal complaint against a judge for misconduct, bias, or conduct unbecoming of the judiciary.

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Guide

What Happens When a Lawyer is Disbarred?

A complete explanation of what disbarment means, what happens to the disbarred attorney and their clients, and what rights you hav

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Guide

How Attorney Discipline Works: A Complete Guide

A comprehensive guide to the attorney discipline system — from complaint filing through investigation, hearings, and final disposi

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Guide

What to Do If Your Lawyer Stole Your Money

Step-by-step guidance for victims of attorney theft — how to report it, how to recover funds, and how to protect yourself going fo

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Guide

Legal Malpractice vs. Bar Complaint: Key Differences

Understanding the difference between a legal malpractice lawsuit and a bar complaint — when to use each, and what each can accompl

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Guide

How to Check If Your Lawyer Has Been Disciplined

How to look up an attorney's discipline history before hiring them — or to check on your current lawyer's record.

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Guide

How to Report Judicial Misconduct

A practical guide to reporting misconduct by state and federal judges through the appropriate judicial conduct channels.

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Guide

The Hidden Risks of AI-Generated Legal Work

What clients and attorneys need to know about the risks of AI-generated legal research, briefs, and documents — including hallucin

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Guide

How to Find a New Lawyer After Attorney Misconduct

Practical guidance for clients who need to find new legal representation after their lawyer has engaged in misconduct, abandoned t

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