Representing Attorneys in Disciplinary and Reinstatement Hearings

The Florida Bar takes its role in enforcing professional conduct standards for attorneys very seriously, and so should anyone facing disciplinary proceedings. Attorneys that are facing a hearing need to have an experienced and independent lawyer by their side.

At Young, Berman, Karpf & Karpf, P.A, our Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton and Palm Beach attorney discipline lawyers have been representing clients in these matters since 1990. We combine the experience, resources and personal attention needed to help the people that we represent fight the allegations against them and move on with their professional lives.

Do not go through a disciplinary or reinstatement hearing alone. Our attorneys are intimately familiar with the disciplinary process, and we know what the bar looks for in these cases. All of our principals are Board Certified by the Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education. Our firm has also achieved a coveted AV rating from the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory.

Disciplinary Proceedings

The Florida Bar hears complaints about possible attorney misconduct, including those filed by other lawyers, judges and the general public. The Bar Attorney Consumer Assistance Program’s receipt of a compliant starts an administrative process that can go in many different directions and result in suspension or disbarment.

The ACAP performs an initial review of the complaint. If a further investigation is necessary - or if the lawyer who is the subject of the complaint does not respond - the regional Bar counsel is assigned to review the allegations. The case is then sent to a grievance committee if the reviewing attorney finds sufficient grounds to move forward with the allegations.

A committee member is assigned to look into the case and make a recommendation about whether there is probable cause to believe the attorney accused of misconduct violated Bar rules. That recommendation goes before the committee in a proceeding similar to a grand jury, where evidence is presented and the accused attorney has the right to present their case.

If the grievance committee agrees that there is probable cause, it files a complaint with the Florida Supreme Court. Some of these cases are resolved via consent judgments. Other cases eventually go before a referee, who holds a trial and makes punishment recommendations, which must then be reviewed by the Florida Supreme Court.

An attorney who has been suspended or disbarred as a result of professional misconduct allegations has the right to seek reinstatement eventually. Reinstatement petitions must be filed with the Florida Supreme Court, and are heard by a special referee in a hearing process.

Why You Need a Lawyer

It is vital that an attorney facing a professional conduct complaint or reinstatement proceeding retain the services of independent counsel.

An experienced attorney discipline lawyer understands the intricacies of the complaint review process and how the grievance committee, referees and the Supreme Court look at these cases. The lawyer can also give you an honest assessment of your situation, unbridled by any personal involvement in the underlying allegations.

The Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton and Palm Beach attorney discipline lawyers at Young, Berman, Karpf & Karpf, P.A, can help. We have significant experience in misconduct cases and a strong track record of getting optimal results.

Our offices are conveniently located in Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Contact us online or call us at 305-945-1851 to speak with an attorney about your situation.