As you are interviewing Texas personal injury attorneys to hire for your personal injury case, it’s very important to verify if he or she has been censured or disciplined in the past.
You’ll want to determine also what caused the disciplinary action. For example, if an attorney has ever failed to pay an expert for his or her testimony, he could have been disciplined.
Good news is, it’s simple to find out in Texas if an attorney has gotten in hot water before. Just follow these easy steps to find out about any problems:
- Visit the State Bar of Texas website.
- On the home page you will see the Find a Lawyer feature on the top of the page.
- Type in the name of the first and last name of the attorney, and law firm, if available.
The profile for that Texas-licensed attorney should appear. Under Section 81.115 of the Texas Government Code, this attorney profile information is required to be provided to the public. Information that appears on each attorney’s profile includes:
- Name
- Firm Size
- Specialty
- Law school and year graduated
- Public disciplinary history for Texas and other states
The website states that Texas disciplinary sanctions within the last 10 years are shown. For sanction or disciplinary information beyond 10 years, you need to contact the Office of the Chief Disciplinary Counsel: (877) 953-5555.
There is a $20 charge for a certified copy of a disciplinary judgment for a Texas attorney.
Still need more information about discipline and censure of an attorney in Texas? The Texas Center for Legal Ethics lists the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct that details all of a licensed Texas attorney’s responsibilities to clients.
Karen Pattersin says
My lawyer lied to me to get me to sign for 2 years in prison she said if I go to prison than my restitution would go away. Now I’m out and parole said I still have restitution when I talk to my lawyer she said she never said that. Now what
Tommy says
My family hired an attorney to handle a probate case involving both parents that died 96 hours apart. The mothers side of the case was handled and completed. However, the fathers side of the case has not been resolved within two years from the time of death. The attorney was made partial executor do the fact one of the executors were moving out of state. Our family was old by the attorney on 9/10/2019 that the case could take “infinity”, which we determined, until the inheritance was completely dissolved by legal fees.
How could we keep this from happening, barring going to the media with this story. The niece of my father is a local news reported. They would love to hear our full story of how a family was taken advantage of after both parents died within four days apart.
Ian Pisarcik says
Tommy,
There are a couple of steps you can take if you believe your attorney is acting unethically. First, you can write a letter to the attorney explaining your position and asking that they take the necessary steps to resolve the issue. If this doesn’t help. Second, you can hire a different attorney to handle the matter. Third, you can contact your local state bar association and file a formal complaint against the attorney. The discipline section of the state bar associated will then investigate the complaint.
SMH in TX says
I found a dumpster with lawyers past clients folders containing so much personal info it spins my head.: Driver’s license, social security numbers, birth certificates, 1040 income tax returns…
Would this firm be in trouble if texas state bar found out?
Ian Pisarcik says
There are several ethical rules that require attorneys in Texas to avoid revealing confidential client information without the client’s permission. As such, an attorney would need to shred documents such as those that you described and could face disciplinary action from the state bar.
william wattiker says
Unfortunately the state ethics committees are made up of lawyers and unless the transgression is publically egregious little disciplinary action will be taken. I experienced an attorney filing a fraudulent lien on my home in a planned community which is a Class 1 felony and the ethics bar (North Carolina) choose to do nothing. Bill Wattiker
Susan Ann says
My former divorce attorney did not follow through on taking action to compel my ex to disclose funds he hid worth over 1.6 million dollars. She dropped communication and did not communicate to me she would not be attending my 2017 hearing, sending an attorney not associated with her office and who knew nothing about my case. The court granted my divorce but she had inserted a clause saying my ex spouse could keep everything in his possession and specifically mentioned bank accounts, investments, etc. I was told this clause would keep me from taking my ex back to court even though he did not disclose those funds during Disclosure. I contacted two legal malpractice attorneys who agree I have a valid case, but are hesitant to pursue because of the risk she may not have malpractice insurance. Please help me. I was married over 40 years and the outcome has devastated me financially. I am considering filing against her on my own, and if insurance is there, at that point hiring an attorney. However, at what step in such a suit would it be determined whether or not she has legal malpractice insurance? Thank you.
Need to Know says
20 years ago, a 15 year old was charged with a CM and given a court appointed attorney. Because our family never had to deal with legal issues of any kind we didn’t know what to expect. This attorney would not speak to the mother and refused to. This court appointed attorney spoke to his 15 year old client only once and that was when he was appointed as the attorney by the court. He refused the collect calls from this client, he would not answer his client’s letters requesting to talk to him regarding the case. (This 15 year old had no criminal record or history, this was his/her first time ever being in trouble and having to talk to an attorney.) This court appointed attorney saw and talked to this client on the day of trial. He filed all his motions on the day of trial. He accused his client of being involved in the crime without asking his client what role he/she played in it. Bottom line, he lost this case. But he was appointed to file the appeals. Again he failed to communicate with his client.. He lost that too. His client did not know an appeal was filed until 4 years later. So my question is: Is there a statute of limitation to file a grievance on this attorney? Thank you!
Anderson County says
Ethical rules for Texas lawyers and judges are a JOKE!!! Lawyers watching lawyers. How stupid!!! There needs to be MASSIVE REFORM in Texas! We too had a judge who did (demetia) guardianship. He would say to guardian, “Im in charge”, “I’m in charge”, I’m in charge”. And then say to guardian, you can’t do this and that. You guessed it, guardian did several things judge warned her not to do. What did judge? ABSOUTELY NOTHING!! He didn’t complain, didn’t punish her in any way, he ignored every illegal deed she did!!!!! Judges will intentionally disobey Texas law to favor side they don’t like as in our case. Judge hated me because I wrote some letters pointing out illegal activity and he became so angry at me. When ward of court died guardian NEVER TOLD COURT!!! I worte a letter to judge, his assistant called a hearing. He was ANGRY AT ME for calling a hearing about deceased ward, yet I NEVER requested a hearing!! HE DID NOTHING AND NEVER COMPLAINED TO GUARDIAN!!! There is MUCH more to tell about how Judges inaction (ignoring guardian’s misdeeds of looting estate assets, selling some and giiving some away and keeping some for herself) has cost a lot in legal fees, drained Estate assets (cash) to expose and recover some of guardian’s theft. Texas Law is a JOKE when It comes to lawyers and Judge’s conduct!! Never do WILL and Probate!!! Its a DAMN MONEY TRAP!!!! Do a trust. Rules that govern lawyers and judges are WRITTEN BY LAWYERS!!! We need citizen watchdog groups like Japan where they can over rule a judge, start removal process and such. The bar association in Japan is stricter than USA. and will punish lawyers sooner than in Texas. Same for Judges!!
Melissa Gold says
Hi, there. I’m sorry you’re dealing with some difficulties in the court system. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with Enjuris readers. I hope you’re able to get the legal consideration you need in a fair and just system. Be well.
Loyd Guido says
Chad Edwards is my lawyer in the Boy Scout abuse case. How can I pfotect myself .. I have been informed that you can be easily duped in this sort of action. I’m 76 and have some dementia.
Ian Pisarcik says
Lloyd,
Do you have a family member that you trust? One option is to go through the process of making the family member a legal guardian. That way, the family member can make decisions on your behalf and in your best interest.
If you don’t have a family member that you trust, the court can appoint a legal guardian for you.
You can talk to your lawyer about creating a guardianship and learn more information here.
Linda says
Is there anything one can do to make employees wear masks inside the law office?
Melissa Gold says
Hello, Linda. Texas does have an order that masks must be worn in most public places, and the EEOC permits an employer to mandate masks. The management would likely need to enforce a mask policy in any small business.
Frank says
My attorney lied to me and railroaded back in 1990 when a person lied about me, saying I pointed a shotgun at him and threatened to “blow him away”. This was 3 months after I was in a bad motorcycle accident and was flown to Memorial Hermann in Houston Medical Center. I had lost my collarbone, It wasn’t broken. I had a big hole in my shoulder and I lost it completely. I Googled how long does it take for a collarbone to heal and it said 3-4 months but that was for fracture. I was setup because first, 2 men assaulted me in my front yard and I got away from them an=d went in my home and grabbed a shotgun. I had no intention of using it, I just wanted them to leave me alone. I held the barrel straight up in the air because I had a gun collection and I had been taught gun safety plus I could not even hold it up with my left arm from the injury. The guys that assaulted me were gone, in fact it was so strange, not a soul was out there as if someone told everyone to go in their homes. The man who said I threatened him wasn’t even involved in the assault. I was only outside for a couple minutes at the most but I never made a threat. I know better.. Even one of the guys who assaulted me came to me a couple days after I bonded out and was sorry about the incident, that what they heard was not true. My accusers wife had told him and a firend I assaulted an old woman, one of my assaulters mother. At the time, as I stated, I was only out there for a couple minutes at the most. i said where did y’all go? Why did you run away? It’s a complicated story but i decided to go in my home and before I could take a step, I heard a car come over the speed bump and it was Harris County Sheriffs. The arresting officer threw me against a car, grabbed my injured arm, put it behind my back and jerlked it up as hard as he could and I jumped and screamed in pain. I remember him saying, “another charge, resisting arrest”. I tried to tell him about my injury but he wouldn’t hear it. I asked what was I being arrested for and he said I would find out later. He then said he was going to make sure I went to prison. You would think he knew what I was being arrested for. After I bonded out, I also heard the Sheriff was friends with my accuser so I suspect he told my accuser what to say my accuser so I suspect he told my accuser what t0 say. I couldn’t hire my normal attorney because someone else in the case had already retained him so I had to find another one. He was okay until the final court date when he suddenly was a different person and he used scare tactics on me telling me the judge wasn’t going to believe me and if I pled not guilty, he would give me the max of 10 years but if I pled guilty, I would only get two, He had me so screwed up that day, he knew exactly what he was doing because he knew I was scared. I even mentioned taking a jury trial but he told me they wouldn’t believe me and give me the max. When I was sentenced, he leaned over and whispered in my ear to take it, that I would be out in 1/4th my time which was a lie. While locked up, there was an inmate that helped people with their cases kinda like a paralegal. We spoke and he was from Houston and he told me he knew the attorney and the judge and that they were friends. He told me the judge needed convictions to be re-elected and was trying to be the first hispanic judge on SCOTUS under the Clinton administrarion but lost due to picking up 2 perjury charges which were later acquitted, It has been 31 years and my life was destroyed. I wasn’t able to live at certain places because I was considered a violent person which I’m not, it was also hard to fund a job and just so much more, there’s no end to it. I even filed a grievance on him but he lied to the BAR Assoc. Once you get that X on your back, you’re marked for life. I was sentenced to 2 years for aggravated assault w/deadly weapon. I lost my gun collection along with my reloading setup that if I still had it, would be worth $150,000- $200,000 if not more the way gun prices are these days. .I’m having a hard time, nightmares and so on. I want my 2A rights back, they should have never been taken in the first place. I inquired about an expungement but i was told i needed a pardon because it was aggravated. The whole thing was wrong, all because of one persons lie that snowballed! I want justice. Now I’m about to go broke and will soon be living under a bridge.