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State Bar & Bar Associations,
Law Practice,
Ethics/Professional Responsibility

Sep. 2, 2016

Tips for avoiding a State Bar complaint

Because most lawyers would prefer to visit bars to sip cocktails and not defend against client complaints, there are steps lawyers can take to avoid being subject to a State Bar complaint.

Heather E. Abelson

UC Hastings

Heather E. Abelson, formerly a trial counsel with the State Bar, is chair of the State Bar Defense/Legal Malpractice Group at Gluck Daniel LLP

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By Heather E. Abelson

No attorney wants to be the subject of a complaint to the State Bar. What steps can you take to maintain a successful relationship with your client? Below is a list of common types of client complaints to the bar and practice tips on how to avoid being the subject of one.

Failure to Perform with Competence

Clients do not want to pay for nothing. Pursuant to Rules of Professional Conduct,