Why File a Complaint

Attorneys who practice law in California must adhere to ethical standards. Consumers should expect their attorneys to be both professional and ethical when handling their legal problems.

Common reasons clients file a complaint against their attorney:

  • Your lawyer doesn’t respond to your attempts at contact and refuses to return telephone calls and emails.
  • You’re told a settlement check was sent to your attorney, but your lawyer never informs you of it.
  • Your lawyer settles your case without your permission and never informs you.

Filing an attorney complaint

You may also call the State Bar’s multilingual Contact Center at 800-843-9053 (in California) or 213-765-1200 (outside California) to request a complaint form or discuss the complaint-filing process. There is no fee for filing a complaint, and you do not have to be a U.S. citizen. The State Bar will not ask about your citizenship or immigration status. Be sure to include copies of any documents that will help support your claim.

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