LEGAL MALPRACTICE HELP PROGRAMS

Addresses and phone numbers of organizations offering legal malpractice help and assistance in the United States.

Legal malpractice occurs when a client is harmed as a result of the failure to render competent legal service by the hired attorney.

To be successful in a legal malpractice case against your attorney, you have to generally prove:

the existence of an attorney-client relationship

whether the attorney was negligent

whether there was a breach of contract

whether such acts caused plaintiff's damages

whether the case would have been successful without the legal malpractice.

These are some forms of legal malpractice:

Improper or incompetent legal counsel

Poor performance causing economic harm

Conflict of interest cases

Charging excessive fees

Failure to properly advise

Missing the statute of limitations

Breach of fiduciary duty

Ethical matters

Incorrect title searches in real estate transaction

Intellectual property law malpractice

Entertainment lawyer malpractice

LAWYER PROGRAMS

These legal malpractice help programs are often affiliated with the state bar associations and can take disciplinary actions against the attorney such as: reprimand, dismissals, suspensions and disbarment.

Attorney Grievance Program will help resolve ethical complaints
Fee Arbitration Program deals with billing complaints
Client Security Trust Funds deals with theft of client funds entrusted to the attorney.

LEGAL MALPRACTICE HELP IN USA

Every state has an agency that offer legal malpractice help. The agency investigates ethical, billing and theft complaints against lawyers and law firms.

ALABAMA Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
415 Dexter Avenue Montgomery, Alabama 36104 Phone: (334) 269'1515 Fax: (334) 261'6310

ALASKA Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
PO Box 100279 Anchorage, AK 99510-0279 550 W. 7th Ave., Suite 1900 Anchorage, AK 99510 Phone: (907) 272'7469 Fax: (907) 272'2932

ARIZONA Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
4201 N. 24th Street, Suite 200 Phoenix, Arizona 85016-6288 Phone: (602)252'4804 (Maricopa County) (866)482'9227 (toll-free) Fax: (602)271'4930

Southern Regional Office/Tucson 320 South Convent Tucson, Arizona 85701-2215 Phone: 520-623-9944 Fax: 520-623-9974

ARKANSAS Legal Malpractice Help, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
2224 Cottondale Lane Little Rock, AR 72202 501-375-4606 | 800-609-5668 | Fax: (501)375'4901

CALIFORNIA Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
Sacramento
1201 K Street, Ste 720 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916)442'8018

San Francisco (Main Office)
180 Howard Street San Francisco, CA 94105 (415)538'2000

Los Angeles
1149 South Hill Street Los Angeles, CA 90015 (213)765'1000

Fee Arbitration and Fee Agreement Forms (415)538'2020

Complaints Against Attorneys 800-843-9053 (in California) (213)765'1200

California Rules of Professional Conduct and State Bar Act (Publication 250) (415)538'2112

COLORADO Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
1900 Grant St, 9th Floor Denver, CO 80203Phone: (303) 860'1115

CONNECTICUT Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
30 Bank Street. PO Box 350. New Britain CT 06050-0350 Phone: (860) 223'4400 Fax: (860) 223'4488

DELAWARE Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
301 North Market Street Wilmington, Delaware 19801 Phone: (302) 658'5279 TOLL FREE: (800) 292'7869 (from Kent & Sussex Counties) FAX: (302) 658'5212

The District of Columbia Bar 1250 H Street NW, 6th floor Washington, DC 20005-5937 Phone: (202)737'4700

1016 16th Street, NW Suite 101 Washington, DC 20036 Phone (202) 223'6600 Fax (202) 293'3388

FLORIDA Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
651 E. Jefferson Street Tallahassee, FL 32399-2300 (850) 561'5600

GEORGIA Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
Atlanta Office 104 Marietta St. NW, Suite 100 Atlanta, Georgia 30303 (404) 527'8700 (800) 334'6865 FAX: (404) 527'8717

Tifton Office 244 E. Second St. (31794) P.O. Box 1390 Tifton, Georgia 31793-1390 (229) 387'0446/0455 (800) 330'0446 FAX: (229) 382'7435

Attorney Discipline (800) 334'6865 ext. 720 or (404) 527'8720

ETHICS Helpline (800) 682'9806 or (404) 527'8741

Lawyer Assistance Program (800) 327'9631

Unauthorized Practice of Law (404) 527'8743

Professionalism (404) 225'5040

Fee Arbitration (404) 527'8750

HAWAII Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
1132 Bishop Street, Suite 906 Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 Phone (808) 537'1868 Fax (808) 521'7936

IDAHO Legal Malpractice Help, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
P.O. Box 895 Boise, ID 83701 Ph: (208)334'4500 Fx: (208)334'4515

ILLINOIS Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
20 S. Clark St., Suite 900 Chicago, IL 60603-1802 (312) 726'8775 (800) 678'4009

Illinois Bar Center 424 S. Second Street Springfield, IL 62701-1779 (217) 525'1760 (800) 252'8908

INDIANA Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
One Indiana Square Suite 530 Indianapolis, IN 46204 Voice: (317) 639'5465 Toll Free: (800) 266'2581 Facsimile: (317) 266'2588

IOWA Legal Malpractice Help, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
625 East Court Avenue Des Moines, IA 50309 Phone: (515) 243'3179

KANSAS Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
1200 SW Harrison Topeka, KS 66612-1806 Phone: (785) 234'5696 Fax: (785) 234'3813

KENTUCKY Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
514 W. Main Street Frankfort KY 40601-1812 Phone: (502) 564'3795

LOUISIANA Legal Malpractice Help, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
601 St. Charles Avenue New Orleans, LA 70130 (800) 421-LSBA(5722) - (504) 566'1600

MAINE Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
124 State Street Augusta, ME 04330 Phone: (207)622'7523 - (207)623'0083

Mailing Address: Maine Bar Association PO Box 788 Augusta, ME 04332-0788

MARYLAND Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
520 W. Fayette St Baltimore, MD 21201 Phone: (410)685'7878 - (800)492'1964 Fax: (410)685'1016

MASSACHUSETTS Legal Malpractice Help, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
20 West St. Boston, MA 02111-1204 (617) 338'0500

Massachusetts Bar Association 73 State St. Springfield, MA 01103 (413) 731-5134

MICHIGAN Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
306 Townsend Street Lansing, Michigan 48933-2012 Phone: (517) 346'6300 Toll Free: (800) 968'1442 Fax: (517) 482'6248

Ethics Hotline (lawyers only) (877) 558'4760

MINNESOTA Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
600 Nicollet Mall #380 Minneapolis, MN 55402 Phone: (612) 333'1183 - (800) 882'6722

MISSISSIPPI Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
643 North State Street Jackson, Mississippi 39202

Post Office Box 2168 Jackson, Mississippi 39225-2168 Phone: (601)948'4471 Fax Number: (601)355'8635

Disciplinary Matters: Selena Lofton, (601) 948'0568

Fee Disputes: Michelle Denton, (601) 948'4471 ext. 234

MISSOURI Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
PO Box 119 Jefferson City, MO 65102 Phone: (573)635'4128- FAX: (573)635'2811

MONTANA Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
7 West 6th Avenue, Suite 2B P.O. Box 577 Helena, MT 59624 (406)442'7660 Fax (406)442'7763

NEBRASKA Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
635 S.14th Street P.O. Box 81809 Lincoln, NE 68501 Phone: (402) 475'7091 (800) 927'0117 Fax: (402) 475'7098

NEVADA Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
600 E. Charleston Blvd Las Vegas, NV 89104 Phone: (702)382'2200

State Bar of Nevada Attn: Discipline Department 9456 Double R Blvd. Suite B, Reno, NV 89521 Phone: (775) 329'4100

NEW HAMPSHIRE Legal Malpractice Help, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
2 Pillsbury Street, Suite 300, Concord NH 03301 Phone: (603) 224'6942 Fax: (603) 224'2910

NEW JERSEY Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
One Constitution Square New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901-1520 Phone (732)249'5000 Fax (732)249'2815

NEW MEXICO Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
400 Gold Avenue SW, Suite 800 Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102 Phone: (505) 842'5781

MAILING ADDRESS: Post Office Box 1809, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87103-1809

The Disciplinary Board is an agency of the Supreme Court of New Mexico. The purpose of the Board is to look into complaints about attorneys licensed in the state of New Mexico to determine whether the attorney has violated the Rules of Professional Conduct, which are part of the New Mexico Statutes.

NEW YORK Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
1 Elk Street, Albany, NY 12207 PH: (518) (463)'3200 FX: (518) 487'5517

The Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection 119 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 11210, Toll-Free: 1-800-442-FUND.

Attorney-Client Fee Dispute Resolution Program Phone: 877-FEES-137 (877-333-7137)

GRIEVANCE COMMITTEES:

Kings, Queens and Richmond Counties: Grievance Committee for the Second and Eleventh Judicial Districts Renaissance Plaza 335 Adams Street, Suite 2400 Brooklyn, NY 11201-3745 (718) 923'6300

Committee on Professional Standards 40 Steuben Street Albany, NY 12207 (518) 474'8816. Warren and Washington Counties: Albany, Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Clinton, Columbia, Cortland, Delaware, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Hamilton, Madison, Montgomery, Otsego, Rensselaer, St. Lawrence, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Schuyler, Sullivan, Tioga, Tompkins, Ulster,

Grievance Committee for the Eighth Judicial District 438 Main Street Suite 800 Buffalo, NY 14202-3212 (716) 845'3630. Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genessee, Niagara, Orleans and Wyoming Counties.

Grievance Committee for the Tenth Judicial District 150 Motor Parkway, Suite 102 Hauppauge, NY 11788 (631) 231'3775. Nassau and Suffolk Counties

Departmental Disciplinary Committee for the First Department 61 Broadway, 2nd Floor New York, NY 10006 (212) 401'0800. New York and Bronx Counties.

Grievance Committee for the Seventh Judicial District Atttorney Grievance Committee 50 East Avenue, Suite 404 Rochester, NY 14604-2206 (585) 530'3180 Fax: (585) 530'3191. Cayuga, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne and Yates Counties.

Grievance Committee for the Fifth Judicial District 224 Harrison Street Suite 408 Syracuse, NY 13202 315-471-1835. Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Oneida, Onondaga and Oswego Counties.

Grievance Committee for the Ninth Judicial District 399 Knollwood Road, Suite 200 White Plains, NY 10603 (914) 949'4540. Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland and Westchester Counties.

NORTH CAROLINA Legal Malpractice Help, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
NC Bar Association 8000 Weston Parkway Cary, NC 27513 (919) 677'0561 1-800-662-7407. Mailing Address: PO Box 3688 · Cary, NC 27519 · 8000 Weston Parkway · Cary, NC 27513 · Phone: (919) 677'0561

NORTH DAKOTA Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
State Bar: 504 N. Washington St. Bismark, ND 58501 Phone: (701) 255'1304 - (800)472'2685

Inquiry Committee investigates complaints against attorneys and recommend disciplinary action as part of the Supreme Court's disciplinary process.

Bismarck 2009 (701)223'6400
Dickinson 2010 (701)227'1841
Cando 2009 (701)968'3324
East Grand Forks 2008 795-3000
Fargo 2008 (701)235'5515
Grafton 2010 (701)352'9311
Grand Forks 2008 (701)775'5595
Forman 2010 (701)724'3366
Langdon 2010 (701)256'3717
Mandan 2010 (701)663'6568
Wahpeton 2010 (701)642'2668
Watford City 2008 (701)444'2211

OHIO Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
1700 Lake Shore Drive Columbus OH, 43204 Phone: (800) 282'6556 - (614) 487'2050 Fax: (614) 487'1008

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 16562 Columbus, Ohio 43216-6562

OKLAHOMA Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
Oklahoma Bar Association Office of the General Counsel P.O. Box 53036, 1901 N. Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73152-3036 Phone (405) 416'7007; Fax (405) 416'7001

PENNSYLVANIA Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
Bar Association, 100 South Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101 Phone: (800)932'0311

RHODE ISLAND Legal Malpractice Help, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
Bar Association 115 Cedar St. Providence, RD 02903 Phone: (401) 421'5740 Fax: (401) 421'2703

SOUTH CAROLINA Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
State Bar 950 Taylor Street Columbia, South Carolina 29201 Phone: (803) 799'6653 - Fax: (803) 799'4118

Lawyers Fund for Client Protection P.O. Box 87 Greenville, SC 29602 Phone: (864) 240'2433 Fax: (864) 240'2475

Fee Disputes P.O. Box 1385 Lexington, SC 29071 Phone: (803) 359'4559 Fax: (803) 957'8902

SOUTH DAKOTA Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
State Bar: 222 East Capitol Avenue Pierre, SD 57501 Phone: (605) 224'7554 - (800) 952'2333

Disciplinary Board c/o State Bar of South Dakota 222 East Capitol Avenue Pierre, SD 57501

TENNESSEE Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
Bar Association 221 Fourth Avenue North, Suite 400 Nashville, Tennessee 37219 Telephone (615) 383'7421 Fax: (615) 297'8058

Board of Professional Responsibility Oaks Office Tower, Suite 730 1101 Kermit Drive Nashville, TN 37217 (615)361'7500 or (800)486'5714

TEXAS Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
Client-Attorney Assistance Program (CAAP) PO Box 12487, Austin, Tx 78711-2487 (800) 204'2222, ext. 1790 - (800) 932'1900

Grievance Information - fee disputes: (800) 932'1900

UTAH Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
Utah State Bar 645 South 200 East Salt Lake City, UT 84111 Phone: (801)531'9077

VERMONT Legal Malpractice Help, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
35-37 Court Street PO Box 100 Montpelier, Vermont 05601-0100 Phone: (802) 223'2020 Fax: (802) 223'1573

VIRGINIA Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
Virginia State Bar 707 East Main Street, Suite 1500 Richmond, Virginia 23219-2800 (804)775'0500 TDD/Voice Line (Hearing-Impaired): (804)775'0502

WASHINGTON Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
Washington State Bar Association 1325 Fourth Ave., Ste. 600 Seattle, WA 98101-2539 Phone: (206)443'WSBA (9722) Toll-free: (800)945'WSBA (9722) Fax: (206)727'8319

Office of Disciplinary Counsel: (206) 727'8207 / (206) 727'8325 Fax

WEST VIRGINIA Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
State Bar 2006 Kanawha Boulevard, East - Charleston, WV 25311-2204 Phone-(304)558'2456/Fax-(304 )558'2467/WV Toll Free Phone-(866)989'8227

OFFICE OF DISCIPLINARY COUNSEL 2008 Kanawha Boulevard, East Charleston, WV 25311 Phone: (304)558'7999 Fax: (304)558'4015

WISCONSIN Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
State Bar of Wisconsin, P.O. Box 7158, Madison WI 53707-7158. Customer service, (800) 728'7788.

State Bar's ethics Phone: (608) 250'6168 or (800) 444'9404, ext. 6168

WYOMING Attorney Grievance, Fee Arbitration and Client Security Trust Funds
500 Randall Ave PO Box 109 Cheyenne WY 82003 Phone: (307) 632'9061 Fax: (307) 632'3737

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