Lawyer Regulation
Lawyer Regulation charges are governed by the Rules of the Arizona Supreme Court. Charges can be made by consumers, attorneys or other person, and are reviewed, investigated and prosecuted by the State Bar in accordance with those Rules. For more information on the Discipline Process, click here.
The purposes of discipline proceedings are:
- to protect the public
- to protect the integrity of the legal system
- to ensure the administration of justice
- to deter further unethical conduct
- to rehabilitate the offending lawyer
- to deter unethical behavior by educating other lawyers and the public.
The Bar's Lawyer Regulation Department is set up to resolve disputes informally and to formally investigate serious allegations of misconduct.
The purpose of discipline is to protect the public and the administration of justice from attorneys, alternative business structures (ABS), and Legal Paraprofessionals (LP) who have not discharged their professional duties to clients, the public, the legal system, and the legal profession. Professional conduct and the discipline process are governed by Rules 31-74, Arizona Rules of the Supreme Court.
The State Bar Lawyer Regulation Department evaluates charges alleging lack of professionalism, misconduct or incapacity. Allegations are reviewed and investigated if the lawyer, ABS, or LP is subject to this jurisdiction.