Dealing with a disciplinary complaint is undoubtedly challenging. This challenge takes on a new dimension in the case of solo practitioners and small firm lawyers, who are often tasked with overseeing all aspects of their profession – from direct client involvement to administrative responsibilities such as managing trust accounts. The strain of such a circumstance can pose a significant threat to their overall well-being, disrupting their lives considerably.
An exemplary scenario is Marsha Mignott’s experience, a lawyer who felt grave anxiety when she received a complaint letter from the State Bar of Georgia. She equated the feeling to being followed by a police car on the highway, notwithstanding the fact that she was not speeding and had not violated any law. This aptly highlights the psychological toll that such circumstances exact on legal professionals. The nervous stresses induced in the process are not unlike driving anxiously even when no laws are known to be broken.[1]
The strain of these ethics probes is far-reaching and can potentially destabilize the lives of small firm and solo attorneys who typically juggle numerous aspects of their work. Thus, the need to proliferate awareness and support in such situations is ever-pressing and deserves due attention by relevant legal institutions.