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Updated: February 5, 2025

What to do if I feel my lawyer has acted unethically or committed malpractice?

If you feel your lawyer has acted unethically or committed malpractice, you can report it. Attorneys have a code of ethics and a code of conduct that they must follow.1 Generally, the Bar Association handles complaints about attorneys who violate these codes. They may investigate a claim, decide if there is sufficient evidence to bring charges of misconduct, and impose disciplinary measures or dismiss the complaint. 

To file a complaint, you may want to contact the state bar association or the appropriate State Disciplinary Agency, which regulates attorneys in your state. However, you need to be aware that investigations often take a long time, and any punishment that may be handed down to the attorney will not specifically affect your case.

For more information about where you can file a complaint against a lawyer in your state, you may want to search the Directory of State Disciplinary Agencies on the American Bar Association’s website.

1 American Bar Association. Model Rules of Professional Conduct.

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