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Disbar
Disbarment is a revocation of a lawyer's ability to practice law or argue cases.
Generally disbarment is imposed as a sanction for conduct indicating that an attorney is not fit to practice law, willfully disregarding the interests of a client, or engaging in fraud which impedes the administration of justice. In addition, any lawyer who is convicted of a felony is automatically disbarred in most jurisdictions.
In the United States legal system, disbarment is specific to regions; one can be disbarred from some courts, while still being a member of the bar in another jurisdiction. However, under the American Bar Association's Model Rules of Professional Conduct, which have been adopted in most states, disbarment in one state or court is grounds for disbarment in a jurisdiction which has adopted the Model Rules.
Disbarment is quite rare.[citation needed] Instead, lawyers are usually sanctioned by their own clients through civil malpractice proceedings, or via fine, censure, suspension, or other punishments from the disciplinary boards. To be disbarred is considered a great embarrassment and shame, even if one no longer wishes to pursue a career in the law; it is akin, in effect, to a dishonorable discharge in a military situation.
Because disbarment rules vary by area, different rules can apply depending on where a lawyer is disbarred. Notably, the majority of US states have no procedure for permanently disbarring a person. Depending on the jurisdiction, a lawyer may reapply to the bar immediately, after five to seven years, or be banned for life.[1]
Close Enough To Disbar
The New York Appellate Division for the First Judicial Department disbarred an attorney who practiced in Michigan. The attorney had been disbarred in Michigan as a result of a plea of no contest to one felony count of driving while...
Mississippi Bar seeks to disbar Scruggses
I'm a little late to comment on this one -- it's a couple days old -- but it's still worth talking about. It's a foregone conclusion that it will happen: the Mississippi State Bar is moving to take away the law licenses of Dickie and Zach Scruggs...
Group Works to Disbar Torture Lawyers
A group called Velvet Revolution is targeting 12 Bush administration attorneys for disbarment for their role in justifying and providing legal cover for the torture of detainees...
State and Federal Courts Disbar Attorney for Backdating Deed for Medicaid Planning Purposes
In January 2009, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit disbarred an attorney who backdated a deed for Medicaid planning purposes and engaged in self-dealing...
















