Lawyer Discipline, By the Numbers

The State Bar recently posted on its website the Annual Report of the Commission for Lawyer Discipline, which contains a wealth of information about the grievance process and statistics from the prior Bar year, which ran from June 1, 2020, through May 31, 2021.  The following questions and answers are all derived from that report.        

1. How many grievances were filed against Texas attorneys during the 2020-21 Bar year? 

A. 5,217

B. 7,007

C. 9,256

D. 12,755

2. When a grievance fails to allege, on its face, any professional misconduct, it is categorized as an “inquiry” and dismissed.  What percentage of grievances filed last year were dismissed as inquiries?

A. 28%

B. 37%

C. 54%

D. 70%

3. The CDC classifies by practice area every case in which sanctions are issued.  Last year, what percentage of attorney sanctions were classified as criminal law?

A. 8%

B. 15%

C. 22%

D. 31%

4. What percentage were classified as family law?

A. 19%

B. 23%

C. 28%

D. 33%

5. What percentage were classified as personal injury law?

A. 9%

B. 15%

C. 21%

D. 29%

6. The CDC classifies every case in which sanctions are issued by the type of misconduct. What percentage of grievances involve safeguarding property?

A. 8%

B. 11%

C. 15%

D. 19%

7. What percentage of grievances involve neglect? 

A. 10%

B. 16%

C. 23%

D. 28%

8. What percentage of grievances are classified as communication?

A. 15%

B. 21%

C. 25%

D. 28%

9. What percentage are classified as declining/terminating representation?

A. 5%

B. 9%

C. 14%

D. 18%

10. What percentage of sanctions are classified as integrity?

A. 18%

B. 24%

C. 27%

D. 32%

11. Of the total disciplinary sanctions issued, what percentage were men?

A. 52%

B. 61%

C. 73%

D. 79%

12. How many Texas lawyers were disbarred last year?

A. 18

B. 35

C. 51

D. 73

13. How many lawyers were suspended?

A. 62

B. 98

C. 123

D. 154

14. The State Bar’s Client Security Fund provides compensation to victims of attorney theft or an attorney’s failure to refund unearned funds who meet certain eligibility criteria.  How much did the Client Security Fund distribute last year to victims of lawyer misconduct?

A. $190,408

B. $278,560

C. $390,717

D. $483,700

15. The CDC operates a toll-free Ethics Helpline (800- 532-3947) that provides guidance to Texas Attorneys on relevant ethics rules, opinions, and caselaw (though it cannot provide legal advice).  Approximately how many calls did the Helpline answer last year?

A. 2000

B. 3000

C. 4000

D. 5000