Ethics Question of the Month October 2026

Extra! Extra! Grieve All About It!

Are these attorneys required to notify clients of the State Bar grievance process?

The Situation

Attorneys Betty and Hank are starting a new personal injury firm. Each previously worked elsewhere as an associate, and they are excited about managing their new firm.

In preparing for the firm’s opening, Betty and Hank discuss whether they have a duty to notify clients of the State Bar of Texas’ grievance process. Betty recalls some sort of notice being provided at her previous firm—and both agree they should make sure they are compliant.

They discuss the following methods for notifying clients of the grievance process:

1) Posting a prominently displayed sign describing the grievance process in their law office;

2) Making grievance brochures prepared by the State Bar available at their law office;

3) Including information about the grievance process in written engagement agreements with clients; and

4) Including information about the grievance process in bills to clients.

The Question

Under state law, which of the following best describes whether they are required to notify clients of the State Bar grievance process?

The Correct Answer is G Of 1 Responses, 0% are correct.

  1. A 0
  2. B 0
  3. C 0
  4. D 0
  5. E 0
  6. F 0
  7. G 1
  8. H 0

The Explanation

Section 81.079(b) of the Texas Government Code states:

Each attorney practicing law in this state shall provide notice to each of the attorney’s clients of the existence of a grievance process by:

(1) making grievance brochures prepared by the state bar available at the attorney’s place of business;

(2) posting a sign prominently displayed in the attorney’s place of business describing the process;

(3) including the information on a written contract for services with the client; or

(4) providing the information in a bill for services to the client.

Under the statute, Betty and Hank can satisfy the requirement to notify clients of the grievance process by using any of the four methods described. The correct answer is G.

The State Bar of Texas provides signs and brochures to assist attorneys in complying with this provision. Those materials are available at texasbar.com/Content/NavigationMenu/ForLawyers/GrievanceandEthics/RequiredNoticetoClients/.

For more Ethics Question of the Month columns, go to legalethicstexas.com/ethics-question-of-the-month.

Bluebook Citation

Extra! Extra! Grieve All About It!: Ethics Question of the Month - October 2026, Texas Center for Legal Ethics (2026), from https://legalethicstexas.com/ethics-question-of-the-month/ethics-question-of-the-month-october-2026/ (last visited Sep 28, 2026)

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