Client leaves multiple messages for Attorney that are not returned. Client writes to Attorney without a response. Out of frustration, Client calls the State Bar of Georgia to complain. Client fired his attorney and hired other counsel. Now Client's first attorney will not release the file to the new attorney although the case is ongoing.
Client calls the State Bar for assistance.
These are two common situations which the Consumer Assistance Program f the State Bar of Georgia can usually resolve with a phone call. There was no mechanism or personnel to assess each caller's situation and weed out those grievances which did not fall within the Bar's disciplinary jurisdiction from those which, if true, were violations of the Standards of Conduct. The average number of grievance forms mailed out annually was over 6,700. Subsequently, a number of grievances were filed which were frivolous or beyond the scope of the ethical rules which govern the practice of law. The result was this-the client received a short reply from an OGC attorney informing them that their complaint was meritless under our system.