Both the grievant and the respondent attorney are present at the meeting and each may bring witnesses. The investigative meeting is not a judicial hearing. The formal rules of evidence do not apply, and a court reporter normally is not used. The committee member who served as investigator usually does most of the questioning of the parties and any witnesses, but all committee members are allowed to ask questions. The parties are not allowed to question each other or the witnesses for each other, except if considered appropriate at the discretion of the person chairing the investigative meeting.
All investigative meetings are confidential.
Following the investigative meeting, the committee prepares a final report of its investigation. Usually the committee investigator writes the report. Both parties may furnish written comments on the committee's report. The district committee also may make a recommendation to BAPR concerning disposition of the grievance and appropriate discipline. The recommendation is not a part of the committee's final report and is not sent to the grievant or the respondent attorney.