The Probation Unit of the Office of Chief Trial Counsel monitors attorneys' compliance with the conditions imposed on suspensions and reprovals. If a State Bar investigation indicates that an attorney's conduct only bordered on a violation or was a minor breach, Bar prosecutors may choose an alternative to discipline. They could decide to send a Directional or Warning Letter to the attorney - and close the case. Or they could issue an Admonition informing the attorney that no further action will take place as long as he or she stays out of trouble for two years. Or they could settle on an Agreement in Lieu of Discipline that requires the attorney to fulfill specially tailored remedial conditions.
Most disbarment cases involve more than one violation.
Reproval, either public or private, usually is reserved for first-time offenders whose misconduct falls on the low end of the scale. For example, abandoning one client might lead to a private reproval or remedial action, such as Ethics School. Abandoning 12 clients, however, would likely result in much more serious discipline. An attorney is placed on probation so that his or her conduct in the practice of law can be monitored-much like supervised probation in the criminal justice system. The disciplined attorney then files regular reports and could be required to meet special conditions during the probationary period.