Opinion ID: 2106464
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Attorney's Recognition of the Seriousness of Misconduct

Text: Initially Petitioner pleaded guilty, but then sought (unsuccessfully) to withdraw her plea. Her current petition for reinstatement and her testimony demonstrate an enhanced understanding of her involvement and culpability. Years of reflection have provided insight. She admits her professional relationship with the two complaining witnesses and acknowledges that her failure to fully perform her responsibilities under those relationships resulted in financial harm to the two women. She further admits that she perhaps unwittingly, aided the scheme to defraud engineered by her co-defendant. She recognizes the seriousness of her misconduct in failing to meet her professional responsibility. Petitioner testified: I have come to, over time, seen my culpability and what I should have done. I have gained insights by going back and thinking of conversations I had with the various people involved into what they must have been thinking, certainly with regard to the trust issues, the trust that these two women placed in me. (Tr. 106). She testified further: I allowed myself to be involved in the perpetration of a fraud. (Tr. 134). She admitted to malpractice and a breach of ethical responsibility. (Tr. 134-135). While Petitioner does not admit that she intended to defraud the victims, this is consistent with the nature of her plea.