Opinion ID: 2627384
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: public reprimand is the appropriate discipline

Text: The panel recommended a public reprimand. Lerner argues that, at most, a private reprimand is sufficient. The American Bar Association Standards for Imposing Lawyer Sanctions suggest an analysis of four factors to be considered in determining an appropriate disciplinary sanction: the duty violated, the lawyer's mental state, the potential or actual injury caused by the lawyer's misconduct, and the existence of aggravating or mitigating factors. [42] And specifically with respect to violations involving the unauthorized practice of law, the Standards recommend a public reprimand when a lawyer negligently engages in a violation that causes injury or potential injury to a client or the public, while a private reprimand is generally appropriate if the lawyer engages in an isolated instance of nonwillful misconduct that causes little or no actual or potential injury. [43] Finally, the Standards note that when a lawyer has received a private reprimand for similar misconduct, another private reprimand is not appropriate. [44] Here, Lerner violated a duty to the public and to the profession to refrain from assisting in the unauthorized practice of law, and he did so knowingly. But the record does not indicate that any harm was suffered by the firm's clients, and evidence of potential harm is at most speculative. Other specifically listed aggravating circumstances are applicable here: a pattern of misconduct, a refusal to acknowledge the wrongful nature of the misconduct, and substantial experience in the practice of law. [45] Despite the lack of apparent harm, which could possibly indicate that a private reprimand would be sufficient under the Standards discussed above, Lerner did not engage in an isolated instance of misconduct. To the contrary, he has been privately reprimanded three times for similar or identical misconduct and does not dispute that Rowe's conduct was consistent with his firm's policies. Since a private reprimand has not had any effect on his conduct and in light of the aggravating factors, we agree with the hearing panel that a public reprimand is the appropriate discipline.