#34
Complaints & RecourseMedium Risk
After you file a complaint, the lawyer suddenly reaches out offering to 'settle'
Withdraw-for-Refund Ploy
Why It's Dangerous
After you file a bar complaint, the accused lawyer suddenly becomes friendly and offers to refund part of the fee in exchange for dropping the complaint. This is usually designed to get you to withdraw — once withdrawn, the bar stops investigating and the lawyer escapes disciplinary action.
Real Case
After the client filed a bar complaint, the lawyer suddenly offered to refund 30% of the fee in exchange for withdrawing the complaint. The client agreed, but the lawyer only paid half the promised amount. When the client tried to complain again, they were told the case could not be reopened.
* This case has been anonymized. Details have been adjusted to protect privacy.
What To Do
1
Don't withdraw a complaint for a small refund2
If you do settle, secure the full refund before considering withdrawal3
Any settlement must be in writing, specifying the refund amount, timeline, and method4
Remember that the complaint's purpose isn't just a refund — it also protects others from the same lawyer