Colorado Bar Association

Brian White

I went to the CBA because of an attorney communication issue that I was having during my divorce. The website says that they can help you get in contact with your attorney when you are unable to. I had no other options so I called them for help. After my initial interview I was asked to send any documentation that could aid them in their investigation. My complaint had enough validity to get past the initial complaint stage, but as I said before I only wanted help getting in contact with. attorney, as my final hearing was less than 2 weeks away. My attorney failed to respond to the Attorney Regulations Counsels attempts to get a response from her. 4 days before the trial, I was finally contacted by my attorney and a settlement was agreed to. After the Final Orders Hearing 4 days later, the Attorney Regulation Counsel finally got in contact with my attorney to let her know about my complaint against her. That's when things went south. My attorney told me to call the counsel and let them know that I wanted to rescind my complaint, as there was finally a settlement in my case. I did so, even though it was inappropriate of her to ask such a request from me, but I feared retaliation so I called and told them everything my attorney wanted me to tell them. The investigator, based on my interview and my attorneys failure to respond to them, let me know that they would still like to move forward with the investigation and wanted my cooperation. So I compiled and personally dropped off the 100+ pages of evidence that I had. When my attorney found out that the investigation was still ongoing, she threatened to withdraw from my case, which got extended yet again due to negligence. My attorney failed to respond to 2 official requests from the counsel, which is a giant NoNo in this situation. She also withdrew from my case 2 weeks before my new final orders hearing and handed me a billing statement that was outrageously high when compared to the work done on my case. My complaint eventually went to the next stage and i was interviewed once again. I also provided even more documents proving the negligence and misconduct. After almost 7 months of investigating, I received a letter stating that the counsel found that misconduct and negligence had occurred, and that the attorney received a private admonishment. A private admonishment is when misconduct occurs and all parts of the investigation are hidden from the public, including myself. Although misconduct occurred, it was swept under the rug and no one will ever know. The Attorney Regulation Counsel is there to protect the public from attorneys that knowingly act unethically and violate the rules set by Bar Association. Instead they only look after each other. I would be quite upset if I hired an attorney, only to find out later that other complaints had been made private to the public. The lack of transparency serves no purpose and only harms the public. I can only equate the police officer complaints system, where the investigation is conducted by other police officers. The outcomes of these complaints rarely end in public discipline. The lack of accountability and more notably, transparency, only teaches those that break the rules that they are protected and can get away with it without public censor. They will continue to break the rules at the expense of us, the public. Don't waste your time and energy making a complaint on an attorney. Your energy will be better spent on taking them to court. There can be no trust or change without transparency. Bottom line.

Thomas Reeber

I did not find them progressive or helpful. They do not have listing for firms that have attorneys who speak languages other than English. This may have been acceptable in the distant past but is not reflective of the diversity and needs of the community. This should be very easy to fix and will reflect that this profession cares about ALL potential clients in need of assistance.

Eleanor Cepero

Called asking for help, never received a reply. Had to call Governor Polis.

Mindy Martin

They ask for income then don’t direct you …saves them work and contact with people…that says it all —thanks Colorado