Peer Assistance is a State Bar program designed to promote compliance with the spirit of the Creed of Professionalism. Panel members, experienced, respected attorneys or judges in the community, attempt to address incidents of unprofessional behavior quickly and informally. This process is voluntary. A lawyer against whom a complaint is filed is not required to participate in the program.
Peer Assistance involves addressing unprofessional conduct, not the resolution of legal claims or questions of law. Conduct that might be reported to the Peer Assistance Program involves incidents arising from the practice of law, not an attorney’s personal life. Such matters may include:
- Abusive language;
- Rude behavior toward other lawyers, clients, the court or court personnel;
- Gender, ethnic, or racial bias;
- Breaches of courtroom etiquette and decorum;
- Inappropriate communications or lack of communication with other attorneys, unrepresented parties, other legal professionals (e.g. court reporters), witnesses or the court; and
- Intra-professional conflicts or attorney-client conflicts that are not handled by other programs.
The Client Attorney Assistance Program attorney may determine that the complaint is best handled through another program or service.
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