Washington, DC—To correct widely-publicized failures of its notoriously underfunded attorney discipline system, the D.C. bar approved a 25 percent increase of bar dues, effective this year. In written comments, HALT, a national legal consumer watchdog group, had urged the adoption of a higher dues ceiling and offered guidance on how to use the additional funds to create a fairer and more efficient discipline system.

"For too long, the D.C. bar has failed victims of attorney misconduct by only paying lip service to consumer protection," stated HALT Associate Counsel Suzanne Mishkin. "We're delighted the bar has finally decided to put its money where its mouth is. With adequate funding, we now expect to see marked progress for legal consumers in the nation's capital."

In the 2004-2005 budget, the increased annual bar dues, which were raised from $155 to $165 for active bar members, will be allocated toward repairing the District's badly broken lawyer discipline system. HALT urged the bar to use increased revenue to hire more staff and secure more resources to relieve the discipline system's rapidly-building backlog of complaints. The new budget provides funding for two full-time and two part-time positions at the Board on Professional Responsibility.

The increased dues revenue will also bolster the District's attorney discipline system by allowing the bar to fully fund its Clients' Security Fund for the first time in three years. The fund, which provides restitution to consumers victimized by lawyer misconduct, will be restored to its recommended minimum funding level of $750,000.

While HALT applauds the added financial support of the discipline system, it is only the first step. "The systems' problems are more deep-seated and demand a more radical response than simply throwing money at the system," stated Mishkin. "The court should go further than simply raising bar dues and take this opportunity to adopt other meaningful reforms." HALT advocated three reforms crucial to making the system more effective and credible: increased nonlawyer participation, more evenhanded procedures and firm deadlines.

The budget's approval marks a critical step in replacing a hamstrung and distrusted system with one that actually protects District residents against unethical and incompetent attorneys. "The only question now," said Mishkin, "is whether the nation's capital will build upon this fiscal foundation with other needed reforms."

Founded in 1978, HALT—An Organization of Americans for Legal Reform is a nonpartisan, nonprofit public interest organization. HALT pursues an aggressive education and advocacy program that challenges the legal establishment to improve access and accountability and reduce costs in the civil justice system.

Read HALT's comments to the D.C. Court of Appeals is available on the Web at:
www.halt.org/about_halt/press_releases/DC_Court_of_Appeals_Comments.pdf.