Repeat Offender

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court suspended an attorney for two years for practicing while serving a six-month suspension.

The reason for the prior suspension?

He had practiced law while suspended for failure to comply with CLE obligations. This matter involved practice while serving the six-month suspension.

The attorney met with a person (and his family) who was facing criminal drug charges. The suspended attorney provided legal advice and was paid $3,000 (which he split with another attorney without advising the client). The attorney then went with the client to surrender to authorities  and to the preliminary arraignment, where he sat in the gallery rather than at counsel’s table.

The client was asked to sign a document and turned to the attorney. He signed after the attorney nodded in approval. The judge noticed. When questioned by the judge, the attorney admitted that he was suspended.

The client retained new counsel and sought a full fee refund. The attorney did not promptly return the fee, which was late paid by the attorney who had received half of the $3,000. (Mike Frisch)