I would like to report a lawyer to the Virginia State Bar?

Question

I would like to report a lawyer to the Virginia State Bar?
How do I do that.

I am in Utah and I hired a lawyer to handle a warrent I have in Virginia. I told him going out there was impossible and I wanted to find out if there was a way to handle it with a lawyer. I had already researched it. I paid him $1000 and 6 weeks later called him. He told me the exact same things I told him when I first hired him. I wrote an e-mail a few days later asking for an itemized bill. Here is his reply:

Dear Mrs XXX,

"In criminal matters, I do not do itemized bills nor do I work at an hourly rate. All fees are flat quotes as was yours of $2,000.00. You paid me $1,000.00 and I researched and investigated the matter for you. I will accept the $1,000.00 as payment in full and will not refund any monies to you."

How do I report him?

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Answer 1

All fees are flat quotes as was yours of $2,000.00. You paid me $1,000.00 and I researched and investigated the matter for you.

If the above quote of $2K is correct, he has done all that he intends to do, unless he is paid in full.

I seriously doubt that filing a report will accomplish anything, but you have that right.

If the warrant was/is for criminal activity, don't know how you can not appear in court.
It may behoove you to consult an attorney in your locale and if something can be done, allow him to go through an attorney in VA. Not cheap.

I consulted my attorney over different matter in a another state, which would have required my prescence.
I was told that the first phone call would be $1,000.00.
Money was in question, $5,000.00. I chose to pay it.

Answer 2

You would contact the state bar commission, or the ethics (disciplinary) committee if there is a separate dept.

But there may not be anything to report -- unless your fee agreement (retainer contract) specified an hourly rate, or specified itemized bills -- a flat rate is perfectly acceptable as long as it is reasonable based on the estimated amount of work.

The fact that the lawyer is willing to waive the total agree price for work already performed hurts your claim.

But you can always file the complaint.

Answer 3

http://www.vsb.org/site/about/bar-staff/

But it doesn't seem to me that he did anything wrong. Good luck with that.