As an estate planning lawyer, I know that ethics are very important. I take my duties to my client very seriously. I know that I am in a position of power and that with power comes great responsibility. Go read the Bible, read Shakespeare. It is all in there.
So, when I read article about an estate planning lawyer allegedly stealing from his or her clients, I tend to get upset.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that a theft trial has begun over estate payments made to a lawyer. The guardian of a 94-year-old person has brought a lawsuit against a lawyer who has allegedly stolen over $370,000.00 from his client during the course of his representation of her.
A telling quote from the article provides that:
If [the attorney] were really providing services at $150 an hour as he claimed . . . it would have been working more than 30 hours a week for [the client] at a time when he was also putting in partner’s hours at [his former law firm].
I have worked in a law firm. I don’t know what kind of cases this attorney worked on but I tell you that it is very unusual for lawyers to work that many hours on a case a single case a week.
The lawyer in question is in serious trouble and he should be. The article reports that his law license has already been suspended and that he faces up to 5-years in prison and up to a $25,000.00 fine. To me, that is not enough. Stealing from clients is unacceptable and horrible. As an estate planning lawyer, I am embarrassed.
There are so many good lawyers out there. There are plenty of people doing good things. However, there are lawyers who steal from their clients and who commit fraud. These lawyers are an embarrassment to the profession. I just wish I didn’t have to apologize for them.
