Editor’s note: The online forms hyperlinked in the blog post below were updated on February 25 to correct an error that was preventing our system from recording submitted comments and requests to speak to the task force. If you accessed those forms through this blog post before 12:30 p.m. February 25, we ask that you please resubmit your requests to speak and/or written comments to ensure they reach the task force. We apologize for the inconvenience.

State Bar President Larry McDougal’s Task Force on Public Protection, Grievance Review, and the Client Security Fund is seeking your input.

The 21-member State Bar task force is studying the grievance system to help ensure it remains fair to Texas lawyers while ensuring the public is protected from attorneys who may violate the disciplinary rules. At the end of the process, the task force will make recommendations to the State Bar Board of Directors regarding any changes in procedures and rules the task force believes are necessary. The task force will also study ways the Client Security Fund can better serve the public while considering the limited resources available to the fund.

The task force will hold two public comment sessions by videoconference: from 9 to 11 a.m. CST on Wednesday, March 10 and from 1 to 3 p.m. CDT on Wednesday, March 24. Please follow this link to sign up to speak at a public comment session.

The task force is also accepting written comments. Please provide written comments here.

Please be advised that your comments should not compromise the confidentiality of matters considered by the Chief Disciplinary Counsel’s Office or the Commission for Lawyer Discipline. We ask that you not discuss a complaint or investigation that is, or may be, pending or that has been dismissed or that resulted in private discipline. By law, those matters remain confidential. Likewise, please be advised that this is not a forum for filing grievances against attorneys or for asking the Commission to reconsider a decision relating to any complaint filed against an attorney. Please go for more information about the grievance process.