16 lawyers scrapped in 2022-2023
The College of Supervision of the Flemish Legal Profession has published its fourth report. This provides an overview of disciplinary proceedings against lawyers in Flanders (including Brussels-Dutch) in the judicial year running from 1 September 2022 to 31 August 2023.
During that period, a total of 301 new disciplinary proceedings were opened at the level of the staff holders, who oversee the lawyers' disciplinary files. In 44% of the cases, the disciplinary proceedings were opened on the initiative of the staff holder himself, based on information that reached him or her, and 46% involved a complaint. Such a complaint usually originates from a (former) client, but it may also involve another complainant, such as another lawyer. In many cases, the chief of staff simultaneously opens a disciplinary investigation on his or her own initiative, to better frame the complaint or to add other possible disciplinary offences. Complaints vary in nature, but negligence in files, breaches of the continuing education obligation and misuse of third-party funds are recurrent allegations.
Of those 301 cases, about half ended in a dismissal. The chief of staff then assesses the complaint as inadmissible, unfounded or of insufficient weight to justify disciplinary proceedings. Complainants dissatisfied with a dismissal can appeal it to the chairman of the disciplinary board. In the remaining cases, investigations are ongoing or the lawyer concerned has been referred to the disciplinary board.
The three disciplinary boards (Antwerp, Brussels and Ghent) issued a total of 69 rulings in the period 2022-23, compared to 46 cases in the previous year. In eight cases, the favour of suspension was granted. This means that if the lawyer goes wrong again, he or she can still incur a disciplinary sentence. In 9 files, the disciplinary board issued a warning or reprimand, for example for non-compliance with continuing education rules. In 23 cases, a suspension was imposed. These included non-compliance with regulations on third-party funds or breach of professional secrecy. Suspensions ranged from 8 days to 6 months in the period discussed, sometimes with postponements. During a suspension, a lawyer is not allowed to practise and all courts in the country are informed accordingly.
In 16 cases, the disciplinary board imposed the disbarment of the prosecuted lawyer. Upon removal, the person loses the title of lawyer. Thus, the disciplinary council removed lawyers who neglected their clients' interests, misused third-party funds or violated professional secrecy.
This year, there have been no fewer than 16 deletions of a lawyer, up from four last year and eight the year before. Disciplinary boards have shown strictness. 23 suspensions were also imposed. During a suspension, the lawyer falls without income and suffers considerable loss of reputation. This does not go unnoticed.
"Barristers take action against lawyers who go over the line" Callens adds, "but they have to find out first. People who have complaints about their lawyer should come forward. This is obviously not something you want to do lightly, but it is important that it happens. Alternatively, people with complaints can appeal to Ligeca.be, which is the ombudsman service of the Flemish legal profession. Of course, they can also summon their lawyer to court and even file a criminal complaint."
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