Nov. 15, 2010
Attorney Services Fund Releases 2010 Annual Report
In Fiscal Year 2010, $7.2 million was dedicated to the attorney discipline process, to reimburse clients of dishonest attorneys, to assist organizations who provide legal services for the poor and to aid lawyers who are suffering from alcoholism, substance abuse or mental illness, according to a report released today.
The annual report of the Supreme Court of Ohio’s Attorney Services Fund includes a review of the fund’s balance, audit information, investment policy and projected allocations for FY 2011.
The Supreme Court regulates all aspects of the practice of law in Ohio, including attorney discipline. In order to maintain an independent and self-funded regulatory system, the Supreme Court assesses and collects various fees and penalties, which support the fund.
In FY 2010, the fund expended $7,243,469. Of those expenditures, 69.8 percent or $5.1 million was dedicated for disciplinary-related expenses. Of this amount, $2.5 million accounted for the operations of the Office of Disciplinary Counsel.
A total of $865,779 funded the operations of the Board of Commissioners on Grievances & Discipline and $1.6 million reimbursed local bar association certified grievance committees for disciplinary-related activities.
Additional expenditures from the fund supported:
- The administration of the Attorney Services Division, which oversees the delivery of services to Ohio attorneys and assists the Supreme Court in the exercise of its constitutional duty to regulate the practice of law.
- The Clients’ Security Fund to compensate clients of unscrupulous attorneys.
- The Supreme Court Reporter of Decisions to publish attorney discipline legal notices in newspapers.
The fund also supports grants to two nonprofit organizations that assist the Supreme Court in providing oversight of the Ohio bench and bar and in the administration of justice: $200,000 for the Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation and $655,000 for the Ohio Lawyers Assistance Program.
Click here to view the report.
Contact: Chris Davey or Bret Crow, 614.387.9250.