Monitored Rather Than Revoked

An Illinois hearing board concluded that a lawyer's license should be "monitored rather than revoked" in a case where the attorney had diverted to himself over $30,000 in fees, half of which were due to his firm. The lawyer was both an associate attorney and independent contractor.  The attorney's explanation of the misconduct:

When asked to explain why he took the funds that belonged to the law firm, the Respondent said "we were behind on our bills and our house payment, and I just made a bad choice . . . That's why I did it." He further explained that, at the time, he was not getting new clients, and was not earning enough money to pay his and his family's bills. He was repaying about $65,000 in student loans and had credit card debt "in the 30 to $40,000 range." In about January 2007, his income at the law firm "picked back up" and he was able to get "caught up" on his bills.

The hearing board recommends a two year suspension stayed after nine months with two years of probation.