I noticed recently that to file for reinstatement in the attorney disciplinary system, there are now filing fees. Sometimes this creates a burden for lawyers seeking reinstatement. Why are these changes being made?
Samuel C. Stretton.
The recent imposition of sometimes fairly substantial filing fees in the attorney disciplinary system caught many lawyers by surprise, including this writer. Obviously, there is concern over this because lawyers who are applying for reinstatement oftentimes are financially in desperate shape. To have to pay filing fees of $500 or $1,000 or more is very burdensome and can effectively prevent a lawyer from returning to the practice of law. The whole rationale behind these filing fees is the system needs more money apparently. As noted in earlier articles, the attorney disciplinary system is funded through lawyers. Every lawyer pays an annual registration fee of $220, which covers the cost of the disciplinary system and the cost of the Client Security Fund System. Apparently, the annual fee is not enough and more money is needed. Therefore, filing fees presumably are the way to do that.
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