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Learn about IOLTA (Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts) requirements in Ohio. Attorneys must deposit certain client funds into IOLTA accounts to comply with Rule 1.15 of the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct. This page provides an overview of IOLTA rules, exemptions, sample documents, and access to the Trust Accounting 101 course for CLE credit. Support legal aid while managing trust accounts properly. IOLTA What is IOLTA? IOLTA is an acronym for “Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts.” Lawyers must place client funds into an IOLTA pursuant to Ohio Rule of Professional Conduct 1.15. The interest earned on these accounts generates revenue for the state’s legal aid fund. Every lawyer licensed to practice in the state of Ohio who receives client funds (filing fees, unearned retainers, settlements, etc.) must establish an IOLTA. If a lawyer is associated with or employed by a law firm, the firm’s IOLTA may be used. If a lawyer does not receive and disburse client funds and neither the lawyer nor the lawyer’s firm maintains a trust account in Ohio, the lawyer is exempt from Ohio’s IOLTA provisions. An attorney may establish an IOLTA at any bank, savings & loan association, credit union, or savings bank that is authorized to transact business in the state of Ohio and currently participates in Ohio’s IOLTA program. If you have questions about an IOLTA, you may refer to the complete FAQ or review the questions below. For information about managing client files or trust accounts, please review our online brochure . IOLTA FAQS Continuing Legal Education Events Trust Accounting 101: Basic Management Skills and Best Practices Wed, Nov 12 Cincinnati Bar Association (Cost: $75) This class will focus on basic trust accounting procedures, such as terminology, types of fees that Ohio lawyers may accept, and how to account for different types of fees. This course is approved for 3.5 hours of professional conduct CLE. See Terms and Conditions. ENROLL Trust Accounting 101: Basic Management Skills and Best Practices (1) Wed, Aug 13 Moyer Judicial Center (Cost: $75) This class will focus on basic trust accounting procedures, such as terminology, types of fees that Ohio lawyers may accept, and how to account for different types of fees. This course is approved for 3.5 hours of professional conduct CLE. See Terms and Conditions. Details Trust Accounting 101 Enrollment Guide IOLTA 101 is a free, one-hour, virtual self-study CLE that reviews the basics of proper trust account management. Among other topics, the CLE covers relevant rules, required records, different types of fee arrangements, monthly reconciliation, and typical IOLTA scams. To enroll, please follow the instructions below. ODC also offers a quarterly 3.5-hour CLE regarding trust account management, which takes a more in-depth look at the above topics. To enroll in the 3.5-hour CLE, please click here . OHIOCOURTEDU LOGIN LOGIN Click the above link. This will take you to the new website for OhioCourtEDU. If you have ever completed a course in OhioCourtEDU, select “LOGIN TO ACCOUNT”. If you do not have an account, click “CREATE AN ACCOUNT”. Follow the instructions to login and access your dashboard. SEARCH Once you are in OhioCourtEDU, you can search for the course via the Catalog button or the magnifying glass/search bar at the top of the site. Search for the course titled “Trust Accounting 101.” BEGIN THE COURSE To begin the course, select the “Enroll” button, then you are able to click “Launch” to start the course. EVALUATION You must complete the mandatory course evaluation after you complete the online module to receive your completion certificate and CLE credit. At the end of the online module, click the Exit button. At the right of the screen, the course evaluation will be listed as the next course task in the menu. Select the course evaluation, answer the questions, then click Submit. CERTIFICATE After completing the course evaluation, you will want to return to the learner dashboard. Next, select the My Transcript button. Select the Certificates heading near the top of the page or scroll down to that section of the page. Locate the “Trust Accounting 101” course within the certificate list and select Download at right. Your certificate will open in a new browser tab. If you don't see a new window with your certificate, allow pop-ups. You can now save or print your certificate. We will report your CLE credit to the appropriate office. Please be advised that reporting will take place monthly, so your CLE record may not reflect your completion of this course for 30-45 days post-completion. IOLTA Overdraft Insufficient Funds Reporting Contact Information Email: IOLTA@odc.ohio.gov Mail: Office of Disciplinary Counsel 65 E. State Street, Suite 1510 Columbus, Ohio 43215 Fax: (614) 387-9709 Under Ohio Revised Code § 4705.10, depository institutions are required to notify the Office of Disciplinary Counsel “when a properly payable instrument is presented for payment from the account, and the account contains insufficient funds.” This obligation applies regardless of whether “the instrument is honored by the depository institution.” The required notice must be provided within five banking days of the date the instrument was honored or returned due to insufficient funds. ODC encourages use of the attached form to report overdraft or insufficient funds. The form can be emailed, mailed, or faxed to the Office of Disciplinary Counsel at the contact information provided. For additional information, please see the form. VIEW FORM IOLTA Sample Documents Settlement Disbursement Client Ledger Monthly Reconciliation Bank Records General Ledger Client Invoices Complete Set of IOLTA Sample Documents

Learn how to file a grievance against an Ohio attorney or judicial officer with the Office of Disciplinary Counsel or other authorized bodies. Understand the grievance process, what it can and cannot do, and access forms and resources to submit a complaint involving potential ethical misconduct under Ohio’s professional and judicial conduct rules. Grievances What is a Grievance? A grievance is a complaint that a person files against an attorney or a judicial officer. Grievances against Ohio attorneys may be submitted to the Office of Disciplinary Counsel or a certified grievance committee of a local bar association. Grievances against Ohio judicial officers may be filed with the Office of Disciplinary Counsel or the Ohio State Bar Association. If any of those entities determines that substantial credible evidence of professional misconduct exists, they may choose to file a formal complaint. The complaint then moves to a probable cause panel of the Board of Professional Conduct, which determines if there is probable cause. If the panel determines that there is probable cause, the formal complaint becomes public and is filed with the Board of Professional Conduct. Hearings are then conducted by the board and if it finds a violation, a recommendation is made to the Supreme Court of Ohio. The Supreme Court of Ohio makes the final decision as to findings of misconduct and issues an appropriate sanction. The disciplinary process will NOT serve to: Provide legal advice or representation. Force your attorney or the guardian ad litem to withdraw from your case. Force your attorney to take a particular course of action in your case. Refund the fees you have paid to an attorney. Remove a judicial officer from presiding over your case. Intervene in your legal proceeding in any way. Overturn a judicial officer’s decisions. The Grievance Process VIEW PROCESS CHART Next Steps Should I file a grievance? Allegations that an attorney has violated the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct or that a judge or magistrate has violated the Code of Judicial Conduct are serious. Grievances should not be made lightly or used to gain an advantage in your dealings with an attorney or judicial officer. Also, filing a grievance should not take the place of communicating with the attorney to attempt to resolve differences. RULES OF CONDUCT How do I file a grievance? Click here to complete and submit a grievance against an attorney or judicial officer online using our electronic grievance form. You may also download the grievance form. If mailing the form, be sure to sign it. Unsigned grievance forms will be returned. FILE A GRIEVANCE Where do I file a grievance? If your grievance is against an attorney, you may file it with ODC or with the certified grievance committee where the attorney resides or works. If your grievance is against a judicial officer, you may file it with ODC or the Ohio State Bar Association. VIEW FAQS

Access professional resources from the Office of Disciplinary Counsel – Supreme Court of Ohio. Explore the Ohio Rules of Professional and Judicial Conduct, CLE events, Proactive Management-Based Regulation (PMBR), and the Ohio Lawyers Assistance Program (OLAP). Find essential forms, Bar Counsel guidance, and tools to support ethical and professional legal practice in Ohio. Professional Resources Bar Counsel Forum This forum is for current Bar Counsel only. LEARN MORE Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct The Rules of Professional Conduct govern the standards and practices for Attorney’s in the State of Ohio. LEARN MORE Ohio Code of Judicial Conduct The Code of Judicial Conduct governs the standards and practices of Judges and Magistrates. LEARN MORE CLE Events View upcoming Continuing Legal Education events below: LEARN MORE Ohio Access to Justice Foundation The Ohio Access to Justice Foundation provides funding, resources, and support for civil legal aid and pro bono programs to ensure all Ohioans have fair access to justice. LEARN MORE Ohio Lawyers Assistance Program The Ohio Lawyers Assistance Program (“OLAP”) is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to helping Ohio's judges, attorneys, and law students obtain treatment for substance abuse, chemical dependency, addiction, and mental health issues. OLAP has existed since 1991 and is active across the state of Ohio. Through OLAP, judges, attorneys, and law students receive: Confidential advice about individual problems Help in arranging and implementing formal interventions Help in deciding between outpatient, inpatient, and other treatment programs Monitoring and aftercare services If you or a colleague you know needs help, please contact OLAP. OLAP will protect both your confidentiality and the confidentiality of anyone about whom you express concerns. OLAP’s Toll-Free Helpline is open 24/7
 Call at 800-348-4343 VISIT OLAP Proactive Management-Based Regulation (PMBR) On March 2, 2023, the Supreme Court of Ohio adopted PMBR—a free, online, on-demand, CLE accredited ethics education curriculum designed to assist solo and small firm attorneys in developing an ethical infrastructure to improve the delivery of legal services and client relations and enhance the provision of competent and cost-effective legal services to prevent violations of the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct. With its adoption, Ohio becomes the second state in the nation to adopt a mandatory PMBR program. Effective January 1, 2025, any attorney engaged in the private practice of law, as defined in Gov.Bar R.VI(1)(B) , who does not maintain professional liability insurance, must complete the PMBR curriculum as part of the registration process. Attorneys who fail to complete the PMBR curriculum, or provide proof of purchase liability insurance, will not be permitted to register for the 2025-2027 registration biennium. ENROLL PMBR FAQS Professional Forms Please review our available forms below. For further questions, visit our FAQ section . Grievance Form Use this form to file allegations of ethical misconduct against attorneys, judges, and magistrates or allegations of the unauthorized practice of law. To file an electronic grievance, please click here. (Note: Grievances alleging the unauthorized practice of law must be submitted by regular mail.) VIEW FORM Employment of a Disqualified or Suspended Attorney This registration form is required if an attorney or law firm seeks to enter into an employment, contractual, or consulting relationship with a disqualified or suspended attorney. VIEW FORM Bar Counsel Application for Certification This form is required if an attorney seeks to be certified as bar counsel for an Ohio bar association under Gov.Bar R. V. VIEW FORM Application for Retirement or Resignation To retire or resign from the practice of law in Ohio, an attorney must file this application with the Supreme Court Office of Attorney Services. VIEW FORM

The Office of Disciplinary Counsel – Supreme Court of Ohio educates, investigates, and prosecutes ethical misconduct by attorneys and judicial officers. Learn how to file a grievance, explore professional conduct rules, and access public and professional resources. The Office of Disciplinary Counsel The Supreme Court of Ohio Integrity. Respect. Fairness. What is the Office of Disciplinary Counsel? The Office of Disciplinary Counsel (ODC) is an affiliated office of the Supreme Court of Ohio. ODC provides ethics education for the bench and bar. ODC also investigates and prosecutes attorneys and judicial officers who are accused of ethical misconduct. All attorneys admitted to the practice of law in Ohio must follow certain rules called the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct. Judicial officers (judges and magistrates) have an additional set of rules they must follow called the Code of Judicial Conduct. The Office of Disciplinary Counsel reviews complaints, referred to as "grievances ," from the public, judges, and other attorneys to determine whether there is evidence of unethical conduct. If such evidence exists, the Office of Disciplinary Counsel investigates the allegations of misconduct and, when appropriate, files formal disciplinary charges against the attorney or judicial officer for violating the ethical rules. The Office of Disciplinary Counsel also investigates allegations regarding the unauthorized practice of law. A Message from Disciplinary Counsel Thank you for visiting our website. Our office is committed to ensuring that attorneys and judicial officers in the State of Ohio act professionally and ethically under the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct and the Ohio Code of Judicial Conduct. We strive to educate members of the bench and bar regarding their ethical obligations, but when an attorney or judicial officer acts unethically, our office will conduct a thorough and fair investigation to ensure the public's protection. In addition to educating, investigating, and prosecuting Ohio's attorneys and judicial officers, our office also investigates and prosecutes persons who may be engaging in the unauthorized practice of law. Our office strives to treat all persons involved in the disciplinary process with the utmost integrity, respect, fairness, and professionalism. Joseph M. Caligiuri, Disciplinary Counsel Rules of Conduct The ethical standards governing Ohio attorneys and judicial officers may be accessed below. Additional information is found in the FAQ section . Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct LEARN MORE Ohio Code of Judicial Conduct LEARN MORE

Explore detailed FAQs from the Office of Disciplinary Counsel The Supreme Court of Ohio. Get answers to common questions about IOLTA accounts, trust accounting, flat fees, client funds, PMBR requirements, and more. This resource helps Ohio attorneys understand their ethical obligations and manage client funds in compliance with the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Grievances Disciplinary Process General Information IOLTA PMBR Rules Abandoned Files What is the Office of Disciplinary Counsel? The Office of Disciplinary Counsel is an affiliated office with the Supreme Court of Ohio. Our Office educates, investigates, and prosecutes attorneys and judicial officers who are accused of ethical misconduct. All attorneys who practice law in Ohio must follow certain rules called the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct. Judicial officers (judges and magistrates) have an additional set of rules they must follow called the Code of Judicial of Conduct. The Office of Disciplinary Counsel reviews complaints, which we call "grievances", from the public, judges, and other attorneys to determine whether there is evidence of unethical conduct. If such evidence exists, The Office of Disciplinary Counsel investigates the allegations of misconduct and, when appropriate, files formal disciplinary charges against the attorney or judicial officer for violating our ethical rules. The Office of Disciplinary counsel also investigates allegations regarding the unauthorized practice of law. Should I file a grievance? Allegations that an attorney has violated the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct or that a judge or magistrate has violated the Code of Judicial conduct are serious. Grievances should not be made lightly or to try to gain an advantage in your dealings with an attorney or Judicial officer. Also, filing a grievance should not take the place of communicating with the attorney to attempt to resolve differences. The disciplinary process will NOT serve to: Provide legal advice or representation; Force your attorney to withdraw from your case; Force your attorney to take a particular course of action in your case; Refund the fees you have paid to an attorney; Remove a judicial officer from presiding over your case; Overturn a judicial officer’s decisions. What is a Certified Grievance Committee? A certified grievance committee is part of a local bar association empowered to investigate attorneys who work or reside within a certain geographic area. Aside from the Ohio State Bar Association, the other 31 certified grievance committees do not have the power to investigate judges or magistrates. Additionally, they only have jurisdiction within their respective geographic areas. For example, the Akron Bar Association would not have jurisdiction to investigate a Toledo lawyer who committed misconduct in Toledo. You may contact your local Bar Association to ask if it has a local certified grievance committee. If you file a grievance with a certified grievance committee, you may appeal the dismissal of your grievance to the Office of Disciplinary Counsel. Our review is limited to errors of law abuse of discretion. What should I do if I am having problems with my attorney? Clear and open communication is the key to maintaining a productive, positive relationship with your attorney. To help avoid miscommunications you should: Come to meetings prepared; Clearly communicate your goals and expectations; Demand a written fee agreement at the beginning of your representation; Ask questions if you don’t understand something; Disclose all information and background on your case; and, Promptly discuss and resolve concerns with your attorney. Similarly, you should expect your attorney to provide: An honest and unbiased assessment of your case, although attorneys are prohibited from guaranteeing results; Prompt disclosure of alternative ways to resolve a matter, if any; Copies of court documents and letters; An update on the status of your case upon your request; Adequate and prompt attention to your case; A written fee agreement at the beginning of the representation; and, Reasonable and timely billing statements and descriptions of expenses. If you are not satisfied with the service provided by your attorney, first try to resolve any issues by meeting or talking with him or her. If you are having difficulty communicating with your attorney, document your calls to your attorney. Each time you email or call the attorney’s office and leave a message, make a record of it. If you do not receive a return call or email within a reasonable period of time, write a letter to the attorney, preferably with return receipt requested, requesting the attorney contact you within a specified (reasonable) period of time. If you believe that you have made a sincere effort to solve your problem, but you still believe that the attorney should be investigated for his or her conduct, you may file a grievance. Where do I file my grievance? If your grievance is against an attorney, you may file it with the Office of Disciplinary Counsel or with the certified grievance committee where the attorney resides or works. If your grievance is against a judicial officer, you may file it with the Office of Disciplinary Counsel or the Ohio State Bar Association. Is there a charge for filing a grievance? No . There is no fee associated with the filing of a grievance. How do I file a grievance? Click here to complete and submit a grievance against an attorney or judge online using our electronic grievance form. You may also download the grievance form. If mailing the form, be sure to sign it. Unsigned grievance forms will be returned. Will the Office of Disciplinary Counsel represent me in my grievance? No. The Office of Disciplinary Counsel does not represent you and cannot assist you in resolving ongoing legal problems. Our office cannot give legal advice or perform legal services for you. Our office cannot appoint a new attorney for you or require your attorney to withdraw, or the judicial officer to recuse, from your case. You should consult another attorney to advise you of your rights, including potential legal recourse against the attorney about whom you have complained. Any action for damages you may seek against an attorney should not wait until the resolution of the grievance. Your local Bar Association may be able to recommend an attorney for this purpose. May I file a grievance anonymously? Yes, although we recommend that you identify yourself. Please note that if you elect to be anonymous, you will receive no information about the result of your filing. We will not discuss the grievance with you, even if you identify yourself as the person who filed the grievance anonymously after the fact. Can I withdraw my grievance after it has been filed? No. Once you file a grievance against an attorney or judicial officer, our office must determine whether the attorney or judicial officer engaged in unethical conduct. Is the Office of Disciplinary Counsel required to investigate my grievance? No. Our office must review the allegations, but we retain the discretion to decline to investigate if the allegations do no amount to unethical conduct. Can I tell people that I filed a grievance against an attorney or judge? No. Under Gov. Bar R. V, our investigations are confidential; consequently, you are prohibited from disclosing this information. What happens after I file a grievance? Your written or electronic grievance will be reviewed by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel within 90 days to determine if it alleges a violation of the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct or the Code of Judicial Conduct. If our office concludes that a grievance is without merit, or does not allege facts which, if true, would demonstrate professional misconduct or incapacity, we will dismiss the grievance and take no further action. You will be notified of this in writing. If we do not dismiss the grievance, we will conduct an investigation that ordinarily begins by obtaining a written response from the attorney or judicial officer who is the subject of the grievance. After our investigation, if we determine that the evidence is insufficient to demonstrate misconduct or incapacity or that the overall circumstances do not warrant further action, we will dismiss the grievance, close the file, and notify you in writing of our decision. At the conclusion of our investigation, if there is substantial and credible evidence of misconduct, our office may file a Formal Complaint with the Board of Professional Conduct of The Supreme Court of Ohio. You will be notified in writing if we pursue formal discipline. Will I have to testify in court? Perhaps. If we pursue the allegations contained in your grievance by filing a complaint with the Board of Professional Conduct, you may be required to testify. Why was my grievance dismissed? The determination to pursue a grievance may involve a number of factors including the seriousness of the violation(s) and an assessment of the likelihood of proving the alleged misconduct. Our office must establish an attorney or judicial officer's misconduct at trial by clear and convincing evidence. Clear and convincing is a standard of proof that is greater than a preponderance of the evidence but less than proof beyond a reasonable doubt. If our office feels that we cannot meet our burden of proof, we will not file a formal complaint. How long will it take for the Office of Disciplinary Counsel to conclude its investigation? It depends. Our office makes every effort to ensure grievances are processed, investigated, and resolved in a timely manner. Depending on the circumstances of your grievance, it could take up to one year to investigate your grievance. If the case proceeds beyond the investigation, it could take two years for a final resolution. If the Office of Disciplinary Counsel dismisses my grievance, can I appeal the decision? No. Our office's decision to dismiss a grievance is final. Can I find out about prior grievances against an attorney or judicial officer? No. All grievances - either pending or dismissed - are private and confidential. You can, however, be told if the attorney or judicial officer has been disciplined. To view an attorney’s or judicial officer's disciplinary history, click here . To see if an attorney or judicial officer has a pending disciplinary case before the Board of Professional Conduct, search here . Can the Office of Disciplinary Counsel help me get my money or files returned? No. Although an attorney’s refusal to return money or files may be the basis for discipline, which should be reported, our office cannot force an attorney to return money or files. Sometimes, during an investigation, an attorney may volunteer to return money or files to the client, but our office only has the ability to investigate and pursue violations of the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct. If you want to dispute the fee you paid, you may contact your local Bar Association to see if it offers fee dispute resolution services. What will happen to the case my attorney was handling? Our office does not represent clients, and it cannot assist in any type of litigation. You may need to seek the services of another attorney who can assist you with your ongoing legal matter. If you need help finding an attorney, click here . Can the Office of Disciplinary Counsel refer me to an attorney? No. Our office does not provide attorney referrals. You may contact your local Bar Association for a referral to a local attorney. Where can I find the Ohio Code of Judicial Conduct? The Ohio Code of Judicial Conduct are available on our website . My attorney overcharged me, how can I get my money back? The Office of Disciplinary Counsel does not resolve fee disputes, but you may contact your local Bar Association , which may have a Fee Dispute Committee. What happens if the Office of Disciplinary Counsel determines, after an investigation, that an attorney or judicial officer violated the Rules of Professional Conduct or the Code of Judicial Conduct? If our office elects to file formal disciplinary charges, we file a complaint with the Board of Professional Conduct. A probable cause panel of the Board conducts an initial review to determine if probable cause exists. If there is a finding of probable cause, the Board certifies the complaint and it becomes public. The Board assigns a three-member panel to hear the matter. Assuming a successful prosecution, the Supreme Court will impose a sanction depending on the seriousness of the violation(s) and other factors. Possible sanctions include: A public reprimand; A suspension from practice of law for a definite term of 6, 12, 18, or 24 months; An indefinite suspension (i.e. minimum of two years); or, Permanent disbarment. What happens if the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, after an investigation, determines that an attorney or a judicial officer did not violate the Rules? The grievance will be dismissed and you will be notified in writing of this decision. What if I want to file a grievance against my court-appointed attorney or the prosecutor? While we do not have the authority to remove your attorney or the prosecutor from your case, you may file a grievance if you believe they violated the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct. However, you should raise claims of ineffective assistance of counsel or prosecutorial misconduct in the criminal proceeding or on appeal. The disciplinary process is not a substitute for trial or the appellate process. Accordingly, we may delay investigation of the matter while the case or appeal is pending. Upon completion of the judicial proceedings, including any appeal, you may resubmit your grievance along with a copy of the decision. Please understand that the disciplinary process is separate from the judicial process and will have no impact on your criminal case. For a variety of reasons, a finding of ineffective assistance of counsel or prosecutorial misconduct by an appellate court does not automatically result in an ethical violation. What if I want to file a grievance against the judge or magistrate presiding over my case? While we do not have the authority to remove the judge or magistrate presiding over your case, you may file a grievance if you believe they violated the Code of Judicial Conduct. Please understand that the disciplinary process is separate from the judicial process and will have no impact on your case. Accordingly, we may delay investigation of the matter while the underlying case is pending. What should you do if you receive certified mail or an email from The Office of Disciplinary Counsel that contains a Letter of Inquiry (LOI)? Don’t panic. The LOI is designed to give you a chance to respond to a grievance that has been filed against you. It does not necessarily mean that our office believes that the grievance is well founded. Nor does it mean that our office believes you have committed a disciplinary violation. Our attorneys who review incoming grievances, similar to a court considering a motion to dismiss, ask the attorney or judicial officer to respond to any allegation that, if proven, would constitute a violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct or the Code of Judicial Conduct. Don’t ignore the LOI. Although you should not panic, you should treat the LOI seriously and respond within the indicated time frame or request an extension of time to respond from the assigned Assistant Disciplinary Counsel in our office. A surprising number of attorneys make the mistake of failing to respond. A failure to respond may constitute professional misconduct. Our office can pursue discipline for failing to respond to an LOI, even if our investigation reveals that there is no merit to the underlying grievance. (Disciplinary Counsel v. Goebl, 152 Ohio St.3d 498, 2018-Ohio-5, 98 N.E.3d 223). Seek ethics counsel. You should seek the assistance of counsel if you believe it would assist in responding to the LOI. Respond fully. Make sure you provide a full and fair disclosure of the relevant facts. Include copies of pertinent documents. Do not include your entire client file unless every document in the file is truly necessary to a complete understanding of your response. Some attorneys and judicial officers make the mistake of failing to respond fully because they believe the grievance has no merit or because they resent spending the time to prepare a response. Vague or incomplete responses could cause our office to misunderstand the facts and to take action it might not have taken if presented with adequate information. A vague or incomplete response or a failure to respond fully to follow-up questions may itself be a violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct. Does the Office of Disciplinary Counsel provide ethics advice? No. However, our office offers non-binding guidance to lawyers and judicial officers who are faced with ethical issues. If you are a lawyer and have a question about a particular ethical issue or situation, you may contact our office at 614-387-9700 (Press option 1) and an Assistant Disciplinary Counsel will respond to your inquiry. If you are a judicial officer and have a question about a particular ethical situation or issue, you may contact our office at 614-387-9730 and the Disciplinary Counsel or the Chief Assistant will respond to your inquiry. How do I obtain a letter verifying my disciplinary history? You may request a letter verifying your disciplinary history by contacting our office directly.

Learn about abandoned client files held by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel The Supreme Court of Ohio. This page lists files from attorneys who have died, disappeared, been disciplined, or are otherwise unable to manage their practice. Understand the legal guidelines under Gov.Bar R. V(26)(A), file availability limitations, and health-related reasons files may be destroyed. Abandoned Client Files Legal Disclaimer Under Gov.Bar R.V(26)(A) , ODC may obtain the client files of an attorney who has died, disappeared, been disciplined, been deported, or is incapacitated. ODC exercises this authority based on staff time and storage space constraints. ODC is not, however, required to take over an attorney’s client files. Please understand that the files retrieved may not comprise all of an attorney’s client files. ODC cannot guarantee that a particular file will be among those we retrieve. Further, the condition of the space in which the files were stored or the files themselves may result in summary destruction of the files. Things like mold, mildew, insects, and exposed asbestos may cause us to destroy files so as not to endanger our employees while still ensuring that the clients' personal identifying information is protected. For more information about how to handle client files, please refer to the pamphlet found here . The following attorneys have abandoned client files. Attorney’s Name Location of Practice Alo, Mohammed Dublin Armengau, Javier Columbus Beeler, Robert Carey Blackwell, Robert Bowling Green Brannock, Keith Columbus Brantner, Jeffery Columbus Brezine, Don Fairborn Brock, Thomas Columbus Buzney, Sandra Cleveland Buzzelli, Russell Medina Carroll, Gregory West Union Christopher, Judith Columbus Page 1 of 7 The following attorneys files have extenuating circumstances. Please contact the Office of Disciplinary Counsel. The following attorneys files have
been destroyed. Attorney’s Name Bernstein, David Brezine, Don (Wills) Claybon, Stanley Edwards, Steve Freeman, Bryan Kamer, Edward Lancione, David Obertholtzer, Mattheu Paulig, Karl Rittinger, Robert Rogers, Richard Sherman, Dennis Page 1 of 2 Attorney’s Name Brubaker, Bruce Byers, Kevin Corley, James R Daly, James E Gradison, Helen Hamilton, Jerome Klein, Linda Lett, Sam McCune, Richard Ohlin, Joseph Pearch, Gary Reber, Frank Page 1 of 2

Explore annual reports from the Office of Disciplinary Counsel – The Supreme Court of Ohio. Each report includes case statistics, key developments, and an overview of the office’s work in promoting ethical standards for Ohio attorneys and judicial officers. Access reports from 2010 to today. Annual Reports Annual Reports Under the Rules for the Government of the Bar, ODC publishes an annual report, which provides an overview of our office, notable developments, statistical data, and case-related information. Click on the year below to view the corresponding Annual Report: 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010

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