How to Report the Board's Attorney
How to Report the Board's Attorney
Reporting an NCVMB Attorney to the North Carolina State Bar
You can report the attorney for the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Board (NCVMB) to the North Carolina State Bar. Government attorneys—including those who serve as legal counsel for state licensing boards—are subject to the same North Carolina Rules of Professional Conduct as all other lawyers.
(Note: If you have a pending legal case, the board's lawyer will likely not be investigated until all legal matters are settled.)
1. When to File a Formal Grievance
If the issue involves serious misconduct such as dishonesty, theft of funds, gross negligence, or a willful failure to perform legal duties, you should file a formal grievance with the State Bar.
How to File
Electronic Filing (Preferred):
Complete the Official Attorney Complaint Form
Email it to: complaints@ncbar.gov
By Mail:
Send the completed form to:
North Carolina State Bar
Attn: Office of Counsel, Intake Unit
PO Box 25908
Raleigh, NC 27611
2. What Your Complaint Must Include
To ensure the State Bar can investigate your grievance, provide:
A Detailed Narrative
A clear, factual statement of what happened, including specific dates, times, and locations.
Supporting Evidence
Attach copies (never originals) of relevant documents—fee agreements, emails, text messages, court filings, etc.
Signed Form
In North Carolina, grievances must be in writing and signed by the person complaining.
3. Grounds for Your Report
If your concern is that the attorney is failing to enforce or is misapplying statutes, the relevant ethical rules may include:
Rule 8.4 (Misconduct):
Professional misconduct includes conduct that is “prejudicial to the administration of justice.”
Rule 1.1 (Competence):
A lawyer must provide competent representation with a proper understanding of the law.
Rule 1.3 (Diligence):
A lawyer must act with reasonable diligence. Ignoring clear statutory mandates in an official capacity could indicate a lack of diligence.
4. Understanding the Attorney’s Role vs. the Board’s Authority
The Board: NCVMB members make final decisions on discipline of veterinarians.
The Attorney: Advises the Board on legal matters and drafts orders.
If the attorney is intentionally misrepresenting the law or failing in their legal duties under Chapter 90, Article 11 (The Veterinary Practice Act), that is an ethical issue for the State Bar.
5. Other Relevant Avenues
Because your complaint involves a state agency official, you have more than one option:
NC State Bar
Investigates ethical violations by attorneys as individuals.
NC State Ethics Commission
Investigates certain “public servants” (including some board employees) for conflicts of interest or failure to perform duties under the State Government Ethics Act.
6. Tips for a Strong Complaint
When filing against a government attorney, the Bar often characterizes issues as “disagreements with legal strategy” or simply “unhappy results.” To make your grievance more effective:
Cite the Statute Clearly
For example:
“Attorney [Name] failed to apply NCGS § 90-187.8, which explicitly requires [X], despite being provided the statutory text and evidence.”
Demonstrate a Pattern
Provide emails or records where you pointed out the statute and the attorney refused to acknowledge or apply it.
Focus on Duty
Frame the issue as a failure of the attorney’s duty to the public and the administration of justice.
7. Key Rules to Remember
Statute of Limitations:
You generally must file within 6 years of the incident.
Confidentiality:
The investigation remains confidential unless and until the Bar issues public discipline.
No Withdrawal:
You cannot later ask the Bar to drop the complaint—the Bar must complete the investigation.
Standing:
You must be a client, a party to the legal matter, or have a direct connection to the facts to file a valid report.
8. What Happens Next
Once you file:
The Bar assigns a staff attorney to review your file.
If the allegations could constitute ethical violations, the lawyer named in the complaint will be notified and given 15 days to respond.
You will receive a letter explaining the Grievance Committee’s decision after review.
Legal Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer. This information is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as legal advice. Use of this information does not create an attorney-client relationship.