The rules for the discipline of Idaho lawyers are established by the Idaho Supreme Court, through Section V of the Idaho Bar Commission Rules (I.B.C.R.). I.B.C.R. 521 provides for two types of disciplinary sanctions: private discipline (for less serious violations) and public discipline (for more serious violations). Only public discipline sanctions are posted.
The Client Assistance Fund has been set up to attempt to compensate claims made solely by a client against his or her Idaho lawyer, and only for DISHONEST CONDUCT by the lawyer. (I.B.C.R. 600). “Dishonest Conduct” under the rules governing the Client Assistance Fund means wrongful acts committed by a lawyer in the nature of theft or embezzlement of money or the wrongful taking or conversion of money, property, or other things of value, including, but not limited to, refusal to return unearned fees received in advance as required by Rule 1.16 of the Idaho Rules of Professional Conduct, or the borrowing of money from a client without intention to repay it, or with disregard of the lawyer’s inability or reasonably anticipated inability to repay it. (I.B.C.R. 601(f)).