Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection Sets 2026 Deadlines for Claims Against Disciplined Attorneys

Clients must file by specific dates to seek compensation for dishonest conduct by attorneys found in violation of professional standards.

TRENTON — The New Jersey Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection has announced the first-quarter deadlines for individuals seeking to file claims against attorneys who have been disciplined for dishonest conduct. Alicia F. Williams, the Fund’s director, stated that clients of the attorneys listed below must submit their claims by the corresponding deadlines in 2025 and 2026.

The Fund exists to reimburse clients for financial losses caused by the dishonest conduct of lawyers acting in a professional or fiduciary capacity. To be eligible for reimbursement, the attorney must have been disbarred, suspended, placed on disability inactive status, or convicted of theft or misappropriation. The misconduct must be intentional rather than negligent.

A claim does not need to be part of a formal ethics complaint, but must be submitted within one year of the disciplinary action being issued. While disciplinary action triggers the Fund’s jurisdiction, not all cases of discipline guarantee compensation; some attorneys are sanctioned for reasons unrelated to financial misconduct.

Clients may receive up to $400,000 per claim, with a cap of $1.5 million for all claims against a single attorney. There is no fee to file a claim. Forms are available online, by mail from the New Jersey Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection (P.O. Box 961, Trenton, NJ 08625-0961), or by calling 855-533-FUND (3863). All claim forms must be completed, notarized, and submitted with documentation of the incident.

Below is the list of attorneys and the corresponding deadlines to file a claim:

Claimants may also seek assistance from practicing attorneys at no cost when filing through the Fund.