John Smith

Informal Admonition (November 1, 2021)

Summary: In re John M. Smith III. Bar No. 994251. November 1, 2021. Disciplinary Counsel issued Smith an informal admonition. Smith’s client retained him to pursue one final avenue of relief, the filing of a residual clemency request with the Coast Guard Clemency Board, which Smith did not do. Smith failed to (1) serve the client with skill and care, (2) represent the client zealously and diligently within the bounds of the law, (3) keep the client reasonably informed about the status of the matter and promptly comply with reasonable requests for information, (4) withdraw from the representation when his physical or mental condition materially impaired his ability to represent the client, and (5) return the client file after multiple requests in violation of Rules 1.1(b), 1.3(a), 1.4(a), 1.16(a)(2), and 1.16(d).