News and Events

Lydia Lawless discusses the Maryland Attorney Grievance Commission and her experience as Bar Counsel with Dave Shuster, managing partner at Kramon & Graham. Lydia was the youngest person and first woman to serve as Bar Counsel and has argued more than 35 cases before the Supreme Court of Maryland. Lydia joined Kramon & Graham as a principal in April, 2023.

00:00:00 Lydia's lawyer parents, education and decision to become a lawyer

00:03:15 Practicing law with her mother and sister and developing an interest in litigation

00:04:08 The history of the Attorney Grievance Commission of Maryland

00:07:33 Lydia's experience as assistant Bar Counsel and then as Bar Counsel

00:11:56 Lydia's goals as Bar Counsel: increasing salaries and diversifying the team

00:15:21 Following a case before the Bar Counsel: complaint, intake, investigation, disposition recommendation, peer review, circuit court, Supreme Court

00:34:12 Disciplinary outcomes and notifications to other jurisdictions

00:37:12 Missteps attorneys make and lessons for practitioners

00:43:20 Attorneys' succession plans and the Bar Counsel

00:45:20 Comparing Maryland's Bar Counsel to other states

00:46:35 How does the Bar Counsel handle criminal charges and investigations?

00:49:58 Lydia's accomplishments as Bar Counsel and plans for the future