Lydia E. Lawless has been appointed as the new Bar Counsel for the Attorney Grievance Commission of Maryland, with her role commencing on July 1. The announcement was made by Mary Ellen Barbera, Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals of Maryland.
“Ms. Lawless’ distinguished record at the Attorney Grievance Commission, her commitment to professionalism and client protection, and the high regard evidenced for her by the legal community make her well-suited to succeed as Bar Counsel,” stated Chief Judge Barbera.
Expressing gratitude for her appointment, Lawless remarked, “I am honored and humbled to have the confidence of the Commission and the Court of Appeals. I am looking forward to working with my colleagues and our bar in this new role.”
Lawless began her tenure at the Attorney Grievance Commission in 2011 as an Assistant Bar Counsel and was promoted to Senior Assistant Bar Counsel in July 2016. Before joining the Commission, she practiced law at Vesper & Lawless in Bethesda. She graduated from American University’s Washington College of Law in 2007, where she also served as a staff editor for the Administrative Law Review.
In addition to her new responsibilities, Lawless is active on several boards including the executive board of Montgomery County Inns of Court. She is also involved with organizations such as Serjeants Inn Law Club and Women’s Bar Association of Maryland. Recently, she received recognition as the 2017 recipient of the American Bar Association’s Rosner and Rosner Young Lawyers Professionalism Award.
Lawless succeeds Glenn Grossman who retired earlier this year after serving since July 2010. Linda H. Lamone, Chair of the Commission, expressed optimism about working with Lawless: “The Commission looks forward to working with newly appointed Bar Counsel Lydia Lawless.”
The Attorney Grievance Commission oversees attorney conduct in Maryland under rules set by professional conduct standards. It investigates misconduct or incapacity among attorneys and handles approximately 2,000 complaints annually through its team comprising investigators, lawyers, paralegals, and administrative support.