Virgin Islands lawyers are bound by strict ethical rules in all of their professional dealings pursuant to Rule 203 of the Rules of the Supreme Court. Members of the public who believe that a lawyer has engaged in misconduct should contact the Office of Disciplinary Counsel and complete a Complaint Form.
Attorney conduct is regulated within a three-part disciplinary system and is governed by Supreme Court of the Rules of the Supreme Court.
1. Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands
The Supreme Court governs the admission of all attorneys to the Virgin Islands Bar and has exclusive jurisdiction over members of the legal profession. The Court also regulates the conduct of attorneys by overseeing the Board on Professional Responsibility, and approving the rules governing the discipline of attorneys and the practice of law in the Virgin Islands.
2. The Board on Professional Responsibility
The Board on Professional Responsibility consists of such persons as the Court shall appoint. The Board is currently comprised of all attorneys in good standing with the Bar. The Board also contains a Preliminary Review Committee, a panel of three members of the Board who review the recommendations of the Office of Disciplinary Counsel following its initial investigation. The duties of the Board of Professional Responsibility include but are not limited to: considering matters and conduct hearings in cases filed within the Board’s jurisdiction; through its hearing panels, make finds of fact, conclusions of law, and recommended dispositions; and file its findings, conclusions, and recommendation with the Court.
3. Office of Disciplinary Counsel
Disciplinary Counsel is responsible for evaluating, investigating, and prosecuting attorney disciplinary complaints. In addition, Disciplinary Counsel is responsible for the administration of the disciplinary system before the Board on Professional Responsibility and the Supreme Court—by notifying parties about the status of pending cases and making recommendations to the Board on Professional Responsibility regarding the disposition of pending cases.