Editing Disbarment (section)

===Overview===
Generally, disbarment is imposed as a sanction for conduct indicating that an attorney is not fit to practice law, willfully disregarding a client's interests, [[commingling]] funds, or engaging in fraud that impedes the administration of justice. In some states, any lawyer who is convicted of a [[felony]] is automatically suspended pending further disciplinary proceedings, or, in New York, automatically disbarred.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McShea |first1=Sarah |title=Automatic Disbarment for Felony Convictions |url=http://www.newyorklegalethics.com/automatic-disbarment-for-felony-convictions-time-to-rethink-old-rule/ |website=New York Legal Ethics Reporter |access-date=July 7, 2023}}</ref> Automatic disbarment, although opposed by the [[American Bar Association]], has been described as a convicted felon's <!-- DON'T "FIX" THIS TO JUST DESSERTS -->[[just deserts]]<!-- "Desert", from the same French root as deserve, meaning something deserved -->.<ref>{{citation|volume=13|publisher=Hastings Const. L.Q.|pages=433|date=1985–1986|title=Automatic Disbarment: A Convicted Felon's Just Deserts|author1=Gentile, Michael A. |author2=McShea, Sarah Diane }}</ref>

In the United States legal system, disbarment is specific to regions; one can be disbarred from some courts while still being a member of the [[bar association|bar]] in another jurisdiction. However, under the [[American Bar Association]]'s [[American Bar Association Model Rules of Professional Conduct|Model Rules of Professional Conduct]], which have been adopted in most states, disbarment in one state or court is grounds for disbarment in a jurisdiction which has adopted the Model Rules.

Disbarment is quite rare: in 2011, only 1,046 lawyers were disbarred.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rocketlawyer.com/blog/getting-disbarred-is-harder-than-you-think-915832|title = Getting Disbarred is Harder Than You Think|date = 17 March 2014}}</ref> Instead, lawyers are usually sanctioned by their clients through civil malpractice proceedings, or via fine, censure, suspension, or other punishments from the disciplinary boards. To be disbarred is considered a great embarrassment and shame, even if one no longer wishes to continue a career in law.

Because disbarment rules vary by area, different rules can apply depending on where a lawyer is disbarred. Notably, most US states have no procedure for permanently disbarring a person. Depending on the jurisdiction, a lawyer may reapply to the bar immediately, after five to seven years, or be banned for life.<ref name="reapply">{{cite news | url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3975/is_200707/ai_n19511820/pg_2 | work=The Georgetown Journal of Legal Ethics | title=Should Permanent Disbarment be Permanent? | year=2007 | first=Brian | last=Finkelstein | access-date=2007-11-20 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081112072221/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3975/is_200707/ai_n19511820/pg_2 | archive-date=2008-11-12 | url-status=dead }}</ref>