Ethics Question of the Month • October 2026
Extra! Extra! Grieve All About It!
ATTORNEYS BETTY AND HANK ARE STARTING A NEW PERSONAL INJURY FIRM. Each previously worked elsewhere as an associate, and they are excited about managing their new firm.
In preparing for the firm’s opening, Betty and Hank discuss
whether they have a duty to notify clients of the State Bar of
Texas’ grievance process. Betty recalls some sort of notice being
provided at her previous firm—and both agree they should make sure
they are compliant.
They discuss the following methods for notifying clients of the
grievance process:
1) Posting a prominently displayed sign describing the grievance process in their law office;
2) Making grievance brochures prepared by the State Bar available at their law office;
3) Including information about the grievance process in written engagement agreements with clients; and
4) Including information about the grievance process in bills to clients.
Under state law, which of the following best describes whether they are required to notify clients of the State Bar grievance process?
A. They are required to provide notice by method 1.
B. They are required to provide notice by method 2.
C. They are required to provide notice by method 3.
D. They are required to provide notice by method 4.
E. They are required to provide notice by method 1 or 2.
F. They are required to provide notice by method 1, 2, or 3.
G. They are required to provide notice by method 1, 2, 3, or 4.
H. They are only required to notify clients of the grievance process if a member of the firm has previously been disciplined for professional misconduct. Such notice must be in writing.
ANSWER: Section 81.079(b) of the Texas Government Code states:
Each attorney practicing law in this state shall provide notice to each of the attorney’s clients of the existence of a grievance process by:
1) making grievance brochures prepared by the state bar available at the attorney’s place of business;
2) posting a sign prominently displayed in the attorney’s place of business describing the process;
3) including the information on a written contract for services with the client; or
4) providing the information in a bill for services to the client.
Under the statute, Betty and Hank can satisfy the requirement to notify clients of the grievance process by using any of the four methods described. The correct answer is G.
The State Bar of Texas provides signs and brochures to assist attorneys in complying with this provision. Those materials are available at texasbar.com/Content/NavigationMenu/ForLawyers/GrievanceandEthics/RequiredNoticetoClients/.
For more Ethics Question of the Month columns, go to legalethicstexas.com/ethics-question-of-the-month.
