Board of Overseers of the Bar
News
Board of Overseers of the Bar State of Maine New CLE WebsiteWe are excited to announce our NEW website for all matters related to Continuing Legal Education is now live! This website will be your new resource for tracking your CLE progress, checking your compliance status, looking for CLEs and answering frequently asked questions. To check out the new website please visit: www.MECLE.org and register your new account.
Our current website will remain your primary resource for all non-CLE related Board matters. You will continue to use MyBoardAccess for annual registration, updating contact info, printing your bar card and attorney access to the bar directory.
You will need to register to create an account to access your CLE record. Your MyBoardAccess credentials will not work for your new MyCLEAccess. Registering is very easy following these simple steps:
1.) From the homepage, click "Register" at the MyCLEAccess portal.
2.) On the next screen you will enter your bar number and date of birth. Do not add any leading zeros to your bar number. Enter your date of birth with no slashes or dashes in the following format: MMDDYYYY.
3.) This will lead you to the final set up screen where you will create your login and password.
That's it! You should now have access to your CLE transcript and be able to see your courses posted for 2022 so far. If you read that you are currently non-compliant for 2022, don't worry! You have the entire calendar year to achieve compliance for 2022. You will see on your account summary page how many credits you may need before the end of the year or how many carry over credits you have already earned for next year. To see a detailed list of courses on your record simply click Full Transcript. Any credits you complete may take up to 45 days to appear on your record depending on when your credits are reported to the Board.
Please contact CLE Director David Morse at dmorse@mebaroverseers.org with any questions.
Law Office Management Services Now Available
Through a unique partnership with the Maine Board of Overseers of the Bar, Red Cave Law Firm Consulting offers Maine attorneys DISCOUNTED virtual law practice management consulting. Red Cave has 10+ years of law firm business management consulting experience, and has advised over 3,000 law firms. We can help you with issues surrounding law office technology, marketing, financial management and more!
Please visit the Legal Resources page to learn more about Red Cave.
You'll also find a link to the new Law Office Management Blog
In light of the evolving concerns surrounding the COVID-19 virus and in an effort to slow the rate of infection, the Board of Overseers of the Bar has implemented precautionary measures. These new protocols include restricting building access only to staff and partnering with CLE providers to present live streaming and educational programs. Please feel free to contact our office at 207-623-1121 with any questions or concerns and check our website for changes to scheduled hearings or programs. We want to make thoughtful decisions about any programmatic revisions. We will continue to monitor the advice of local and state officials, as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and adjust plans as appropriate.
Please keep up to date on all the latest Pandemic Management Orders issued by the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. Among the important details, is the Court's suspension of the in-person requirement for Maine Bar Rule 5 CLE programs.
Please refer to our partners at the Maine State Bar Association and their website for all the latest information regarding Court matters and pertinent Orders.
We thank you for your patience and support. Let’s all do what we can to help keep our community healthy.
The Board and its Mission
The Maine Board of Overseers of the Bar was created by the Maine Supreme Judicial Court in 1978 to govern the conduct of lawyers as officers of the Court. The Board is an independent agency under the jurisdiction of the Court.
The mission of the Board of Overseers of the Bar is to encourage and promote competent and ethical practice by members of the Maine Bar, and to make these standards known to members of the public so that they have confidence in the legal profession in Maine. The Board accomplishes its mission on several fronts including attorney registration, continuing legal education requirements, ethical guidance, and attorney regulation. [Read more]
Ethics Helpline for Registered Maine Attorneys
The Board of Overseers of the Bar provides assistance to Maine attorneys through its "Ethics Helpline" on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays - 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. To speak with one of the Board's staff attorneys, call the Board's office at 207-623-1122. [Read more]
In Memoriam
The In Memoriam page is dedicated to honoring those members of the Maine Bar who have passed away in recent years. When available, links to full obituaries and news articles are also accessible. Click here to view the In Memoriam page.
Court News
Announcements and News Releases for the Maine Supreme Judicial Court
Upcoming CLE Presentations
| Date | Session Title | Organization | Location | Speaker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9/27/2022 | Law Office Management Corner 'Risky Business: How Does All the Movement in LegalTech Affect Software Choices for Law Firms?' | Board of Overseers of the Bar | Webinar | Aria Eee, Suzanne Thompson |
Hearings & Notices
| Date | Time | Respondent | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/1/2022 | Sarah J. Morath Petition For Reinstatement | TBD | |
| 9/2/2022 | Katherine D. Hambley Petition For Reinstatement | TBD | |
| 9/28/2022 | 2:00 PM | Board v. J. Mitchell Flick, Esq. | Video Conference: This hearing will be live-streamed via YouTube and is open to the public to view. Direct access link will be posted prior to the hearing. |
| 12/19/2022 | 8:30 AM | Board v. Christopher J. Whalley | Penobscot Judicial Center Bangor - Courtroom #201 |
| 12/20/2022 | 8:30 AM | Board v. Christopher J. Whalley | Penobscot Judicial Center Bangor - Courtroom #201 |
View complete hearing schedule
Recent Decisions & Orders
The files below require the free Adobe Reader
| Date | Respondent | Issued By | Order | Disposition/Conduct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9/22/2022 | Seth T. Carey | Single Justice | Reinstatement Denied | |
| 9/14/2022 | Michael J. Cianchette, Esq. | Single Justice | Order | Truthfulness in Statements to Others; Conflict of Interest - Business Transaction with a Client |
| 9/9/2022 | James L. Audiffred, Esq. | Single Justice | Receiver Discharge Order | |
| 9/8/2022 | Peter J. Kaynor, Esq. | Single Justice | Receiver Appointment Order | |
| 9/7/2022 | Susan C. Hopkins, Esq. | Single Justice | Receiver Appointment Order |
Quick Links
- MyBoardAccess
- Attorney Address/Name Change Form
- Attorney Registration
- Attorney Roster Totals
- Bar Counsel Notes
- Certificate of Good Standing
- Continuing Legal Education
- Custody of Attorney Wills
- Ethics Helpline
- Ethics Opinions
- Fee Disputes
- GAL Review Board
- Grievance Complaints
- Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection
- Maine Bar Rules
- Maine Rules of Professional Conduct
- New Attorney Registration
- Proxy Designation
- Schedule of Fees
