Attorney Misconduct, Lawyer of the Day, Legal Ethics

Lawyer of the Day: A Disappearing Act

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One summer associate story from years past involved an SA who simply stopped showing up to work for several days. Given how big summer classes were back then (not like today), and how much misbehavior was tolerated in those halcyon days, it took a surprisingly long time for the perpetrator to get in trouble.

The fellow got no-offered. But some observers wondered whether his conduct really was that egregious, viewed against the standards of the time. Summer associates weren’t actually expected to, you know, work back then.

And summer associates don’t really have “clients.” Wisconsin lawyer Scott Fisher, who pulled a similar vanishing act, did….

From Proof & Hearsay:

It apparently didn’t take long for Scott H. Fisher to figure out he didn’t like being a lawyer. Fisher, who was admitted to practice in Wisconsin in 2006, pretty much stopped showing up at his office in 2008, according to a Supreme Court ruling Tuesday that revoked his license for 55 counts of professional misconduct.

According to the ruling, Fisher wrongly kept about $9,000 in fees from clients in 10 matters, mostly bankruptcies, and one divorce. Fisher (Akron, ’05) ran a practice in Menasha, according to state bar records. His listed number is now disconnected.

As chronicled in these pages (and many others), the legal profession ain’t what it used to be. Contrary to popular belief, practicing law isn’t an easy way to make a living. Does skipping out on his legal practice make Scott Fisher a sleazeball — or just smart?

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Of course, it might have been smarter of Fisher to have skipped law school entirely. But perhaps his departure from practice was merely an attempt to mitigate his damages.

Fisher can’t be located; it appears he may have fled the country. If you know anything about him or his whereabouts, feel free to email us.

UPDATE: Eric Lipman of Legal Blog Watch has some thoughts on what Fisher is up to nowadays.

Court disbars lawyer who disappeared [Proof & Hearsay / Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel]
In the Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings Against Scott H. Fisher [Supreme Court of Wisconsin]

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