OLR Compendium > Public Reprimand of Paul Strouse

Public Reprimand of Paul Strouse

2015-OLR 6

Paul Strouse (“Strouse”) is a Wisconsin attorney whose State Bar identification number is 1017891. Strouse practices law in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Strouse was first licensed to practice law in Wisconsin on October 3, 1991.

On June 2, 2014, the Board of Bar Examiners (“BBE”) administratively suspended Respondent’s license to practice law pursuant to SCR 31.10 for noncompliance with Wisconsin mandatory CLE requirements for the 2012-2013 reporting year. Notice of the suspension was sent to Respondent on June 3, 2014 and received by him at noon on June 4, 2014. Notice of the suspension was preceded by notice from BBE to Respondent dated April 3, 2014 that in the absence of compliance with CLE requirements, Respondent’s law license would be automatically suspended on June 2, 2014 at 4:30 p.m. Respondent personally signed for the April 3, 2014 notice, which was sent by certified mail. Respondent’s petition for reinstatement dated June 10, 2014 was filed with BBE on June 11, 2014. Respondent’s license was reinstated on June 12, 2014.

During the period of administrative license suspension, Respondent appeared on behalf of a client in a Chapter 13 matter, and, in addition, appeared on behalf of a client at a 341 Hearing. Further, Respondent filed a Chapter 13 petition as well as a Chapter 7 petition in two other matters while his law license was under administrative suspension. When Respondent filed his petition for reinstatement with BBE, Respondent informed BBE of his personal appearances in two bankruptcy matters, but neglected to inform BBE that he had filed the Chapter 13 and Chapter 7 petitions while under suspension. Respondent submits that one petition was filed electronically before he received the June 3, 2014 notice of suspension, and the second petition, although admittedly filed after he received notice of suspension, was prepared prior to his receipt of the suspension notice.

By engaging in the practice of law or otherwise acting in a manner purporting to be authorized or qualified to practice law while his law license was suspended for failure to comply with continuing legal education requirements, Respondent violated SCR 31.10, which states, “A lawyer shall not engage in the practice of law in Wisconsin while his or her state bar membership is suspended under this rule” and SCR 22.26(2), which states, “An attorney whose license to practice law is suspended or revoked . . . may not engage in this state in the practice of law or in any law work activity customarily done by law students, law clerks, or other paralegal personnel . . . .” SCR 31.10 and SCR 22.26 (2) are enforceable through SCR 20:8.4(f), which states, “It is professional misconduct for a lawyer to: . . . (f) violate a . . . supreme court rule . . . regulating the conduct of lawyers. . . .”

In his petition for reinstatement filed with BBE on June 11, 2014, by failing to inform BBE that in addition to making appearances on behalf of clients, he also filed two bankruptcy petitions during the period of suspension, including one filed after his receipt of the notice of suspension, Respondent engaged in deceitful conduct in violation of SCR 20:8.4(c), which provides, “It is professional misconduct for a lawyer to: . . . (c) engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation.”

Respondent has two prior public reprimands, one imposed in 2010 and the other in 2011.

In accordance with SCR 22.09(3), Attorney Strouse is hereby publicly reprimanded.

Dated this 12th day of May, 2015.