If your professional license is compromised, your future could be, as well, because you will not be able to practice your profession. Most people assume that only very severe complaints can put their license at risk, but there are many potential problems that could lead to an accusation.
Whether you have been arrested for a DUI or have a disgruntled client who’s causing problems, you need to be proactive when it comes to protecting your license. Learn more about the most common reasons that can put your profession at risk and why a professional license defense lawyer is essential.
Common Reasons You May Face an Accusation
From misconduct charges to criminal convictions, there are a number of reasons that you may face an accusation against your professional license.
Drug Abuse or Misuse
Anyone who has a drug misuse problem and isn’t getting help for it may be risking their professional license. It’s a typical issue since people working in certain professions like nursing not only have access to drugs but also deal with high levels of stress every day. It’s estimated that addiction rates in the nursing field are as high as 20%.
It’s not just drugs, either. Any professional who is found to be under the influence of alcohol while performing their job could also face license suspension or revocation.
Criminal Arrests, Charges, or Convictions
If you’re arrested or convicted of a criminal offense, you could face disciplinary issues with the board that governs your license. The board has the right to take action against someone who has been charged, but they may not be able to revoke the license entirely if the crime has nothing to do with the professionals’ work.
For example, someone who drives a commercial truck and is charged with a DUI can face license revocation, while the same charge may only mean a suspension for someone who holds a funeral director’s license. Most of the time, however, being charged with a violent crime results in license revocation, no matter your field.
One problem related to criminal arrests and convictions is the failure to report them when applying for a license. You have to disclose all arrests and convictions to the board if you’re asked to.
Not doing so can result in a license revocation later on. You must disclose all crimes because this information even if the arrest or conviction occurred when you were a juvenile.
Professional Malpractice
All professions have rules regarding standard practices and reasonable care. If a professional violates these in any way, their license can be at risk.
The most obvious instances of professional malpractice occur in the medical field and could include a doctor misdiagnosing a patient, a nurse administering the incorrect dosage, or a surgeon performing a procedure on the wrong body part.
Lawyers, too, could face disciplinary action if they fail to alert a client of a deadline or provide inaccurate information that causes losses for their clients. Malpractice applies to all professional fields, and it requires demonstrating that you owed clients a certain standard that you failed to meet and that failure left them with losses of some kind.
Conduct Involving Deceit or Misrepresentation
Professionals who are dishonest in their dealings with clients, don’t keep accurate records, or engage in false advertising can have their licenses suspended or revoked. These are issues that often don’t have nefarious reasons behind them, but they can still trigger an investigation and accusation.
Why a Professional License Defense Lawyer is Essential
If you have an accusation against your professional license, you can’t defend yourself without help.
Professional license defense lawyers understand the process and can help you avoid a number of pitfalls, including not filing a notice of defense in time. You only have 15 days to do so, and not having enough experience could easily result in you losing your chance to defend yourself.
Your attorney will assess the case against you. If the process moves on to the discovery phase, legal counsel is invaluable because they will be able to make sense of all of the information the board sends you.
Your lawyer will help you gather the necessary evidence to demonstrate whether the complaint that led to the accusation is valid or not. They can also find mitigating evidence that could help convince the board to settle on less severe consequences.
Attorneys will be able to zero in on the most effective defense for your case. They will consider all of the facts and available evidence to put together a robust case.
Having an attorney means having the support you need when you go in front of the board during the hearing. They will negotiate and ensure you get treated fairly. All disciplinary boards have procedural rules they must follow. If they don’t, your lawyer can hold them to their own regulations.
If the board places restrictions on your license, you may need to reapply for it later on. This application can be tough to do on your own after facing disciplinary actions. With a lawyer, the process of reinstating your license can be a bit easier.
Defending Your License and Your Future
Any disciplinary action taken against you by the board that governs your field can be devastating. It’s important not to despair and, instead, rely on experienced representation to help you fight for your license.
With dependable counsel beside you, you can potentially avoid the worst consequences and any disruption to your livelihood.
At Unlock Legal, our team of professional license defense lawyers has been helping the professionals of California for decades. We work closely with each of our clients to provide personalized attention so that we can offer the robust support they need.
If you’re facing an accusation against your professional license, the most important step you can take is to contact a lawyer who can guide you through the process. Because filing a defense is time-sensitive, don’t wait to begin. Contact Unlock Legal right away to schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys.