Do I Need an Attorney to Defend My Professional License Against a Complaint?

 Posted on January 18,2022 in Professional License Defense

In Illinois, there are a number of different professional licensing boards that all fall under the umbrella of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). Any individual who holds a professional license in the state of Illinois is under the oversight of whatever board issued that license. When there is a complaint or other issue filed against an individual, that board will be the one to investigate the complaint, determine if there is validity to it, and decide if any disciplinary action should be taken against the person who holds that license.

Anyone who has been notified that they are under investigation should contact an Illinois professional license defense attorney right away in order to ensure their rights are protected in any investigation and/or hearings that take place. Choosing the right attorney, however, is critical.

Hiring a Professional License Defense Attorney

There are a number of boards that fall under the IDFPR, including:

• Illinois Board of Medicine

• Illinois Board of Nursing

• Illinois Board of Pharmacy

• Illinois Dental Board

• Illinois Board of Clinical Psychologists/ Social Workers

• Illinois Board of Chiropractors/ Physical Therapists

• Illinois Real Estate Board

These boards are in charge of issuing professional licenses, renewal of professional licenses, and investigating and responding to any complaints against a licensee. Some of the most common types of complaints received against professional license holders include:

• Unethical or unprofessional conduct

• Substance abuse

• Diversion and/or distribution of controlled substances

• Negligent or substandard practices

• Criminal convictions

• Accusations of improper conduct and referral for disciplinary action from another state

If a licensee has been notified that they are being investigated, not only is it important to have an attorney representing them, but it is crucial to the outcome of the case that the attorney has experience in these types of cases.

You will want to make sure that the attorney you retain has extensive experience in handling these specific types of legal cases. While every attorney in Illinois must go to law school and must pass the bar exam, that does not mean they have the knowledge and legal expertise to defend a client against a complaint from one of the IDFPR’s boards.

Just like many other professions – i.e. medical, construction – that have different specialties, so too does the legal profession. You would not go to an orthopedist for a heart problem; you would consult with a cardiologist. You would not hire a plumber to rewire your home; you would hire an electrician. This also applies to the legal profession. If you need an attorney to defend you against an IDFPR investigation, you should not consult with a divorce or personal injury attorney. You should consult with a seasoned professional license defense attorney.

Call an Illinois License Defense Lawyer

If your professional license is at risk, call The Law Offices of Joseph J. Bogdan, Inc. at 630-310-1267 to schedule a free consultation with a skilled Illinois professional license defense attorney. Attorney Joseph Bogdan has been defending professional license holders in Illinois for almost two decades. He is not only an attorney and pharmacist, but he was also a prosecutor for the IDFPR and the Chief of Pharmacy Prosecutions.

Source:

https://www.idfpr.com/About/BoardsCommittees.asp