The professional conduct of attorneys is generally regulated by each state's rules of professional conduct—which are often written by the state's highest court, and enforced through the disciplinary process administered by the state's bar association. The professional conduct of attorneys is also referred to as legal ethics and professional responsibility.

Attorneys can be disciplined for a variety of reasons, ranging from the failure to pay their bar dues to misappropriating client funds. The grounds upon which an attorney may be disciplined by the state bar association are generally located in the state bar association's disciplinary rules of professional conduct.

Some attorneys who have been disciplined are no longer eligible to practice law. You should inquire about an attorney’s disciplinary history on the state bar association’s website, or by calling the state bar association.

You should not hire an attorney whose license is been suspended or revoked and who is not eligible to practice law in your state. Each state has a disciplinary organization that receives, investigates, and resolves ethics complaints against attorneys licensed in the state.

In Colorado, the professional conduct of attorneys is regulated by the Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct, which are established by the Colorado Supreme Court. The Colorado Bar Association, through its Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel, administers the disciplinary process. Attorneys in Colorado can face discipline for various infractions, including but not limited to, failure to pay bar dues, misappropriation of client funds, or other ethical violations. The specific grounds for discipline are outlined in the Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct. If an attorney is disciplined, depending on the severity of the misconduct, they may face sanctions ranging from a private reprimand to disbarment, which means they are no longer eligible to practice law in the state. It is important for individuals to check an attorney's disciplinary history before hiring them, which can be done through the Colorado Supreme Court's Attorney Regulation Counsel website or by contacting the Colorado Bar Association. Hiring an attorney whose license has been suspended or revoked is not advisable, as they are not permitted to practice law in Colorado.