Lawyer regulation recommendations are being reviewed; the goal is to improve efficiency and fairness to all participants.

Proposals from the Bar's Special Commission on Lawyer Regulation have been distributed to Bar committees for review and recommendations to the Board of Governors.

Some recommendations have already been acted on by the board while others will be monitored by Bar staff.

The commission, chaired by Bar President Hank Coxe, spent three years studying the Bar's $10 million-a-year grievance process. Its goals were to improve the efficiency and fairness of the system for all participants.

Most of the recommendations that require action have been referred to the Disciplinary Procedure Committee, while others will be overseen by staff. The Communications Committee will follow up on the recommendation to improve Bar member education about the grievance process and its workings.

The Communications Committee, with input from the Citizens Forum, also will work on public access to discipline records. The committee is now studying putting some grievance records on the Bar's Web site. Most grievance records are public, but those interested must call the Bar to get information.

Among the commission's recommendations being implemented include better training for judges who act as referees in grievance cases, Bar staff preparation of the record from the referee heating for the Supreme Court, and uniform policies to guide board members when they act as designated reviewers in grievance cases.

One major change that has been carried out is changing the intake of grievance complaints so that all of them are screened to see if...