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Mara A. Snyder (WSBA No. 43474, admitted 2011) of Bellingham, resigned in lieu of discipline, effective 8/24/2021. Snyder agrees that she is aware of the alleged misconduct in disciplinary counsel’s Statement of Alleged Misconduct and rather than defend against the allegations, wishes to permanently resign from membership in the Association. The Statement of Alleged Misconduct reflects the following violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct: 1.3 (Diligence), 1.4 (Communication), 1.15A (Safeguarding Property), 1.16 (Declining or Terminating Representation), 8.4(b) (Criminal Act), 8.4(c) (Dishonesty, Fraud, Deceit or Misrepresentation).
Snyder’s alleged misconduct, as stated in disciplinary counsel’s Statement of Alleged Misconduct, related to abandoning her family law practice. Snyder’s alleged misconduct includes: 1) closing her law practice without notice to clients, failing to provide a way for clients to obtain information about their legal matters, failing to deliver client files or property to them, and/or failing to appear at mediations, meetings, and/or court proceedings, thus abandoning the practice of law without providing for her clients’ needs; 2) taking funds belonging to clients and third parties from trust without entitlement, and 3) failing to refund fees that clients paid in advance that had not been earned, and/or retaining fees for work that was of no benefit to the clients.
Joanne S. Abelson acted as disciplinary counsel. Mara A. Snyder represented herself. Nadine Darlene Scott was the hearing officer. The online version of Washington State Bar News contains a link to the following document: Resignation Form of Mara A. Snyder (ELC 9.3(b)).
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