On Tuesday, October 4, 2022, the Fifth District, Section III Subcommittee of the Virginia State Bar ruled on the agreed disposition of public reprimand without terms entered into, by and between, the Virginia State Bar and Reston attorney Leslie Anne Shopf in relation to the disciplinary charges alleging misconduct. The ruling approved the agreed disposition and imposed a public reprimand without terms to Shopf.

The case, titled In the Matter of Leslie Anne Shopf, was brought by the Virginia State Bar, case no.22-053-124212.

The charges cited Shopf violation of Rule 1.3 of the Rules of Professional Conduct, which state:

“A lawyer shall act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client.”

The Findings of Fact as stipulated in the Agreed Disposition, include:

“On February 26, 2021, Respondent was appointed as counsel for Complainant Wesley Martin regarding second DWI charges. On March 4, 2021, Respondent sent Martin a letter stating that she was appointed as his counsel and identifying his court date of July 22, 2021. Respondent’s file did not include any records reflecting that she communicated with Martin or the Commonwealth’s attorney between March 4, 2021, and July 22, 2021. On the morning of July 22, 2021, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Chanel Jackson said informed the Respondent that his client (Martin) had a prior failure to appear so he might need to appear. Respondent left a voicemail for Martin telling him that the case would be continued and he did not need to appear, but Martin did not receive it until he appeared in court. Respondent did not appear. The case was continued until August 26, 2021.

On August 24, 2021, two days before the August 26, 2021, court date, the new prosecutor Stephen Hall contacted Respondent to inquire about her plan for the hearing that week. Hall asked Respondent directly whether she had any discovery. Respondent responded, “I do not believe I was given discovery yet.”. Respondent’s file did not contain any information indicating that she followed up to try to get the discovery sooner. The case was reset to December 16, 2021.”

On November 10, 2021, Martin filed a bar complaint against Respondent. At the December 16, 2021 hearing, Respondent moved to withdraw because of the bar complaint. Respondent was permitted to withdraw
and new counsel was appointed for Martin.

The Senior Assistant Bar Counsel and Respondent agreed on Public Reprimand without terms as the appropriate sanction for Respondent’s conduct.

On September 30, 2022, a meeting was held on this matter where the Subcommittee voted to approve the agreed disposition for a Public Reprimand without Terms.

The decision reads:

“Accordingly, having approved the agreed disposition, it is the decision of the Subcommittee to impose a Public Reprimand Without Terms, and Leslie Anne Shopf is hereby so reprimanded.”

Ms. Shopf attended Tulane University School of Law, graduating in 1990. She practices in Reston, Virginia, where she maintains the Law Office of Leslie A. Shopf. She has been licensed in Virginia. Her info can be found on LinkedIn.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.