On Monday, April 10, 2023, a misconduct complaint has been filed against Sterling attorney Theron William Burall before the Hearing Board of the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission for professional misconduct.

The case is entitled ‘In the Matter of Theron William Burall,’ and was brought by the Administrator of the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission with case no. 2023PR00013.

The charges cited Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3,1.4(a)(1), 1.4(a)(2), 1.4(a)(3),  5.5(a), and 8.4(c), which prohibit:

Practicing law in a jurisdiction of the regulation of the legal profession in that jurisdiction;

Failing to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client;

Failing to promptly inform the client of any decision or circumstances with respect to which the client’s informed consent;

Failing to reasonably consult with the client about the means by which the client’s objectives are to be accomplished;

Failing to keep the client reasonably informed about the status of the matter; and

Engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation.

The Rules of Professional Conduct can be found here.

According to the Complaint, Burall was removed from the master roll of Illinois attorneys on December 1, 2022, for failure to comply with the MCLE requirements pursuant to Rule 794 and Rule 796. Despite this, Burall continued to engage in the practice of law in violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct.

Burall was further alleged to have made false statements to the ARDC during the latter’s investigation of Burall’s non-compliance when he said in an email to counsel for the Administrator that he had sent an email to the MCLE board when he knew such statement as false.

The Complaint also alleged that Burall failed to diligently represent a client in a dissolution of marriage action by failing to prepare a marital settlement and proceed with the petition for dissolution of marriage that he had filed on behalf of his client. Burall also failed to inform his clients of the scheduled hearing dates and the status of the representation.

Based on these acts, the Administrator requested that this disciplinary matter be assigned to and be heard by a panel of the Hearing Board, and for the panel to make findings of fact, conclusions of fact, and law, and recommend the imposition of discipline upon Burall.

Mr. Theron William Burall maintained his law practice in Sterling. He has been admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2000, after graduating from the University of Missouri at Columbia, School of Law. His info can be found on Lawyers.com.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.