On Friday, September 29, 2023, the Supreme Court of Wisconsin suspended attorney Nicole L. Beran for 30 days, in reciprocity with the discipline imposed by the Supreme Court of Illinois.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Nicole L. Beran,” with case no. 2023AP734-D
On September 2, 2021, the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission filed a complaint against Beran alleging professional misconduct related to three client matters. Beran had accepted advance fees to represent these clients on an hourly basis in family law matters, but then failed to competently complete the work or return unearned fees.
On January 17, 2023, the Supreme Court of Illinois approved a petition filed by Beran consenting to discipline. The court suspended Beran’s Illinois law license for six months, but stayed the suspension after 30 days and imposed two years of probation with numerous conditions. These conditions included repaying unearned fees, attending counseling, and cooperating with the disciplinary commission.
Beran failed to notify Wisconsin’s Office of Lawyer Regulation (OLR) about the Illinois discipline within 20 days as required. On May 1, 2023, the OLR filed a complaint seeking reciprocal discipline against Beran in Wisconsin based on the Illinois suspension.
Beran and the OLR later filed a stipulation on June 27, 2023, agreeing that Beran should receive the identical 30-day suspension in Wisconsin. Beran acknowledged she was not contesting the misconduct allegations and agreed to the level of discipline. The Supreme Court of Wisconsin accepted the stipulation on September 29, 2023, and suspended Beran’s Wisconsin law license for 30 days.
The court’s order also requires Beran to comply with all terms of the two-year probation imposed by the Illinois Supreme Court. Once her suspension is complete, Beran must satisfy the requirements for reinstating her Wisconsin license. The suspension will go into effect on November 3, 2023, and will last 30 days.
According to avvo.com, Ms. Beran is a divorce and separation attorney in Rockford, Illinois. She attended the Northern Illinois University College of Law, graduating in 1999.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
