William Paul Lucke was admitted to the California Bar 5th January 1972, but has since been disbarred. William graduated from Golden Gate University SOL.

Lawyer Information

NameWilliam Paul Lucke
First Admitted5 January 1972 (53 years, 4 months ago)
StatusDisbarred
Bar Number51030

Contact

Current Email[email protected]
Phone Number510-652-5175
Fax Number510-652-5170

Schools

Law SchoolGolden Gate University SOL (San Francisco CA)
Undergraduate SchoolUniversity of San Francisco (San Francisco CA)

Address

Current AddressPO Box 2339
San Rafael, CA 94912
Map

History

28 February 2015Disbarred (10 years, 2 months ago)
Disbarment 12-O-17697
11 September 2014Not eligible to practice law in CA (10 years, 7 months ago)
Ordered inactive 12-O-17697
14 December 2013Not eligible to practice law in CA (11 years, 4 months ago)
Ordered inactive 12-O-17697
20 September 2013Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 12-O-17697 (11 years, 7 months ago)
26 September 2011Not eligible to practice law in CA (13 years, 7 months ago)
Suspended, failed to pass Prof.Resp.Exam 02-O-10193
30 May 2010Not eligible to practice law in CA (14 years, 11 months ago)
Discipline w/actual suspension 02-O-10193
25 January 2010Not eligible to practice law in CA (15 years, 3 months ago)
5 January 1972Admitted to the State Bar of California (53 years, 4 months ago)

Discipline Summaries

February 28, 2015

WILLIAM PAUL LUCKE [#51030], 72, of San Rafael, was disbarred Feb. 28, 2015 and ordered to comply with rule 9.20 and make restitution. Luck’s default was entered after he failed to respond to a notice of disciplinary charges. Because he made no effort to vacate the default within 180 days as required by rule 5.85 of the State Bar’s Rules of Procedure, he was disbarred. The charges were deemed admitted. Lucke failed to perform legal services with competence and improperly withdrew from employment by not informing his clients he had been placed on inactive status. He also failed to refund unearned fees or inform his clients that he would no longer be representing them. In addition, Lucke did not inform clients of his inactive status and failed to cooperate or comply with all laws. He had one prior record of discipline, a 2010 suspension for misconduct in two client matters, including failing to perform legal services with competence, inform his client of a significant event or deposit and maintain client funds in his client trust account.

May 30, 2010

WILLIAM PAUL LUCKE [#51030], 68, of Piedmont was suspended for one year, stayed, placed on two years of probation with an actual 60-day suspension and he was ordered to take the MPRE within one year. The order took effect May 30, 2010.

Lucke was enrolled in the State Bar’s Alternative Discipline System for lawyers with chemical abuse and mental health issues, but he was terminated from the program. As a result, he is subject to more serious discipline for misconduct he admitted in 2005. (Successful completion of the ADP leads to lesser discipline.)

Lucke stipulated to misconduct in two client matters. In a civil complaint, he failed to established a Special Needs Trust Fund for a minor client for more than four years after receipt of settlement funds and he failed to invest the funds in a structured settlement annuity for more than four years, as required. He also did not keep the minor’s parent informed. He stipulated that he failed to perform legal services competently or inform a client of significant developments.

In a medical malpractice case, Lucke stipulated that he did not conduct discovery, prepare his client or his client’s doctors for depositions and did not oppose the defendants or any witnesses. He also did not deposit costs in a client trust account. Lucke stipulated that he failed to perform legal services competently or deposit funds in his trust account.

In mitigation, he suffered a heart attack that contributed to the problems with both cases, he cooperated with the bar’s investigation, had no prior discipline record and provided testimony about his good character.