Jeffery M. Leving, a Chicago attorney known for his work advocating for fathers' rights in custody battles, has been handed a suspension from practicing law following findings that he charged excessive fees to clients, as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times. The Illinois Supreme Court has declared a five-month suspension beginning October 11, though Leving will resume legal work after 60 days pending a two-year probationary period.
Leving's firm, which presents itself as an advocate for fathers in divorce and custody cases, has been put in the spotlight after billing clients significant sums, in some instances, the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC) cited figures totaling more than $440,000 between June 2014 and October 2021; the disciplinary commission petitioned the Supreme Court to discipline Leving citing these amounts as coming from eight separate clients whose fees "were unreasonable for a variety of reasons, including the results actually obtained by the Firm," as detailed by Chicago Sun-Times.
Leving's reputation in the area of family law is underscored by his frequent appearances on television and radio, as well as his contributions to legislative reforms, such as co-authoring the Illinois Joint Custody Law, and has received accolades like President Biden's 2023 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award. Despite this, clients like Brian Blaszczyk, whose experience with Leving's firm led to more than $56,000 in fees for a parentage case initially thought to be straightforward, expressed dismay, telling the Chicago Sun-Times, "But if you’re an advocate for fathers ... they should have done better."
As a response to the ARDC's actions, Leving’s firm stated Arthur Kallow, the firm's litigation director, stating, “Mr. Leving is very proud to have devoted his life’s work to fighting for fathers and protecting their children” and had the disciplinary case proceeded to a hearing the firm planned to present "expert testimony" from a former Cook County judge in the Domestic Relations Division but the firm agreed to the penalties "in the interest of resolving the matter," remarks obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times.
The investigation by the ARDC apparently uncovered practices of billing multiple attorneys for a single meeting and charging for little work done, as pointed out in the complaint, revealing systemic issues within the firm’s fee structures and client dealings; the probe also noted that Leving and his firm have since provided partial refunds and made changes to retainer agreements. However, for clients like Blaszczyk and another former client who racked up legal bills exceeding his monthly income, this adjustment appears as a delayed attempt at rectifying the financial burden shouldered by those who turned to Leving's firm for legal advocacy.
