Board of Overseers of the Bar

The Board and its Mission

The Maine Board of Overseers of the Bar was created by the Maine Supreme Judicial Court in 1978 to govern the conduct of lawyers as officers of the Court. The Board is an independent agency under the jurisdiction of the Court.

The mission of the Board of Overseers of the Bar is to encourage and promote competent and ethical practice by members of the Maine Bar, and to make these standards known to members of the public so that they have confidence in the legal profession in Maine. The Board accomplishes its mission on several fronts including attorney registration, continuing legal education requirements, ethical guidance, and attorney regulation. [Read more]

Ethics Helpline for Registered Maine Attorneys

The Board of Overseers of the Bar provides assistance to Maine attorneys through its "Ethics Helpline" on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays - 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. To speak with one of the Board's staff attorneys, call the Board's office at 207-623-1122. [Read more]

News

CLE Annual Reporting

It is CLE Annual Reporting time again! ***Please note, if you have not completed your 2024 CLE by the December 31st deadline, pursuant to MBR 5, there is a grace period until February to do so. Please plan to complete any remaining CLE credits and submit them prior to February 17 to allow our team to process them so that you are able to complete your Annual Report by the February 28 deadline.

To submit your annual report please login to your MyCLEAccess account at mecle.org

For instructions on how to complete your annual report please see Attachment: Download Important CLE Update.

Attachment: Download Important CLE Update (PDF)

Law Office Management Services Now Available

Through a unique partnership with the Maine Board of Overseers of the Bar, Red Cave Law Firm Consulting offers Maine attorneys DISCOUNTED virtual law practice management consulting. Red Cave has 10+ years of law firm business management consulting experience, and has advised over 3,000 law firms. We can help you with issues surrounding law office technology, marketing, financial management and more!

Please visit the Legal Resources page to learn more about Red Cave.

You'll also find a link to the new Law Office Management Blog



Upcoming CLE Presentations

Date Session Title Organization Location Speaker

Hearings & Notices

Date Time Respondent Location
3/12/2025 Public Notice of Ian B. Bourgoine Petition for Reinstatement TBD
4/3/2025 Public Notice of Kathryn Marx Horst Petition for Reinstatement TBD
4/25/2025 Public Notice of Barbara R. Chassie Petition for Reinstatement TBD
4/29/2025 Board v. William Avantaggio, Esq. Video Conference: via Zoom link

View complete hearing schedule

Recent Decisions & Orders

The files below require the free Adobe Reader

Date Respondent Issued By Order Disposition/Conduct
4/16/2025 In re: Forrest W. Barnes, Esq. Single Justice Receiver Appointment [PDF] Order for Appointment of Co-Receivers
4/15/2025 In re: Daniel Purdy, Esq. Single Justice Receiver Appointment [PDF] Expedited Order - Appointment of Co-Receivers
4/15/2025 In Re: Jan Geller, Esq. Single Justice Receiver Appointment [PDF] Order appointing Receiver
4/11/2025 William B. Blaisdell, IV, Esq. Single Justice Suspension [PDF] Suspension from the Maine Judicial Branch GAL Roster
4/11/2025 William B. Blaisdell, IV, Esq. Single Justice Receiver Appointment [PDF] Appointment of Co-Receivers

View all decisions

Court News

Announcements and News Releases for the Maine Supreme Judicial Court

In Memoriam

The In Memoriam page is dedicated to honoring those members of the Maine Bar who have passed away in recent years. When available, links to full obituaries and news articles are also accessible. Click here to view the In Memoriam page.