What does disbarment imply for a lawyer?

Disbarment signifies the removal of a lawyer's license to practice law, effectively ending their ability to legally represent clients or offer legal services. This is a serious sanction typically imposed after severe ethical violations, criminal activity, or professional misconduct. Unlike suspension, which temporarily restricts a lawyer from practicing, disbarment means that the lawyer is no longer permitted to practice law altogether.

Understanding this distinction is crucial because disbarment not only impacts the individual's current ability to work in the legal field but also may involve lengthy processes before they can ever apply for reinstatement, if at all. This measure is intended to uphold the integrity of the legal profession and protect the public from unqualified or unethical practitioners.