In Re: Paul J. Barker

Supreme Court of Louisiana
April 20, 2021
Chief Deputy Clerk of Court
For the Court
The Supreme Court of the State of Louisiana
IN RE: PAUL J. BARKER
No.2021-B-00187
_ _
_ _ _ _
I
N RE: Office of the Disciplinary Counsel - Applicant Other; Joint Petition for
Consent Discipline;
_ _ _ _ _ _
April 20, 2021
Joint petition for consent discipline accepted. See per curiam.
JLW
JDH
SJC
JTG
WJC
JBM
PDG
04/20/2021 "See News Release 016 for any Concurrences and/or Dissents."

04/20/21
S
UPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA
NO. 20
21-B-0187
I
N RE: PAUL J. BARKER
AT
TORNEY DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDING
P
ER CURIAM
T he Office of Disciplinary Counsel (“ODC”) commenced an investigation
into allegations that respondent neglected legal matters, failed to communicate with
clients, failed to refund unearned fees, and failed to reconcile his client trust account
at least quarterly . Prior to the filing of formal charges, respondent and the ODC
submitted a joint petition for consent discipline. Having reviewed the petition,
IT IS ORDERED that the Petition for Consent Discipline be accepted and that
Paul J. Barker , Louisiana Bar Roll number 34432, be and he hereby is suspended
from the practice of law for a period of one year and one day.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this suspension shall be deferred in its
entirety, subject to a period of probation to coincide with the term of respondent’s
recovery agreement with the Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program and governed
by the following conditions:
(1) R
espondent shall maintain compliance with his five-
year JLAP monitoring agreement; and,
(
2) R
espondent shall pay all costs of this proceeding; and,
(3) R
espondent shall make full restitution to all clients to
whom refunds of unearned fees are owed and shall submit
pr
oof of reimbursement to the ODC.
I
T IS FURTHER ORDERED that a ny failure of respondent to comply with
his recovery agreement or the conditions of probation, or any misconduct during the

probationary period, may be grounds for making the deferred suspension executory,
or imposing additional discipline, as appropriate.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that all costs and expenses in the matter are
assessed against respondent in accordance with Supreme Court Rule XIX, § 10.1,
with legal interest to commence thirty days from the date of finality of this court’s
judgment until paid.