Virginia bar admonishes attorney for violating rule

The Virginia State Bar has issued a public admonition against a Williamsburg attorney for violating a rule on how he ended representation of a client.

A State Bar subcommittee found on March 4 that Edgar Rawlings Jones did not diligently and zealously represent a client who met with him in 1997 to discuss a potential employment discrimination claim.

The woman hired Jones to represent her in 1999 and paid him $1,000.

Over the next two years, Jones didn't return her calls or communicate with her about the case, according to the bar's determination. She filed a bar complaint in 2001.

Jones said in both 2001 and 2004 he would file her case but did not, according to the determination.

When the bar investigated the matter, Jones admitted the case "got lost in the shuffle," according to the determination.

Jones agreed to the public reprimand to resolve the misconduct allegation. He could not be reached for comment.