Background
Allison Coffeen Mohon was admitted to the Kentucky Bar in 2010 and later practiced as a solo attorney. In January 2022, the Kentucky Supreme Court suspended her for 181 days, requiring her to serve 60 days and placing the balance on probation subject to conditions including client reimbursement, trust-account training and monitoring, and payment of costs. The misconduct arose from multiple client complaints during a concentrated period in 2017 and 2018 when Mohon attempted to operate her practice without support staff or adequate case-management and financial safeguards.
Mohon did not obtain automatic reinstatement after the initial suspension period and ultimately applied for reinstatement in February 2025. Following an evidentiary hearing, the Kentucky Bar Association’s Character and Fitness Committee found that she had proved all nine reinstatement criteria under SCR 3.503 and recommended conditional reinstatement. The Office of Bar Counsel objected, principally questioning her professional capabilities, rehabilitation, financial management, and appreciation of her prior misconduct.
The Court’s Holding
The court held that Mohon proved by clear and convincing evidence that she possessed the character, fitness, moral qualifications, and professional capability necessary for reinstatement in an appropriately supervised setting. It adopted the Committee’s findings that she had complied with the prior suspension order, committed no misconduct during more than four years away from practice, maintained employment, contributed to her community, cooperated candidly with the proceeding, and demonstrated an understanding of why her former practice failed.
The court reinstated Mohon subject to four conditions: she must enter an agreement with the Kentucky Lawyer Assistance Program concerning treatment of her ADHD; practice under the supervision of a licensed Kentucky lawyer for two years on terms acceptable to the court; submit a proposed supervision plan to the Committee within 60 days; and pay $4,949.11 in costs. Six justices concurred, and Justice Bisig dissented.
Key Takeaways
- A suspended Kentucky lawyer seeking reinstatement must prove each SCR 3.503 criterion by clear and convincing evidence.
- Serious prior misconduct does not permanently foreclose reinstatement when the lawyer demonstrates rehabilitation, candor, compliance, and present fitness under the totality of the circumstances.
- The court may address lingering concerns about professional capability through conditions such as treatment monitoring, supervised practice, and approval of a detailed supervision plan.
Why It Matters
The decision confirms that Kentucky treats suspension as remediable rather than a permanent professional disability. Reinstatement turns on the applicant’s present character and fitness, understanding of the prior misconduct, conduct during suspension, and ability to identify safeguards against recurrence.
It also illustrates how conditional reinstatement can permit a lawyer’s return while protecting clients and the public. Here, the court accepted evidence of rehabilitation but required structured ADHD treatment and two years of supervised practice because Mohon and the Committee agreed that she should not immediately resume solo practice.