The legal profession places enormous trust in attorneys, holding them to the highest ethical standards. But what happens when an attorney, already under suspension, blurs the boundaries of professional conduct? The recent suspension of Florida attorney Alexis Trischa-Day Benjamin offers an important reminder of how critical it is for lawyers to respect disciplinary orders and maintain transparency with the courts, clients, and opposing counsel.
The Florida Bar v. Alexis Trischa-Day Benjamin, Case No. SC2025-50447 (Fla. Apr. 14, 2025) (Consent Judgment).
Alexis Trischa-Day Benjamin, a member of the Florida Bar since 2003, first faced disciplinary action in October 2020, when she was suspended for six months. That sanction stemmed from separate misconduct but required her to completely halt her practice of law.
However, issues resurfaced in the course of her representation of her father in a landlord–tenant dispute. Despite her suspension, Benjamin did not formally withdraw from the case or notify the court and opposing counsel of her suspended status.
•December 2021: Benjamin received a hearing notice but failed to file suspension-related disclosures.
• January 20, 2022: She appeared at a hearing with her father, who represented himself, while the court noted her suspended status.
•Subsequent communications: Opposing counsel emailed her as though she were still acting in a representative capacity. Although she clarified that her father was not her client, she did not clearly explain her inability to practice due to suspension.
These actions raised red flags about her compliance with ethical rules and court orders.
On April 14, 2025, Benjamin entered into a conditional guilty plea and consent judgment with the Florida Bar, filed with the Florida Supreme Court under Rule 3-7.9. The Court approved a six-month suspension, retroactive to December 1, 2024, ending May 31, 2025.
Under the order, Benjamin must:
•Cease all practice of law and stop presenting herself as an attorney.
•Withdraw from all client matters and notify clients, opposing counsel, courts, and financial institutions of her suspension.
•File sworn affidavits within 30 days confirming compliance.
•Pay $1,250 in costs to the Florida Bar.
Failure to meet these obligations would prevent her from resuming practice once her suspension ends.
The Florida Bar found Benjamin violated multiple rules of professional conduct, While the Bar recognized mitigating factors such as Benjamin’s lack of dishonest motive, cooperation, and remorse, aggravating factors included her prior disciplinary history and her experience as a seasoned attorney who should have known better.
This case serves as a cautionary tale for attorneys: a suspension is not a gray area it is an absolute bar. Even seemingly minor missteps, like attending a hearing or responding to opposing counsel’s emails, can be interpreted as unauthorized practice.
For clients and the public, the ruling reinforces the legal system’s commitment to accountability and professional integrity. For attorneys, it’s a stark reminder that discipline doesn’t end with an order it requires ongoing vigilance and compliance.
Attorneys must respect disciplinary orders to the letter, not just the spirit. The legal profession relies on trust, and even small lapses in judgment during suspension can have lasting consequences.
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