Rule 511 Reimbursement of certain losses authorized

Pennsylvania has a fund set up to help people who lose money because of a dishonest lawyer. If a lawyer steals money or acts dishonestly with a client's funds, the person harmed may be able to get some of that money back through this fund.

The Board that oversees the fund gets to decide whether to pay out money and how much to pay. They are not required to pay back every dollar someone lost. Instead, they have the power to approve a payment up to the amount of the actual loss caused by the lawyer's dishonest actions.

This means if you were harmed by a lawyer's dishonesty, you can ask for help from this fund, but getting paid is not automatic. The Board reviews the situation and decides what amount, if any, makes sense to pay based on the loss you suffered.