BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY (2026)
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BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
OF THE
SUPREME COURT OF TENNESSEE
10 CADILLAC DRIVE, SUITE 220
BRENTWOOD, TENNESSEE 37027
TELEPHONE: (615) 361-7500
(800) 486-5714
Website: www.tbpr.org
RELEASE OF INFORMATION
RE: LEE WILSON MCDOUGAL, BPR #025557
CONTACT: TIFFANY D. TANT-SHAFER
BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
615-361-7500
January 7, 2026
SUMNER COUNTY LAWYER CENSURED
On January 7, 2026, Lee Wilson McDougal, an attorney licensed to practice law in Tennessee, received a
Public Censure from the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Tennessee Supreme Court.
Mr. McDougal was appointed counsel to a parent in a dependency and neglect juvenile proceeding
involving allegations of severe abuse. Following the adjudicatory hearing, Mr. McDougal complied with the
clientâs request to file a de novo appeal but thereafter failed to inform his client of the Courtâs adjudication and
final disposition, failed for ten (10) months to consult with his client about the means to achieve his goals on
appeal, failed to keep his client reasonably informed about the appeal status, and failed to comply with the clientâs
reasonable, ongoing requests for copies of discovery, case information, and his client file. Upon being notified
of the clientâs request that he withdraw his services, Mr. McDougal delayed his withdrawal from the case for at
least four (4) months. There was substantial potential harm to the client in that a finding of severe abuse in a
dependency and neglect case is a ground for terminating a parentâs constitutional rights to their child, such that
Mr. McDougalâs ongoing failure to communicate during the de novo appeal potentially put his clientâs rights in
jeopardy.
By these acts, Mr. McDougal has violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.2 (scope of representation and
allocation of authority between client and lawyer), 1.3 (diligence), 1.4 (communication), 1.15 (safekeeping
property and funds), 1.16 (declining or terminating representation), and 8.4(d) (misconduct), and is hereby
Publicly Censured for these violations.
A Public Censure is a rebuke and warning to the attorney, but it does not affect the attorneyâs ability to
practice law.
McDougal 100754-6 rel.doc