Margaret Jane Powers Public Censure - Tennessee Attorney
Summary
The Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility publicly censured attorney Margaret Jane Powers on April 13, 2026, for violations of Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3 (diligence), 1.5(f) (fees), 1.15 (safeguarding client property), and 1.16(d) (duties following withdrawal). Powers failed to take timely action for an estate probate client, then declined to refund an unearned security retainer and delayed returning prepaid litigation expenses after discharge, despite no signed fee agreement.
What changed
The Board of Professional Responsibility issued a public censure to Margaret Jane Powers, an attorney licensed in Tennessee, finding she violated four Rules of Professional Conduct. Powers failed to act diligently for a client in probating an estate, declined to refund an unearned security retainer after discharge despite no signed fee agreement, and delayed returning prepaid litigation expenses. The censure serves as an official rebuke and warning to the attorney.
Legal professionals in Tennessee should note that this enforcement action demonstrates the Board's willingness to pursue discipline for combined deficiencies in diligence, fee handling, client property safeguarding, and withdrawal duties. While a public censure does not affect the attorney's ability to practice law, it creates a permanent record of professional misconduct and serves as a warning to other practitioners regarding proper handling of client funds and fee agreements.
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Archived snapshot
Apr 14, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
powers-101558-4-rel.pdf
(2026)
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Download Official Record (powers-101558-4-rel.pdf)
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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: MARGARET JANE POWERS, BPR #007328
CONTACT: STEVEN J. CHRISTOPHER
BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
615-361-7500
April 13, 2026
CUMBERLAND COUNTY LAWYER CENSURED
On April 13, 2026, Margaret Jane Powers, an attorney licensed to practice law in Tennessee, received a
Public Censure from the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Tennessee Supreme Court.
Ms. Powers agreed to represent a client in probating an estate. Ms. Powersâ usual practice was to charge
a security retainer and obtain the clientâs signature on a fee agreement confirming that the retainer was
nonrefundable. Due to an inadvertent office error, no fee agreement was signed by the client. After undertaking
the representation, Ms. Powers delayed in taking action for the client. After being discharged, Ms. Powers
declined to refund the unearned portion of her security retainer despite being aware that no fee agreement had
been signed by the client providing that the fee was nonrefundable. Ms. Powers also delayed in returning prepaid
litigation expenses to the client.
By these acts, Margaret Jane Powers has violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3 (diligence), RPC
1.5(f) (fees), 1.15 (safeguarding client property), and 1.16(d) (duties following withdrawal or discharge) 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.
Powers 101558-4 rel.doc
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