Do I Need Character Letters for My Disciplinary Case?

If your professional license comes under investigation, your licensing board won’t just look at the accusations against you. An important part of the board’s job is gathering evidence about who you are as a professional and a person, and using that information to lend important context for any allegations. That’s where character letters can play a role.

While they won’t be relevant to every case, your attorney may recommend providing your licensing board with character letters that support your ethics and professionalism. When used strategically, the opinions of others can significantly impact the outcome of your investigation. 

What Are Character Letters and Why Do They Matter?

In a professional license defense case, a character letter is a written statement from someone who knows you professionally or personally and can speak to your integrity, values, and reputation. Its purpose isn’t to argue the facts of the case, but to provide general evidence about your professionalism and competence.

For example, a colleague might highlight your commitment to your clients or patients, or a supervisor might share a story about a time you went out of your way to be honest. These letters can humanize you to the board and remind decision-makers that you’re more than the allegations you’re facing.

When Should You Provide Character Letters?

The timing and use of character letters should always be guided by your attorney’s strategy. In situations where they aren’t relevant to your case, providing them anyway could risk giving the appearance that you’re attempting to sidestep the issue. 

On your attorney’s recommendation, there are several points in the disciplinary process when character letters may be helpful:

• When you are responding to an investigation and want to demonstrate your strong professional standing.
• When preparing for a disciplinary hearing to show support from colleagues, supervisors, or community members.
• As part of mitigation, if discipline seems likely, to help reduce the severity of potential sanctions.

How to Gather Effective Character Letters

Quality matters far more than quantity when it comes to maximizing the impact of character letters. Your attorney can advise on the ideal number for your situation, but a few strong, detailed letters from credible people carry much more weight than a large stack of generic ones. Often, three to five well-written letters are sufficient. 

• Choose the right sources. Supervisors, professional peers, community leaders, and, in some cases, long-term clients will carry weight with your professional licensing board. 
• Be specific. Letters should point to concrete examples of your competence, ethics, and dedication rather than offering generic praise.
• Keep the tone professional. Overly emotional or defensive letters can do more harm than good. Remember that the purpose of a character letter is to speak to your integrity, not address the allegations. 
• Avoid friends and family. Soliciting character letters from biased-seeming sources can harm your credibility.

Your attorney can advise on who to approach and what to ask them to include to make their letter more persuasive and helpful to your case. 

How Character Statements Influence Outcomes

Character letters won’t erase serious misconduct or override evidence. However, when used appropriately, they can influence how your board views you and your professional history. 

Strong letters can reinforce a track record of ethics, demonstrate the support of your colleagues and clients, and showcase your positive contributions to your profession. 

This mitigating context can help the board either view the accusations against you with more skepticism or frame a lapse in judgment as atypical. If the board does choose to proceed with disciplinary action, demonstrating that the allegations don’t reflect a larger pattern of misconduct can help you avoid more severe sanctions. 

Don’t Go It Alone

Character letters can be a powerful tool in a professional license defense case, but only when they’re used at the right time and in the right way. They are not a substitute for evidence or legal arguments, but they may help the board see you as a whole person rather than just a case file.

If your professional license is under investigation, qualified support can make all the difference in the outcome. An experienced license defense attorney can determine whether character letters are appropriate and make sure you gather ones that will carry the most weight with your licensing board.