VIRGINIA:

IN THE MATTER OF JOHN WAYNE BEVIS, ESQ.

VSB Docket No. 01-051-1629

Both parties affirm that the proposed Subcommittee Determination of a Public Reprimand with Terms, a true copy of which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference, reflects the stipulated facts, violations, and disposition for the above-referenced matter.

Respondent understands that should the Subcommittee accept this agreed disposition by unanimous vote, the Subcommittee Determination will be signed by the Chair or Chair Designate and thereafter mailed without the necessity of any hearing or further notice to the parties. Further, it is understood and agreed by the parties hereto that should the Subcommittee refuse the agreed disposition neither party shall be bound by the stipulations or findings contained herein and this matter shall be forthwith scheduled for a hearing by the full Committee.

SEEN AND AGREED TO:

THE VIRGINIA STATE BAR

________________________

Noel D. Sengel
Assistant Bar Counsel

________________________

John Wayne Bevis
Respondent

Date: __________ _________________________________

Date: __________ _________________________________

Date: __________ _________________________________

VIRGINIA:

IN THE MATTER OF JOHN WAYNE BEVIS, ESQ.

VSB Docket No. 01-051-1629

On the 4^th day of February, 2003, a meeting in this matter was held before a duly convened a subcommittee of the Fifth District Committee Section I consisting of Richard J. Ruddy, Jr., Esq., Stephen A. Wannall, and Sean P. Kelly, Esq., presiding.

Pursuant to Part 6, § IV, ¶ 13(G)(1)(c) of the Rules of Virginia Supreme Court, a subcommittee of the Fifth District Committee Section I of the Virginia State Bar hereby serves upon the Respondent the following Public Reprimand with Terms.

2. In December of 1998, the Complainant, Hezzie Arrington, hired the Respondent to represent him in a divorce. The Complainant and his wife signed a property settlement agreement and the Commissioner's hearing was held in July of 2000. At that time, the Respondent informed Mr. Arrington that his divorce would be final by August, 2000. By mid-September, Mr. Arrington had not heard from the Respondent, so he called the Respondent's office. The Respondent's assistant informed Mr. Arrington that there had been a problem with the final decree. Mr. Arrington requested that the assistant have the Respondent call him. The Respondent never returned Mr. Arrington's call. After repeated calls and no response, Mr. Arrington filed a Bar complaint.

3. On October 25, 2000, the Virginia State Bar received Mr. Arrington's complaint against the Respondent. The Respondent had still not contacted Mr. Arrington, and Mr. Arrington still did not know what was holding up his final decree of divorce. Mr. Arrington's final decree of divorce was not entered until March 30, 2001.

DR 6-101. Competence and Promptness.

(B) A lawyer shall attend promptly to matters undertaken for a client until completed or until the lawyer has properly and completely withdrawn from representing the client.

(C) A lawyer shall keep a client reasonably informed about matters in which the lawyer's services are being rendered.

RULE 1.3 Diligence

(a) A lawyer shall act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client.

RULE 1.4 Communication

(a) A lawyer shall keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter and promptly comply with reasonable requests for information.

(b) A lawyer shall explain a matter to the extent reasonably necessary to permit the client to make informed decisions regarding the representation.

Accordingly, it is the decision of the Subcommittee to offer the Respondent an opportunity to comply with certain terms and conditions, compliance with which by May 1, 2003, shall be a predicate for the disposition of this complaint by imposition of a Public Reprimand with Terms. The terms and conditions which shall be met by May 1, 2003 are:

1. The Respondent shall institute and maintain a docket control system which shall ensure that he reviews the status of all pending matters periodically, and remind him in advance of key deadlines and other obligations. The Respondent shall institute and maintain a written office policy relating to regular and informative client communication. This policy shall include provisions for providing the client with written copies of all documentation relating to the representation, engaging in regular meetings either in person or by telephone to discuss the progress of the case and to answer client inquiries. Both the docket control system and the communication policy shall be implemented immediately. The Respondent shall provide the Assistant Bar Counsel handling this matter with a detailed written description of both the docket control system and communication policy, and shall certify in writing under oath that he is using such systems in his office.

2. The Respondent shall complete four (4) hours of continuing legal education in the areas of ethics and/or law office management. His Continuing Legal Education attendance obligation set forth in this paragraph shall not be applied toward his Mandatory Continuing Legal Education requirement in Virginia or any other jurisdictions in which he may be licensed to practice law. He shall certify his compliance with the terms set forth in this paragraph by delivering a fully and properly executed Virginia MCLE Board Certification of Attendance Forms (Form 2) to Noel D. Sengel, Senior Assistant Bar Counsel, at 100 North Pitt Street, Suite 310, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, promptly following his attendance of such CLE program(s).

Upon satisfactory proof that the above-noted terms and conditions have been met, a Public Reprimand with Terms shall then be imposed. If, however, the terms and conditions have not be met by May 1, 2003, this matter shall be certified to the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board upon an agreed stipulation of facts and misconduct as the facts and misconduct are set forth herein for the sole purpose of the imposition of a sanction deemed appropriate by the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board.

Sean P. Kelly

I certify that I have this _____ day of _______________________, 2003, mailed a true and correct copy of the Subcommittee Determination (Public Reprimand with Terms) by CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, to the Respondent, John Wayne Bevis, Esq., at 10521 Judicial Dr., Suite 120, Fairfax, VA 22030, his last address of record with the Virginia State Bar, and by hand to Noel D. Sengel, Esq., Senior Assistant Bar Counsel, at 100 North Pitt Street, Suite 310, Alexandria, Virginia 22314-3133.

Noel D. Sengel