Ex-Kirkland Associate Gets 3-Year License Suspension after Sex Sting

A former associate at Kirkland & Ellis caught up in a sex sting has received a minimum three-year suspension from law practice.

A New York appeals court imposed the suspension in a 3-2 opinion issued Dec. 30, the New York Law Journal reports. The two dissenters argued that the lawyer, Steven J. Lever, should be disbarred.

Lever was fired from Kirkland after admitting he tried to arrange a meeting to engage in oral sex with a person he thought was a 13-year-old girl, the story says. The “girl” he communicated with on a law firm computer turned out to be an undercover police officer.

In November 2005 Lever pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge in connection with the incident and was sentenced to six years’ probation, according to the opinion. Since January 2006, he has been working as a contract lawyer, handling document review and litigation support, a footnote says.

Lever will be suspended for three years or until his probation ends, whichever is longer.

The majority said Lever had admitted his misconduct from the beginning and voluntarily entered sex offender treatment after his arrest, the story says. The majority said those actions were mitigating factors. His likelihood of repeating his misconduct is said to be low, but the panel is requiring Lever to submit to a psychiatric evaluation before his license is reinstated.