PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY OUTLINE
FALL 2023
Page 1 of 26
,I. Forming the Attorney-Client Relationship ...........................................................................5
A. Prospective Client ............................................................................................................................5
B. Refusing a Client ..............................................................................................................................5
C. Emergency........................................................................................................................................6
D. Scope of Engagement ......................................................................................................................6
E. Organization as a Client ....................................................................................................................6
F. Diminished Capacity Clients (DCCs) ................................................................................................6
G. Terminating the Lawyer-Client Relationship .....................................................................................6
5. California-Speci c Rules 7
H. Sale of Law Practice .........................................................................................................................7
II. Con dentiality and Attorney-Client Privilege ......................................................................7
B. Con dentiality Relating to the Representation of a Client ................................................................7
a) California Rule 7
8. California-Speci c Rules 8
C. Attorney-Client .................................................................................................................................8
D. Work Product ....................................................................................................................................8
E. Con ict of Interest Regarding Use of Client’s Information ...............................................................9
III. Loyalty .....................................................................................................................................9
A. Con ict of Interest — Current Clients ...............................................................................................9
b) California Rule 9
b) California Rule 10
b) California-Speci c Rules 10
b) California Rule 10
b) California-Speci c Rules 11
(1) California Rule 11
15. California-Speci c Rule: Disclosure of Relationship to Clients 11
B. Con ict of Interest — Former Clients .............................................................................................11
C. Con ict of Interest — Law Firm Context ........................................................................................11
D. Con ict of Interest — Gov’t Attorneys ...........................................................................................12
E. Con ict of Interest — Former Judge, Arbitrator, Mediator, etc. .....................................................12
F. Exception From Con dentiality in Context of Attorney’s Change of Firm ......................................12
IV. Competence..........................................................................................................................12
A. In General .......................................................................................................................................12
B. Contracting with Other Lawyers on a Client’s Mater ......................................................................12
C. Maintaining Competence ...............................................................................................................13
D. Supervising Lawyer’s Duties re: Competence of a Subordinate Attorney ......................................13
E. Supervising Lawyer’s Duties re: Competence of Non-Lawyer .......................................................13
V. Client/Attorney Division of Responsibilities ......................................................................13
A. In General .......................................................................................................................................13
B. Criminal Cases................................................................................................................................13
C. Limit Scope of Engagement with Informed Consent .....................................................................13
D. Lawyer May Not Counsel to Engage, or Assist in, Criminal/Fraudulent Behavior ..........................13
E. Lawyer May Not Settle with a Client Using a Promise Not to Practice ..........................................13
F. Law-Related Services Not Distinct from Law Services ..................................................................13
VI. Duty of Diligence and Promptness .....................................................................................13
A. Must Act Diligently and Promptly ...................................................................................................13
VII.Communication ....................................................................................................................14
A. In General........................................................................................................................................14
B. Withholding Information ..................................................................................................................14
VIII.Safekeeping Property .........................................................................................................14
F. California Rule 14
IX.Duty to Provide Candid and Independent Advice ..............................................................14
X. Fees ........................................................................................................................................14
A. Reasonableness ..............................................................................................................................14
B. Communicate Basis for Rate ..........................................................................................................15
C. Contingent Fees..............................................................................................................................15
6. California Rule 15
D. Division of Fees with Lawyers Outside of Firm ...............................................................................15
2. California Rule 15
E. Prohibition on Sharing Legal Fees with Non-Lawyers ....................................................................15
F. California-Speci c Rules 15
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, XI.Solicitation of Clients ...........................................................................................................16
A. False or Misleading Communications Banned................................................................................16
B. Payment to Others to Promote Lawyer ...........................................................................................16
a) California Rule 16
C. Advertising a Specialty....................................................................................................................16
D. Include Name and Contact Info of at Least One Lawyer ................................................................16
2. California Rules 16
E. Solicitation Directed to Speci c Person .........................................................................................16
F. Solicitation by Live, Person-to-Person Contact ..............................................................................16
a) California Rules 16
G. Solicitations Implying Special Access to Government O cials ......................................................16
H. California-Speci c Rules 17
XII.Firm Practice ........................................................................................................................17
A. Responsibility for Other Attorneys’ Acts .........................................................................................17
B. Responsibilities for Acts by Non-Lawyers at the Firm ....................................................................17
C. Subordinate Lawyer Bound, Even if Ordered by Superior; Exception ............................................17
D. May Not Create Partnership............................................................................................................17
E. May Not Form Professional Corporation if Non-Lawyer .................................................................17
F. May O er Non-Legal Services Related to Provision of Legal Services...........................................17
G. Departing from Firm ........................................................................................................................18
XIII.Practice in Other Jurisdictions ..........................................................................................18
XIV.Duties Owed to Non-Clients ..............................................................................................18
A. May Not Make a False Statement of Material Fact .........................................................................18
B. May Not Fail to Disclose Material Fact to Avoid Assisting Crime or Fraud by Client......................18
C. Evaluations for Use by Third Parties ...............................................................................................18
D. Serving as Arbitrator or Mediator Between Two Non-Clients .........................................................19
E. May Not Communicate with Other Party Represented by Their Own Lawyer ................................19
F. Obligations When Interacting with Unrepresented Parties in Legal Proceedings ...........................19
2. California Rule 19
G. Send Back Material Inadvertently Sent to Lawyer ..........................................................................19
2. California Rule 19
H. Catch-All Against Embarrassing, Delaying, or Burdening a Third Person ......................................19
XV.Duties in Litigation ...............................................................................................................19
A. Meritorious Claim Requirements.....................................................................................................19
B. Must Expedite Proceedings When Possible ...................................................................................19
C. May Not Make False Statements and Obligation to Correct False Statements ..............................19
a) California Rule 19
D. Obligation to Disclose Court Opinions in the Jurisdiction Adverse to Lawyer’s Client ...................19
E. Must Correct Evidence O ered, Later Discovered False ................................................................19
F. Must Inform the Court About Client Engaging in Criminal/Fraudulent Activity ...............................20
G. Duties Terminate When Final Appeal is Over ..................................................................................20
H. Ex Parte Proceedings......................................................................................................................20
I. Don’t Destroy Evidence ..................................................................................................................20
J. Don’t Abuse Discovery ...................................................................................................................20
K. Don’t Assert Personal Knowledge/Opinion ....................................................................................20
L. Don’t Ask Non-Clients to Refrain from Giving Information .............................................................20
2. California-Speci c Rule 20
M. Ex Parte Communications ..............................................................................................................20
2. California Rule 20
N. Trial Publicity ...................................................................................................................................20
O. Prosecutor Subpoenaing a Lawyer in a Criminal Case ...................................................................21
P. Prosecutor’s Duty to Hand Over Exculpatory Material ....................................................................21
Q. Prosecutor’s Duty to Share Newly Discovered Exculpatory Material ..............................................21
R. Identify Client When Appearing in Nonadjudicative Proceedings...................................................21
a) California Rule 22
S. Threatening Charges (California-Speci c Rule) ..............................................................................22
XVI.Duties to the Profession.....................................................................................................22
A. May Not Try to Violate the Rules .....................................................................................................22
B. Do Not Commit a Criminal Act .......................................................................................................22
C. Must Not Engage in Dishonest, Fraud, Deceit, or Misrepresentation .............................................22
D. Do Not Engage in Conduct that is Prejudicial in Obtaining Justice ................................................22
E. Do Not Imply an Ability to In uence a Gov’t Agency or Gov’t O cial to Violate a Rule .................22
Page 3 of 26
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FALL 2023
Page 1 of 26
,I. Forming the Attorney-Client Relationship ...........................................................................5
A. Prospective Client ............................................................................................................................5
B. Refusing a Client ..............................................................................................................................5
C. Emergency........................................................................................................................................6
D. Scope of Engagement ......................................................................................................................6
E. Organization as a Client ....................................................................................................................6
F. Diminished Capacity Clients (DCCs) ................................................................................................6
G. Terminating the Lawyer-Client Relationship .....................................................................................6
5. California-Speci c Rules 7
H. Sale of Law Practice .........................................................................................................................7
II. Con dentiality and Attorney-Client Privilege ......................................................................7
B. Con dentiality Relating to the Representation of a Client ................................................................7
a) California Rule 7
8. California-Speci c Rules 8
C. Attorney-Client .................................................................................................................................8
D. Work Product ....................................................................................................................................8
E. Con ict of Interest Regarding Use of Client’s Information ...............................................................9
III. Loyalty .....................................................................................................................................9
A. Con ict of Interest — Current Clients ...............................................................................................9
b) California Rule 9
b) California Rule 10
b) California-Speci c Rules 10
b) California Rule 10
b) California-Speci c Rules 11
(1) California Rule 11
15. California-Speci c Rule: Disclosure of Relationship to Clients 11
B. Con ict of Interest — Former Clients .............................................................................................11
C. Con ict of Interest — Law Firm Context ........................................................................................11
D. Con ict of Interest — Gov’t Attorneys ...........................................................................................12
E. Con ict of Interest — Former Judge, Arbitrator, Mediator, etc. .....................................................12
F. Exception From Con dentiality in Context of Attorney’s Change of Firm ......................................12
IV. Competence..........................................................................................................................12
A. In General .......................................................................................................................................12
B. Contracting with Other Lawyers on a Client’s Mater ......................................................................12
C. Maintaining Competence ...............................................................................................................13
D. Supervising Lawyer’s Duties re: Competence of a Subordinate Attorney ......................................13
E. Supervising Lawyer’s Duties re: Competence of Non-Lawyer .......................................................13
V. Client/Attorney Division of Responsibilities ......................................................................13
A. In General .......................................................................................................................................13
B. Criminal Cases................................................................................................................................13
C. Limit Scope of Engagement with Informed Consent .....................................................................13
D. Lawyer May Not Counsel to Engage, or Assist in, Criminal/Fraudulent Behavior ..........................13
E. Lawyer May Not Settle with a Client Using a Promise Not to Practice ..........................................13
F. Law-Related Services Not Distinct from Law Services ..................................................................13
VI. Duty of Diligence and Promptness .....................................................................................13
A. Must Act Diligently and Promptly ...................................................................................................13
VII.Communication ....................................................................................................................14
A. In General........................................................................................................................................14
B. Withholding Information ..................................................................................................................14
VIII.Safekeeping Property .........................................................................................................14
F. California Rule 14
IX.Duty to Provide Candid and Independent Advice ..............................................................14
X. Fees ........................................................................................................................................14
A. Reasonableness ..............................................................................................................................14
B. Communicate Basis for Rate ..........................................................................................................15
C. Contingent Fees..............................................................................................................................15
6. California Rule 15
D. Division of Fees with Lawyers Outside of Firm ...............................................................................15
2. California Rule 15
E. Prohibition on Sharing Legal Fees with Non-Lawyers ....................................................................15
F. California-Speci c Rules 15
Page 2 of 26
flfifi fi fi
, XI.Solicitation of Clients ...........................................................................................................16
A. False or Misleading Communications Banned................................................................................16
B. Payment to Others to Promote Lawyer ...........................................................................................16
a) California Rule 16
C. Advertising a Specialty....................................................................................................................16
D. Include Name and Contact Info of at Least One Lawyer ................................................................16
2. California Rules 16
E. Solicitation Directed to Speci c Person .........................................................................................16
F. Solicitation by Live, Person-to-Person Contact ..............................................................................16
a) California Rules 16
G. Solicitations Implying Special Access to Government O cials ......................................................16
H. California-Speci c Rules 17
XII.Firm Practice ........................................................................................................................17
A. Responsibility for Other Attorneys’ Acts .........................................................................................17
B. Responsibilities for Acts by Non-Lawyers at the Firm ....................................................................17
C. Subordinate Lawyer Bound, Even if Ordered by Superior; Exception ............................................17
D. May Not Create Partnership............................................................................................................17
E. May Not Form Professional Corporation if Non-Lawyer .................................................................17
F. May O er Non-Legal Services Related to Provision of Legal Services...........................................17
G. Departing from Firm ........................................................................................................................18
XIII.Practice in Other Jurisdictions ..........................................................................................18
XIV.Duties Owed to Non-Clients ..............................................................................................18
A. May Not Make a False Statement of Material Fact .........................................................................18
B. May Not Fail to Disclose Material Fact to Avoid Assisting Crime or Fraud by Client......................18
C. Evaluations for Use by Third Parties ...............................................................................................18
D. Serving as Arbitrator or Mediator Between Two Non-Clients .........................................................19
E. May Not Communicate with Other Party Represented by Their Own Lawyer ................................19
F. Obligations When Interacting with Unrepresented Parties in Legal Proceedings ...........................19
2. California Rule 19
G. Send Back Material Inadvertently Sent to Lawyer ..........................................................................19
2. California Rule 19
H. Catch-All Against Embarrassing, Delaying, or Burdening a Third Person ......................................19
XV.Duties in Litigation ...............................................................................................................19
A. Meritorious Claim Requirements.....................................................................................................19
B. Must Expedite Proceedings When Possible ...................................................................................19
C. May Not Make False Statements and Obligation to Correct False Statements ..............................19
a) California Rule 19
D. Obligation to Disclose Court Opinions in the Jurisdiction Adverse to Lawyer’s Client ...................19
E. Must Correct Evidence O ered, Later Discovered False ................................................................19
F. Must Inform the Court About Client Engaging in Criminal/Fraudulent Activity ...............................20
G. Duties Terminate When Final Appeal is Over ..................................................................................20
H. Ex Parte Proceedings......................................................................................................................20
I. Don’t Destroy Evidence ..................................................................................................................20
J. Don’t Abuse Discovery ...................................................................................................................20
K. Don’t Assert Personal Knowledge/Opinion ....................................................................................20
L. Don’t Ask Non-Clients to Refrain from Giving Information .............................................................20
2. California-Speci c Rule 20
M. Ex Parte Communications ..............................................................................................................20
2. California Rule 20
N. Trial Publicity ...................................................................................................................................20
O. Prosecutor Subpoenaing a Lawyer in a Criminal Case ...................................................................21
P. Prosecutor’s Duty to Hand Over Exculpatory Material ....................................................................21
Q. Prosecutor’s Duty to Share Newly Discovered Exculpatory Material ..............................................21
R. Identify Client When Appearing in Nonadjudicative Proceedings...................................................21
a) California Rule 22
S. Threatening Charges (California-Speci c Rule) ..............................................................................22
XVI.Duties to the Profession.....................................................................................................22
A. May Not Try to Violate the Rules .....................................................................................................22
B. Do Not Commit a Criminal Act .......................................................................................................22
C. Must Not Engage in Dishonest, Fraud, Deceit, or Misrepresentation .............................................22
D. Do Not Engage in Conduct that is Prejudicial in Obtaining Justice ................................................22
E. Do Not Imply an Ability to In uence a Gov’t Agency or Gov’t O cial to Violate a Rule .................22
Page 3 of 26
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