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The D.C. Bar Legal Ethics Program provides guidance on questions that arise under the D.C. Rules of Professional Conduct. Program services include publication of formal advisory opinions and confidential informal consultation with legal ethics counsel.

Rules of Professional Conduct
The Rules of Professional Conduct are rules of reason. They should be interpreted with reference to the purposes of legal representation and of the law itself.
Most Recent Reports and Recommendations
- Proposed Changes to Rule 1.6(k) (Confidentiality of Information)
(June 2020 -- Report for Public Comment)
Download and Save. This is a 6-page, 230kb PDF document. - Proposed Changes to Rule 8.5 (Disciplinary Authority; Choice of Law)
(June 2020 -- Report for Public Comment)
Download and Save. This is a 26-page, 351kb PDF document. - Alternate Proposal to Adopt Model Rule 8.5(b)(2)
(June 2020 -- Report for Public Comment)
Download and Save. This is a 7-page, 190kb PDF document.
Legislative History: Reports and Recommendations
- June 2005: Report of Proposed Amendments to the District of Columbia Rules of Professional Conduct: Final Report and Recommendations
- Reports and Recommendations of the Rules of Professional Conduct Review Committee
- September 2009: Proposed Revisions to Rules Governing IOLTA
- References to September 2009: Proposed Revisions to Rules Governing IOLTA
- August 2010: Amendments to the Rules Governing the District of Columbia Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Account (IOLTA) Program
- June 2012: Proposed Amendments to Selected Rules of the D.C. Rules of Professional Conduct
- April 2013: Report of the Limited Scope Working Group
- January 2015: Proposed Revisions to D.C. Rule of Professional Conduct 1.2 (Draft Report)
- Amendments to D.C. Rules of Professional Conduct 1.10; 1.15; and 7.1 (Effective October 8, 2015)
- February 2019: Proposed Amendments to Selected Rules of the D.C. Rules of Professional Conduct
Sub Navigation
- Membership
- Continuing Legal Education
-
Communities
- Join A Community
- About Communities
- Programs and Events
- Publications
- Connect
- Leadership Resource Portals
- Communities On-Demand Library
- Public Statements
- Communities Elections
- Leadership
- Podcasts
- Resources for the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Resources Related to Racial Inequality
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Resources
-
Legal Ethics
- Rules of Professional Conduct
- Ethics Opinions
- Ask the Ethics Experts
- Court of Appeals Adopts Amendments to IOLTA Rules
- Ethics Advice
- Ethics Opinions Substantively Affected by the Amended Rules
- D.C. Bar Voluntary Standards of Civility in Professional Conduct
- Publications
- Additional Resources
- Speaking of Ethics Columns
- Lawyer Assistance Program
- Practice Management Advisory Service
- Mandatory Course
- Career Center
- External Resources
- Fee Dispute Program