ABA Committees solicit comments on discussion draft document on possible amendments to the Model Rules

The ABA Standing Committees on Ethics and Professional Responsibility and Professional Regulation have developed a Discussion Draft of possible amendments to the Comments of Model Rules of Professional Conduct 1.0 (Terminology), 1.1 (Competence), and 1.2 (Scope of Representation and Allocation of Authority between Client and Lawyer). The amendments contained in the Discussion Draft provide guidance on lawyers’ client due diligence obligations under the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct.  The Discussion Draft is available here.

The Committees have not yet decided whether to present any Model Rule amendments on this subject to the House of Delegates. Your comments will assist the Committees in determining whether and how to proceed.  

You may provide comments in one of two ways:

First, the Committees will host a roundtable discussion on Friday, February 11, 2022, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Grand Hyatt Seattle, 721 Pine Street (room location forthcoming in January 2022). If you would like to comment at this roundtable, please RSVP to Natalia Vera (Natalia.vera@americanbar.org).

Second, you may communicate your thoughts and suggestions by providing written comment to the Committees.  Written comments on the Discussion Draft must be submitted by email to Natalia Vera by February 15, 2022.  Please note that the Committees may post your written comments on the ABA website.