Previous Rules of Professional Conduct

Previous Rules of Professional Conduct

Previous rules (1992 to 2018)

Rules of Professional Conduct (1992-2018)
(In effect 1992 to October 31, 2018)

Previous rules (1989 to 1992)

Rules of Professional Conduct (1989-1992)
(In effect May 27, 1989 to September 13, 1992)

Previous rules (1975 to 1989)

Rules of Professional Conduct (1975 to 1989)
(In effect January 1, 1975 to May 26, 1989)

Revised Rules Approved by Order of the Supreme Court Filed December 31, 1974 together with subsequent revisions.

This revision constitutes the first complete revision of the Rules of Professional Conduct. The first set of Rules of Professional Conduct were approved by the Supreme Court effective May 24, 1928. For the last official printing of the former revision of the Rules, see (1969) 1 Cal.3d Rules amended 1972 and 1973.

Cross-reference table

The California Rules of Professional Conduct underwent two major revision processes since 1975, one involving the re-numbering of the rules. Listed below are the current Rules of Professional Conduct by name and number along with the corresponding references during the prior earlier time periods. References to the earlier rules may be helpful in addressing matters arising out of the time period the prior rules were in effect.

Current California Rules of Professional Conduct Operative
9/14/1992 		Operative
5/27/1989 		Operative
1/1/1975
Rule 1.0 Purpose and Function of the Rules of Professional Conduct 1-100 1-100 1-100
Rule 1.0.1 Terminology  1-100(B) 1-100 1-100
Rule 1.1 Competence 3-110 3-110 4-101,
5-102,
6-101,
Rule 1.2 Scope of Representation and Allocation of Authority No California Rule Counterpart
Rule 1.2.1 Advising or Assisting the Violation of Law 3-210 3-210 7-101
Rule 1.3 Diligence 3-110(B) 3-110 4-101,
5-102,
6-101,
Rule 1.4 Communication with Clients 3-500    3-500  
Rule 1.4.1 Communication of Settlement Offers 3-510 3-510 5-105
Rule 1.4.2 Disclosure of Professional Liability Insurance 3-410    
Rule 1.5 Fees for Legal Services 4-200 4-200 2-107
Rule 1.5.1 Financial Arrangements Among Lawyers 2-200 2-200 2-108
Rule 1.6 Confidential Information of a Client 3-100    
Rule 1.7 Conflict of Interest: Current Clients 3-310(B)–(C),
3-320 		3-310 5-102,
4-101
Rule 1.8.1 Business Transactions with a Client and Pecuniary Interests Adverse to the Client 3-300 3-300 5-101
Rule 1.8.2 Use of Current Client's Information No California Rule Counterpart
Rule 1.8.3 Gifts From Client 4-400 4-400  
Rule 1.8.5 Payment of Personal or Business Expenses Incurred by or for a Client 4-210 4-210 5-104
Rule 1.8.6 Compensation from One Other Than Client 3-310 3-310 5-102,
4-101
Rule 1.8.7 Aggregate Settlements 3-310 3-310 5-102,
4-101
Rule 1.8.8 Limiting Liability to Client 3-400 3-400 6-102
Rule 1.8.9 Purchasing Property at a Foreclosure or a Sale Subject to Judicial Review 4-300 4-300 5-103
Rule 1.8.10 Sexual Relations with Current Client 3-120    
Rule 1.8.11  Imputation of Prohibitions Under Rules 1.8.1 to 1.8.9 No California Rule Counterpart
Rule 1.9 Duties to Former Clients 3-310(E) 3-310 5-102,
4-101
Rule 1.10  Imputation of Conflicts of Interest: General Rule No California Rule Counterpart
Rule 1.11  Special Conflicts of Interest for Former and Current Government Officials and Employees No California Rule Counterpart
Rule 1.12  Former Judge, Arbitrator, Mediator or Other Third-Party Neutral No California Rule Counterpart
Rule 1.13 Organization as Client 3-600 3-600  
Rule 1.15 Safekeeping Funds and Property of Clients and Other Persons 4-100 4-100 8-101
Rule 1.16 Declining or Terminating Representation 3-700 3-700 2-111
Rule 1.17 Sale of Law Practice 2-300 2-300  
Rule 1.18  Duties To Prospective Client No California Rule Counterpart
Rule 2.1  Advisor No California Rule Counterpart
Rule 2.4  Lawyer as Third-Party Neutral No California Rule Counterpart
Rule 2.4.1 Lawyer as Temporary Judge, Referee, or Court-Appointed Arbitrator 1-710    
Rule 3.1 Meritorious Claims and Contentions 3-200 3-200 2-110
Rule 3.2  Delay of Litigation No California Rule Counterpart
Rule 3.3 Candor Toward the Tribunal 5-200(A)–(D) 5-200 7-105
Rule 3.4 Fairness to Opposing Party and Counsel 5-200(E),
5-220,
5-310 		5-200,
5-220,
5-310 		7-105
7-107
Rule 3.5 Contact with Judges, Officials, Employees, and Jurors 5-300
5-320 		5-300
5-320 		7-108
Rule 3.6 Trial Publicity 5-120    
Rule 3.7 Lawyer as Witness 5-210 5-210 2-111
Rule 3.8 Special Responsibilities of a Prosecutor 5-110 5-110 7-104
Rule 3.9 Advocate in Non-adjudicative Proceedings No California Rule Counterpart
Rule 3.10 Threatening Criminal, Administrative, or Disciplinary Charges 5-100 5-100 7-104
Rule 4.1 Truthfulness in Statements to Others No Rule    
Rule 4.2 Communication with a Represented Person 2-100 2-100 7-103
Rule 4.3 Communicating with an Unrepresented Person No California Rule Counterpart
Rule 4.4 Duties Concerning Inadvertently Transmitted Writings No California Rule Counterpart
Rule 5.1 Responsibilities of Managerial and Supervisory Lawyers No California Rule Counterpart
Rule 5.2 Responsibilities of a Subordinate Lawyer No California Rule Counterpart
Rule 5.3 Responsibilities Regarding Nonlawyer Assistants No California Rule Counterpart
Rule 5.3.1 Employment of Disbarred, Suspended, Resigned, or Involuntarily Inactive Lawyer 1-311    
Rule 5.4 Financial and Similar Arrangements with Nonlawyers 1-310,
1-320,
1-600 		1-310,
1-320,
1-600 		3-103,
3-102,
2-102
Rule 5.5 Unauthorized Practice of Law; Multijurisdictional Practice of Law 1-300 1-300 3-101
Rule 5.6 Restrictions on a Lawyer's Right to Practice 1-500 1-500 2-109
Rule 6.3 Membership in Legal Services Organizations No California Rule Counterpart
Rule 6.5 Limited Legal Services Programs 1-650    
Rule 7.1 Communications Concerning a Lawyer's Services 1-400 1-400 2-101
Rule 7.2 Advertising 1-320(B)–(C)
& (A)(4),
1-400,
2-200 		1-320,
1-400,
2-200 		3-102,
2-101,
2-108
Rule 7.3 Solicitation of Clients 1-400 1-400 2-101
Rule 7.4 Communication of Fields of Practice and Specialization 1-400 1-400 2-101
Rule 7.5 Firm Names and Trade Names 1-400 1-400 2-101
Rule 8.1 False Statement Regarding Application for Admission to Practice Law 1-200 1-200 1-101
Rule 8.1.1 Compliance with Conditions of Discipline and Agreements in Lieu of Discipline 1-110 1-110 9-101
Rule 8.2 Judicial Officers 1-700    
Rule 8.3 Reporting Professional Misconduct No California Rule Counterpart
Rule 8.4 Misconduct 1-120 1-120  
Rule 8.4.1 Prohibited Discriminatory Conduct in a Law Practice 2-400    
Rule 8.5 Disciplinary Authority; Choice of Law 3-110 3-110 6-101