Policy & Initiatives

Implementation Projects

Rules of Professional Conduct

• August 2023 House of Delegates amends Model Rule 1.16
  • Revised Report and Resolution 100
• August 2020 House of Delegates amends Model Rule 1.8(e)
  • Revised Report and Resolution 107
• August 2018 House of Delegates amend Model Rules 7.1-7.5
  • Report and Resolution 101 submitted by the Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility (May 2018)
  • Revised Resolution 101 submitted by the Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility July 2018 and adopted by the House of Delegates (August 2018)          
    
  • Clean redline of House of Delegates adopted amendments to Model Rules 7.1-7.3
  • Implementation Update
• August 2016 House of Delegates Amends Model Rule 8.4
  • Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility Changes to Model Rule 8.4
  • The Amended ABA Model Rule 8.4:  Power Point Presentation
    
  • Implementation Update

ABA House of Delegates Approves Commission on Ethics 20-20 Resolutions

On Monday, February 11, 2013, the ABA House of Delegates voted to approve the following at the ABA Midyear Meeting in Dallas, Texas:

• Revised 107A (Rule 5.5: Unauthorized Practice of Law; Multijurisdictional Practice of Law)
• Revised 107B (Model Rule for Registration of In-House Counsel)
  
• 107C as Amended (ABA Model Rule on Pro Hac Vice Admission)
• 107D (Disciplinary Authority; Choice of Law)
  

On Monday, August 6, 2012 the ABA House of Delegates voted to approve the following:

• Revised 105A as amended (Technology & Confidentiality)
• 105B (Technology & Client Development)
• 105C (Outsourcing)
• 105D (Practice Pending Admission)
• 105E (Admission by Motion)
• Revised 105F (Model Rule 1.6: Detection of Conflicts of Interest
• Jurisdictional Adoption of Selected Ethics 20/20 Commission Policies, Guidelines for an International Regulatory Information Exchange, and Amendment to Model Rule 8.4
• Chronological Adoption of Ethics 20-20 Amendments
• Charts Comparing Revised Jurisdictional Rules to Model Rules
• Charts Comparing Jurisdictional Variations in Individual Rules with Model Rules
• Jurisdictional Adoption of Model Rule Comments
• More information on the status of jurisdictional rule adoption and recent changes to the Model Rules.

Model Rule on Practice Pending Admission

• ABA Model Rule on Practice Pending Admission
• Arizona Supreme Court Rule 38(h), Practice Pending Admission on Motion
• Colorado Rule 205.6 Practice Pending Admission
• District of Columbia Rule: D.C. Ct. of Appeals R. 49(c)(8) (Limited Duration Supervision by D.C. Bar Member)
• Kansas Rule 710: Rules Relating to Admission of Attorneys: Temporary Permit to Practice (Only applies to written bar examination)
• Missouri Rule: MO. Sup. Ct. R. 8.06 (Temporary Practice by Lawyers Applying for Admission to the Missouri Bar)
• North Carolina Rule RPC 5.5(e)
• North Dakota Rule 6.1: Temporary License for Lawyers Applying for Admission
• Tennessee Rule, Section 10.07: Practice Pending Admission by Applicant Licensed in Another Jurisdiction

Model Rule for Registration of In-House Counsel

• Model Rule for Registration of In-House Counsel (revised 100, Aug. 2021)
• Model Rule for Registration of In-House Counsel (Revised 103, February 8, 2016)
• Model Rule for Registration of In-House Counsel (Revised 107B – redline February, 2013)
• Model Rules for Registration of In-House Counsel (Final – February, 2013)
• Chart with Jurisdictional In-House Counsel Rules

Multijurisdictional Practice

• Chart on Jurisdictional Adoption of Rule 5.5
• Chart on Jurisdictional Adoption of Rule 8.5
• Chart on Jurisdictional Adoption of MJP policies

More information on implementation of the policies of the Multijurisdictional Practice Commission, including the Model Rule for the Licensing and Practice of Foreign Legal Consultants and the Model Rule for Temporary Practice by Foreign Lawyers can be found here.

ABA Guidelines for an International Lawyer Regulatory Information Exchange

• In August 2013, the House of Delegates adopted Resolution 104 setting forth ABA Guidelines for an International Lawyer Regulatory Information Exchange.  The Standing Committee on Professional Discipline and the ABA Task Force on International Trade in Legal Services developed Resolution 104 to facilitate international regulatory cooperation.

Model Code of Judicial Conduct

• Overview of ABA Model Code of Judicial Conduct 2007
• Joint Commission to Evaluate the Model Code of Judicial Conduct homepage
• Model Code of Judicial Conduct, as revised August 2010
• Model Code of Judicial Conduct, as revised February 2007
• Reporters’ Explanation of Changes
• More information on implementation of the revised Model Code of Judicial Conduct
• Purchase the most recent edition of the Model Code of Judicial Conduct (2020)

Model Court Rule on Provision of Legal Services Following Determination of Major Disaster (Rule)

• Report to House of Delegates (adopted February 2007)
• Model Court Rule
• Amendment to Model Rule of Professional Conduct 5.5
• Chart - Jurisdictional Implementation of ABA Model Court Rule on Provision of Legal Services Following Determination of Major Disaster
• Conference of Chief Justices Resolution on adoption of ABA Model Court Rule on Provision of Legal Services Following Determination of Major Disaster

Military Spouse Lawyer Admission Rule

• February 2012 ABA House of Delegates Resolution and Report supporting changes in jurisdictional licensing rules for military spouses with law degrees.
• July 2012 Conference of Chief Justices resolution for admission of military spouse lawyers without examination. You can read the resolution here.
• Jurisdictional implementation of a military spouse admission rule.  http://www.msjdn.org/rule-change/