Rule 1.5 - Memo, Draft Rule Rule 1.15 - Memo, Draft Rule Rule 1.18 - Memo, Draft Rule
Rule 4.4 - Memo, Draft Rule Rule 5.1 - Memo, Draft Rule Rule 5.2 - Memo, Draft Rule
Rule 5.3 - Memo, Draft Rule
MEMORANDUM
TO: Chief Justices of State Supreme Courts
Members of ABA House of Delegates
Chairs and Staff Liaisons of ABA Committees and Sections/Divisions
Presidents and Executive Directors of State and Local Bar Associations
Members of Ethics 2000 Advisory Council
Lawyer Disciplinary Counsel
Members of Center for Professional Responsibility Committees and Commissions
Members of Center for Professional Responsibility
Members of Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers
Other Interested Individuals and Entities
FROM: E. Norman Veasey, Chair
DATE: November 15, 1999
RE: Drafts for public comment
The Commission on Evaluation of the Rules of Professional Conduct ("Ethics 2000") has been charged with reviewing the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct and formulating recommendations for action. Drafts of Rules 1.4, 1.6 - 1.10 and 2.2 were circulated earlier in the year, with a comment period that ended September 15, 1999. The Commission has now prepared a current set of drafts of Model Rules 1.5, 1.15, 1.18 (new rule on prospective clients), 4.4, 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3 for public comment.
The draft rules are available at the Commission's website, www.abanet.org/cpr/home.html. If you are unable to access the website, please contact Sue Campbell at the address listed below to obtain the drafts via email or regular mail.
Accompanying each of the drafts is a Reporter's Explanation of Changes that provides a detailed description of the reasons for the proposed changes. The drafts reflect tentative decisions of the Commission to date but are still a work in progress. These tentative decisions may change, depending in large part on the comments received.
The Commission encourages all interested persons and entities to send comments on the drafts. Written comments on the current set of Rule drafts should be submitted to the Commission via email or on disk by March 1, 2000.
The Commission will hold hearings on February 10, 2000, in conjunction with the ABA Midyear Meeting in Dallas and on June 2, 2000, in conjunction with the National Conference on Professional Responsibility in New Orleans.
The Commission plans to make a preliminary report to the House of Delegates in October 2000. As the Commission's work progresses, new drafts will be circulated for comment. A copy of the Commission's work plan is available at the website.
Please send comments to:
Ethics 2000
ABA Center for Professional Responsibility
541 N. Fairbanks Court
Chicago, IL 60611
Susan Campbell