|
|
||
|
As members of a profession and as officers of the court, lawyers have the
responsibility of following rules of professional conduct that are mandated
either by a state legislature or by the highest court in the state. Rules of
professional conduct govern both the public and the private behavior of
lawyers. Because lawyers are licensed to practice by the states, lawyers who
violate rules of professional conduct are likewise disciplined by the states,
not the federal government. The punishment for violating a state rule of
professional responsibility ranges from private or public reprimand to
suspension or disbarment (permanent disqualification from practicing law in
the state). To the limited extent that they practice law, judges are subject
to the state code of professional conduct in addition to a code of judicial
conduct. The American Bar Association (ABA) formulated the Model Rules of Professional Conduct in 1983 to provide uniformity and consistency in defining the professional responsibilities of lawyers. Though the ABA has no power to enforce the model rules, they serve as a guide for states in crafting rules of conduct. |
||