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 |