The Client-Lawyer Relationship
The client decides the goals; the lawyer manages the means after consultation and keeps the client informed. Fees are the most-tested topic in this area.
Authority and communication
Under Rule 1.2 the client alone decides whether to settle and, in a criminal case, the plea, jury waiver, and whether to testify. A lawyer may limit the scope of a representation if the limit is reasonable and the client gives informed consent. Rule 1.4 requires prompt communication of settlement offers and of anything the client needs to make informed decisions.
Fees and ending the representation
Rule 1.5 requires reasonable fees, communication of the fee basis, and a signed writing for contingent fees, and it bans contingent fees for criminal defendants and fees contingent on a divorce or on alimony, support, or property-settlement amounts. Rule 1.16, amended in 2023, now requires lawyers to inquire into and assess each representation and to withdraw when a client persists in using their services for a crime or fraud. The ABA replaced Rule 1.14 in February 2026; the study guide teaches both the old and new versions and explains when the exam may test each.
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