Model Rule of Professional Conduct 5.1

Definition

Rule that governs the responsibilities of a partner or supervisory lawyer. The rule (1) requires that partners and lawyers with comparable managerial authority in a law firm make reasonable efforts to ensure that all of the firm’s lawyers conform to the professional-conduct rules; (2) requires that a lawyer who directly supervises another lawyer make reasonable efforts to ensure that the other lawyer conforms to the rules; and (3) makes a lawyer responsible for another lawyer’s violation of the rules if the lawyer orders or ratifies the other lawyer’s conduct, or if the lawyer is a partner or has comparable managerial authority in a law firm or has direct supervisory authority over the other lawyer, and knows of the conduct but fails to take reasonable remedial action.