In a press release issued on July 11, 2013, the Supreme Judicial Court's Standing Advisory Committee on the Rules of Professional Conduct published for public comment proposed revisions to the Massachusetts Rules of Professional Conduct. The Committee reviewed the Massachusetts rules to consider revisions to the American Bar Association's Model Rules of Professional Conduct.
The ABA's Model Rules revisions "reflect recommendations made by the ABA's Ethics 2000 Commission and the ABA's Commission on Ethics 20/20. The comprehensive amendments proposed by the ABA Ethics 2000 Commission responded to changes in the profession since the Model Rules' adoption in 1983. The targeted amendments proposed by the ABA Commission on Ethics 20/20 responded to changes in law practice resulting from globalization and the profession's increased use of technology."
You can find the Executive Summary to the Report of the Standing Advisory Committee on the Rules of Professional Conduct that summarizes the Committee's "major proposals and, additionally, identifies those recommendation that have generated dissents from a minority of Committee members. The complete Report and proposals are available on the Supreme Judicial Court's website."
Following the receipt and review of public comments, the Committee will make its recommendation to the Justices of the SJC. Comments are due by December 2, 2013, and should be directed to The Standing Advisory Committee on the Rules of Professional Conduct, c/o Senior Attorney Barbara Berenson, John Adams Courthouse, One Pemberton Square, Boston MA 02108. Comments may also be sent to barbara.berenson@sjc.state.ma.us.
