Abstract

The Special Committee of the Virginia State Bar to Study the Virginia Code of Professional Responsibility was established by former president Ed Burnette during his administration in 1993. The Committee was requested to examine the Code in its entirety and to suggest any revisions and additions to indi­vidual disciplinary rules. The committee is comprised of prac­titioners with a wide range of civil and criminal expertise, and representatives from academia. After extensive work and discussion. the committee unanimously decided to recommend the adoption of the format of the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct, which, among other features, provides for an explanatory commentary for each rule. The proposal has generated extensive discussion, as expected, and the committee believes that it would be useful to present a summary of the various arguments that have been presented in favor of adopting the format of the Model Rules and those in support of maintaining the current system, though with possible revisions and additions. The articles that follow are presented in a debate format in an effort to identify the basic issues involved and to generate further discussion in anticipation of the matter being presented to Council for it to initially decide which format to utilize.

This abstract has been taken from the introduction to the article.

Document Type

Magazine Article

Publication Information

44 Virginia Lawyer 40-41 (1996)

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