Maryland Attorneys' Rules of Professional Conduct and Attorney Trust Accounts

The revised rules, effective July 1, 2016, for Maryland Attorneys’ Rules of Professional Conduct and Attorney Trust Accounts are found under Maryland Rules, Title 19, Chapter 300  and Chapter 400, respectively.  To access online, (1) click on Westlaw’s link below to get to the revised Maryland Rules (Title 19.  Attorneys), (2) click on Chapter 300 (Maryland Attorneys’ Rules of Professional Conduct ) and (3) click on the section you wish to view.  Below is a table of contents of the Maryland Attorneys’ Rules of Professional Conduct and Attorney Trust Accounts for informational purposes.

Westlaw Link

Maryland Rules

Title 19. Attorneys

• Chapter 100. State Board of Law Examiners and Character Committees
• Chapter 200. Admission to the Bar
• Chapter 300. Maryland Attorneys' Rules of Professional Conduct
• Chapter 400. Attorney Trust Accounts
• Chapter 500. PRO Bono Legal Services
• Chapter 600. Client Protection Fund
• Chapter 700. Discipline, Inactive Status, Resignation

Chapter 300. Maryland Attorney's Rules of Professional Conduct

• Rule 19–300.1. Preamble
• Rule 19–301.0. Terminology (1.0)
• Client–Attorney Relationship
• Counselor
• Advocate
• Transactions with Persons Other than Clients
• Law Firms and Associations
• Public Service
• Information About Legal Services
• Maintaining the Integrity of the Profession
• Appendix 19–B:  Ideals of Professionalism
• Appendix 19–C:  Guidelines of Advocacy for Attorneys Representing Children in Cina and Related Tpr and Adoption Proceedings
• Appendix 19–D:  Guidelines for Practice for Court–Appointed Attorneys Representing Children in Cases Involving Child Custody or Child Access

Client-Attorney Relationship

• Rule 19–301.1. Competence (1.1)
• Rule 19–301.2. Scope of Representation and Allocation of Authority Between Client and Attorney (1.2)
• Rule 19–301.3. Diligence (1.3)
• Rule 19–301.4. Communication (1.4)
• Rule 19–301.5. Fees (1.5)
• Rule 19–301.6. Confidentiality of Information (1.6)
• Rule 19–301.7. Conflict of Interest—General Rule (1.7)
• Rule 19–301.8. Conflict of Interest;  Current Clients;  Specific Rules (1.8)
• Rule 19–301.9. Duties to Former Clients (1.9)
• Rule 19–301.10. Imputation of Conflict of Interest—General Rule (1.10)
• Rule 19–301.11. Special Conflict of Interest for Former and Current Government Officers and Employees (1.11)
• Rule 19–301.12. Former Judge, Arbitrator, Mediator, or Other Third–Party Neutral (1.12)
• Rule 19–301.13. Organization as Client (1.13)
• Rule 19–301.14. Client with Diminished Capacity (1.14)
• Rule 19–301.15. Safekeeping Property (1.15)
• Rule 19–301.16. Declining or Terminating Representation (1.16)
• Rule 19–301.17. Sale of Law Practice (1.17)
• Rule 19–301.18. Duties to Prospective Client (1.18)

• Rule 19–302.1. Advisor (2.1)
• Rule 19–302.3. Evaluation for Use by Third Parties (2.3)
• Rule 19–302.4. Attorney Serving as Third–Party Neutral (2.4)

• Rule 19–303.1. Meritorious Claims and Contentions (3.1)
• Rule 19–303.2. Expediting Litigation (3.2)
• Rule 19–303.3. Candor Toward the Tribunal (3.3)
• Rule 19–303.4. Fairness to Opposing Party and Attorney (3.4)
• Rule 19–303.5. Impartiality and Decorum of the Tribunal (3.5)
• Rule 19–303.6. Trial Publicity (3.6)
• Rule 19–303.7. Attorney as Witness (3.7)
• Rule 19–303.8. Special Responsibilities of a Prosecutor (3.8)
• Rule 19–303.9. Advocate in Non–Adjudicative Proceedings (3.9)

• Rule 19–304.1. Truthfulness in Statements to Others (4.1)
• Rule 19–304.2. Communications with Persons Represented by an Attorney (4.2)
• Rule 19–304.3. Dealing with Unrepresented Person (4.3)
• Rule 19–304.4. Respect for Rights of Third Persons (4.4)

Law Firms and Associations

• Rule 19–305.1. Responsibilities of Partners, Managers, and Supervisory Attorneys (5.1)
• Rule 19–305.2. Responsibilities of a Subordinate Attorney (5.2)
• Rule 19–305.3. Responsibilities Regarding Non–Attorney Assistants (5.3)
• Rule 19–305.4. Professional Independence of an Attorney (5.4)
• Rule 19–305.5. Unauthorized Practice of Law;  Multi–Jurisdictional Practice of Law (5.5)
• Rule 19–305.6. Restrictions on Right to Practice (5.6)
• Rule 19–305.7. Responsibilities Regarding Law–Related Services (5.7)

• Rule 19–306.1. PRO Bono Public Service (6.1)
• Rule 19–306.2. Accepting Appointments (6.2)
• Rule 19–306.3. Membership in Legal Services Organization (6.3)
• Rule 19–306.4. Law Reform Activities Affecting Client Interests (6.4)
• Rule 19–306.5. Nonprofit and Court–Annexed Limited Legal Services Programs (6.5)

• Rule 19–307.1. Communications Concerning an Attorney's Services (7.1)
• Rule 19–307.2. Advertising (7.2)
• Rule 19–307.3. Direct Contact with Prospective Clients (7.3)
• Rule 19–307.4. Communication of Fields of Practice (7.4)
• Rule 19–307.5. Firm Names and Letterheads (7.5)

• Rule 19–308.1. Bar Admission and Disciplinary Matters (8.1)
• Rule 19–308.2. Judicial and Legal Officials (8.2)
• Rule 19–308.3. Reporting Professional Misconduct (8.3)
• Rule 19–308.4. Misconduct (8.4)
• Rule 19–308.5. Disciplinary Authority;  Choice of Law (8.5)

• Appendix 19–B:  Ideals of Professionalism
• Appendix 19–C:  Guidelines of Advocacy for Attorneys Representing Children in Cina and Related Tpr and Adoption Proceedings
• Appendix 19–D:  Guidelines for Practice for Court–Appointed Attorneys Representing Children in Cases Involving Child Custody or Child Access

Chapter 400. Attorney Trust Accounts

• Rule 19–401. Applicability
• Rule 19–402. Definitions
• Rule 19–403. Duty to Maintain Account
• Rule 19–404. Trust Account—Required Deposits
• Rule 19–405. Duty of Attorney to Notify Institution
• Rule 19–406. Name and Designation of Account
• Rule 19–407. Attorney Trust Account Record–Keeping
• Rule 19–408. Commingling of Funds
• Rule 19–409. Interest on Funds
• Rule 19–410. Prohibited Transactions
• Rule 19–411. Approval of Financial Institutions
• Rule 19–412. Notice of Approved Institutions
• Rule 19–413. Enforcement