Rules of Court · Part 1 · New Jersey
RPC 1.2 New Jersey Rules of Court, RPC 1.2: Scope of Representation and Allocation of Authority Between Client and Lawyer, rendered as code with every cross-reference linked
Scope of Representation and Allocation of Authority Between Client and Lawyer
(a) A lawyer shall abide by a client's decisions concerning the scope and objectives of representation, subject to paragraphs (c) and (d), and as required by RPC 1.4 shall consult with the client about the means to pursue them. A lawyer may take such action on behalf of the client as is impliedly authorized to carry out the representation. A lawyer shall abide by a client's decision whether to settle a matter. In a criminal case, the lawyer shall consult with the client and, following consultation, shall abide by the client's decision on the plea to be entered, jury trial, and whether the client will testify.
(b) A lawyer's representation of a client, including representation by appointment, does not constitute an endorsement of the client's political, economic, social or moral views or activities.
(c) A lawyer may limit the scope of the representation if the limitation is reasonable under the circumstances and the client gives informed consent.
(d) A lawyer shall not counsel or assist a client in conduct that the lawyer knows is illegal, criminal or fraudulent, or in the preparation of a written instrument containing terms the lawyer knows are expressly prohibited by law, but a lawyer may counsel or assist a client in a good faith effort to determine the validity, scope, meaning or application of the law.
A lawyer may counsel a client regarding New Jersey’s marijuana laws or the marijuana laws of other states, provided the lawyer meets the requirements of those states, and may assist the client to engage in conduct that the lawyer reasonably believes is authorized by those laws. The lawyer shall also advise the client regarding related federal law and policy.
Note: Adopted July 12, 1984 to be effective September 10, 1984; caption amended, paragraphs (a) and (c) amended, and paragraph (e) deleted and redesignated as RPC 1.4(d) November 17, 2003 to be effective January 1, 2004; paragraph (d) amended August 1, 2016 to be effective September 1, 2016; paragraph (d) amended November 17, 2020 to be effective immediately.
Verbatim rule text, unmarked. Nothing here is a summary.
rule RPC 1.2 "Scope of Representation and Allocation of Authority Between Client and Lawyer" {
(a) A lawyer shall abide by a client's decisions concerning the scope and objectives of representation, subject to paragraphs (c) and (d), and as required by RPC 1.4 shall consult with the client about the means to pursue them. A lawyer may take such action on behalf of the client as is impliedly authorized to carry out the representation. A lawyer shall abide by a client's decision whether to settle a matter. In a criminal case, the lawyer shall consult with the client and, following consultation, shall abide by the client's decision on the plea to be entered, jury trial, and whether the client will testify.
(b) A lawyer's representation of a client, including representation by appointment, does not constitute an endorsement of the client's political, economic, social or moral views or activities.
(c) A lawyer may limit the scope of the representation if the limitation is reasonable under the circumstances and the client gives informed consent.
(d) A lawyer shall not counsel or assist a client in conduct that the lawyer knows is illegal, criminal or fraudulent, or in the preparation of a written instrument containing terms the lawyer knows are expressly prohibited by law, but a lawyer may counsel or assist a client in a good faith effort to determine the validity, scope, meaning or application of the law.
A lawyer may counsel a client regarding New Jersey’s marijuana laws or the marijuana laws of other states, provided the lawyer meets the requirements of those states, and may assist the client to engage in conduct that the lawyer reasonably believes is authorized by those laws. The lawyer shall also advise the client regarding related federal law and policy.
Note: Adopted July 12, 1984 to be effective September 10, 1984; caption amended, paragraphs (a) and (c) amended, and paragraph (e) deleted and redesignated as RPC 1.4(d) November 17, 2003 to be effective January 1, 2004; paragraph (d) amended August 1, 2016 to be effective September 1, 2016; paragraph (d) amended November 17, 2020 to be effective immediately.
}
referenced_by: none
source: njcourts.gov // verbatim; changed 2025-10-17; corpus harvested 2026-09-02← RPC 1.1 · RPC 1.3 → · RPC · all rules
The Rules of Court are a government edict and carry no copyright; the text above is the Judiciary’s own publication, unchanged. Structure, links and highlighting are ours and carry no legal weight. Read the rule on njcourts.gov before you rely on it; amendments take effect each September 1.