In Re: Order Amending Rule 1.19 of the Rules of Professional Conduct

Opinion

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Rule 1.19 Lawyers Acting as Lobbyists

(a) A lawyer acting as lobbyist, as defined in any statute, resolution passed or adopted by either house of the Legislature, regulation promulgated by the Executive Branch or any agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, or ordinance enacted by a local government unit, shall comply with all regulation, disclosure, or other requirements of such statute, resolution, regulation or ordinance which are consistent with the Rules of Professional Conduct.

(b) Any disclosure of information relating to representation of a client made by the lawyer-lobbyist in order to comply with such statute, resolution, regulation or ordinance is a disclosure explicitly authorized to carry out the representation and does not violate Rule 1.6.

(c) A lawyer whose service as a public officer or public employee of a governmental body concludes on or after June 1, 2023, shall not act as a lobbyist, as defined in any statute, resolution passed or adopted by either house of the Legislature, regulation promulgated by the Executive Branch or any agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or ordinance enacted by a local government unit, on any matter before the governmental body with which the lawyer had been associated for one year after termination of the lawyer’s service as a public officer or public employee.