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Alabama Standards for Imposing Lawyer Discipline – 2026

What sanction fits what misconduct. The Preface records that these standards are based in large measure upon similar standards adopted by the American Bar Association in February 1986. Section I is the theoretical framework and Section II the standards themselves, opening with the purpose and nature of discipline. The standards are then organized by the duty violated: Standard 4.0 duties owed to clients, 5.0 duties owed to the public, 6.0 duties owed to the legal system and 7.0 duties owed to the profession, with Standard 3.0 stating the general factors, Standard 8.0 prior discipline orders and Standard 9.0 aggravation and mitigation. Section III reproduces the ABA Standards for Imposing Lawyer Sanctions black-letter rules, and an appendix gives a cross-reference table. Stored under the source's own section and standard labels, which is how Alabama cites them.

Browse all 14 rules of the 2026 edition below. Each rule includes the full text, a plain-English summary, committee notes, amendment history, and cross-references to related rules. Use the search box to find rules by keyword or number.

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Preface Preface Section I Theoretical Framework Section II Standards for Imposing Lawyer Discipline A Purpose and Nature of Discipline. B Discipline. Standard 3.0 Generally Standard 4.0 Violations of Duties Owed to Clients Standard 5.0 Violations of Duties Owed to the Public Standard 6.0 Violations of Duties Owed to the Legal System Standard 7.0 Violations of Duties Owed to the Profession Standard 8.0 Prior Discipline Orders Standard 9.0 Aggravation and Mitigation Section III ABA Standards for Imposing Lawyer Sanctions: Black Letter Rules and Commentary Appendix Cross-reference Table