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Delaware Lawyers' Rules of Professional Conduct – 2026

The Delaware Lawyers' Rules of Professional Conduct govern the professional obligations of every lawyer admitted in Delaware: competence and diligence, confidentiality of information, conflicts of interest, safekeeping property and the trust account overdraft notification of Rule 1.15A, the duties of a lawyer as advocate and as counselor, responsibilities within a firm, advertising, and the reporting of professional misconduct. Each rule carries its official Comment.

Browse all 63 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.

Preamble A Lawyer's Responsibilities Rule 1.0 Terminology Rule 1.1 Competence Rule 1.2 Scope of representation Rule 1.3 Diligence Rule 1.4 Communication Rule 1.5 Fees Rule 1.6 Confidentiality of information Rule 1.7 Conflict of interest: Current clients Rule 1.8 Conflict of interest: Current clients: Specific rules Rule 1.9 Duties to former clients Rule 1.10 Imputation of conflicts of interest: General rule Rule 1.11 Special conflicts of interest for former and current government officers and employees Rule 1.12 Former judge, arbitrator, mediator or other third-party neutral Rule 1.13 Organization as client Rule 1.14 Client with diminished capacity Rule 1.15 Safekeeping property Rule 1.15A Trust account overdraft notification Rule 1.16 Declining or terminating representation Rule 1.17 Sale of law practice Rule 1.17A Dissolution of law firm Rule 1.18 Duties to prospective client Rule 2.1 Advisor Rule 2.2 [Deleted] Rule 2.3 Evaluation for use by third persons Rule 2.4 Lawyer serving as third-party neutral Rule 3.1 Meritorious claims and contentions Rule 3.2 Expediting litigation Rule 3.3 Candor toward the tribunal Rule 3.4 Fairness to opposing party and counsel Rule 3.5 Impartiality and decorum of the tribunal Rule 3.6 Trial publicity Rule 3.7 Lawyer as witness Rule 3.8 Special responsibilities of a prosecutor Rule 3.9 Advocate in nonadjudicative proceedings Rule 3.10 [Deleted] Rule 4.1 Truthfulness in statements to others Rule 4.2 Communication with person represented by counsel Rule 4.3 Dealing with unrepresented person Rule 4.4 Respect for rights of third persons Rule 5.1 Responsibilities of partners, managers, and supervisory lawyers Rule 5.2 Responsibilities of a subordinate lawyer Rule 5.3 Responsibilities regarding non-lawyer assistance Rule 5.4 Professional independence of a lawyer Rule 5.5 Unauthorized practice of law; multijurisdictional practice of law Rule 5.6 Restrictions on right to practice Rule 5.7 Responsibilities regarding law-related services Rule 6.1 Voluntary pro bono publico service Rule 6.2 Accepting appointments Rule 6.3 Membership in legal services organization Rule 6.4 Law reform activities affecting client interests Rule 6.5 Non-profit and court-annexed limited legal-service programs Rule 7.1 Communications concerning a lawyer’s services Rule 7.2 Advertising Rule 7.3 Solicitation of clients Rule 7.4 Communication of fields of practice and specialization Rule 7.5 Firm names and letterheads Rule 7.6 Political contributions to obtain government legal engagements or appointments by judges Rule 8.1 Bar admission and disciplinary matters Rule 8.2 Judicial and legal officials Rule 8.3 Reporting professional misconduct Rule 8.4 Misconduct Rule 8.5 Disciplinary authority; choice of law. Forms