Rule 8.1 Bar Admission and Disciplinary Matters

When someone applies to become a lawyer, or when a lawyer is dealing with a disciplinary investigation, they have to be honest. They cannot lie about important facts on their bar application or during a disciplinary case.

This rule also means people can't stay quiet if they know someone has the wrong idea about something important, and they know the truth would fix that misunderstanding. If the bar or a disciplinary board asks for information as part of an official investigation, the applicant or lawyer has to respond truthfully. Staying silent when the law requires an answer is treated the same as lying.

There is one exception. Lawyers do not have to share information that client confidentiality rules protect. So even during a bar application or disciplinary case, a lawyer can still keep certain client secrets private if another rule says that information must stay confidential.