Rule 16-506 Restrictions on right to practice.

This rule stops lawyers from making deals that limit a lawyer's ability to practice law in the future. For example, if a lawyer leaves a law firm, the firm cannot make them sign an agreement promising not to compete for clients or take on similar cases elsewhere. The only exception is for retirement plans, where some restrictions on practicing law can be part of the retirement deal.

The rule also applies when lawyers settle a case for a client. A lawyer cannot agree, as part of settling a lawsuit, to stop representing other clients with similar claims against the same defendant in the future. This kind of deal would limit who can get legal help later on, which hurts the public.

The main idea behind this rule is to protect people's access to lawyers. It keeps law firms from boxing in their own lawyers, and it keeps defendants from using settlements to quietly get rid of lawyers who might sue them again later. This way, clients keep more freedom to choose the lawyer they want.