§ 1240.3 Discipline Under These Rules Not Preclusive

If a lawyer gets disciplined under these rules, that doesn't mean their legal trouble is over. Other courts, bar associations, or organizations with the power to discipline lawyers can still take their own action against the same lawyer for the same conduct.

In simple terms, this rule stops lawyers from using one disciplinary decision as a shield against other consequences. Getting punished once by one authority does not protect the lawyer from being punished again by a different authority. Each court or organization that has the power to discipline lawyers can act on its own, separate from what any other group has already decided.

This matters because attorney misconduct often crosses different jurisdictions or involves different organizations. A lawyer might practice in multiple states or be a member of different bar associations. This rule makes sure that discipline handed down in one place doesn't prevent other authorities from reviewing the same behavior and deciding on their own consequences.