(a) A lawyer shall abide by a client's decisions concerning the objectives of representation, subject, to paragraphs (c), (d) and (e), and shall consult with the client as to the means by which they are to be pursued. A lawyer shall abide by a client's decision whether to accept an offer of settlement of a matter. In a criminal case, the lawyer shall abide by the client's decision, after consultation with the lawyer, as to a plea to be entered, whether to waive jury trial and whether the client will testify.

(b) A lawyer's representation of a client, including representation by appointment, does not constitute an endorsement of the client's political, economic, social or moral views or activities.

(c) A lawyer may limit the objectives of the representation if the client consents after consultation.

(d) A lawyer shall not counsel or assist a client in conduct that the lawyer knows is illegal, criminal or fraudulent, or in the preparation of a written instrument containing terms the lawyer knows are expressly prohibited by law, but a lawyer may counsel or assist a client in a good faith effort to determine the validity, scope, meaning or application of the law.

Comment to RPC 1.2

The Court has adopted the recommendation of the Debevoise Committee, except to add to paragraph (d) the proscription against an attorney counseling or assisting a client in conduct that the attorney knows is illegal (rather than just either "criminal or fraudulent"). This role thus emphasizes that no attorney-client privilege or confidential relationship permits an attorney to participate in a corrupt or fraudulent scheme of a client. See RPC 1.6.

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