(a) Every law firm and organization authorized by the Court Rules to practice law in this jurisdiction shall make reasonable efforts to ensure that member lawyers or lawyers otherwise participating in the organization's work undertake measures giving reasonable assurance that all lawyers conform to the Rules of Professional Conduct.

(b) A lawyer having direct supervisory Authority over another lawyer shall make reasonable efforts to ensure that the other lawyer conforms to the Rules of Professional Conduct

(c) A lawyer shall be responsible for another lawyer's violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct if

(1) the lawyer orders or ratifies the conduct involved; or

(2) the lawyer having direct supervisory authority over the other lawyer knows of the conduct at a time when its consequences can be avoided or mitigated but fails to take reasonable remedial action.

Comment to RPC 5.1

The Court has adopted the Debevoise Committee recommendation, with one revision to paragraph (a) so as to make clear its applicability to all lawyers and entities engaged in the practice of law. This version further differs somewhat from the ABA-adopted rule in that it does not impute responsibility upon a partner in a law firm for the ethical transgressions of law partners unless the attorney had direct supervisory authority over them. See also RPC 8.4(a).

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