Ethics and Professionalism

Ethics & Discipline

Georgia lawyers are bound by strict rules of ethics in all of their professional dealings. The Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct help define a lawyer's obligations to clients, to the judicial system, and to the public.

Although the Supreme Court of Georgia retains ultimate authority to regulate the legal profession, the State Bar of Georgia's Office of the General Counsel serves as the Court's arm to investigate and prosecute claims that a lawyer has violated the ethics rules.

The Rules of Professional Conduct are found at Part IV, Chapter 1 of the Bar Rules. Part IV, Chapter 2 contains the procedural rules for disciplinary actions against lawyers. In addition to the Rules, the Bar and the Supreme Court periodically have issued Formal Advisory Opinions that clarify a lawyer's obligations in certain situations. A complete list of Formal Advisory Opinions follows Part IV, Chapter 3 of the Bar Rules.

Ethics & Disciplinary Rules

Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct - CURRENT

Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct, Part IV, Before July 1, 2018
Ethics & Discipline, Part III and Part IV, Before January 1, 2001
Disciplinary Proceedings
Internal Rules - State Disciplinary Board
Rules of the Clerk of the State Disciplinary Boards
Internal Rules - State Disciplinary Review Board

Advisory Opinions

Formal Advisory Opinion Indexes
Topical Index
Rules Index

Formal Advisory Opinions
Opinions
Proposed Opinions

Formal Advisory Opinion Rules
Rule 4-401. Informal Advisory Opinions
Rule 4-402. The Formal Advisory Opinion Board
Rule 4-403. Formal Advisory Opinions
Rule 4-404. Immunity
Internal Rules - Formal Advisory Opinion Board

Unlicensed Practice of Law (UPL) Advisory Opinions
Opinions

Ethics Helpline

Lawyers who would like to discuss an ethics dilemma with a member of the Office of the General Counsel staff should contact the Ethics Helpline at 404-527-8741, 800-682-9806 or log in and submit your question by email. Members of the public who believe that a Georgia lawyer has violated the rules of ethics should contact the Bar's Consumer Assistance Program at 800-334-6865.

Ethics FAQs

Answers to frequently asked questions regarding Ethics. Read More

Lawyer Referral Services

Under Georgia Rule of Professional Conduct 7.3(c), a lawyer shall not compensate or give anything of value to a person or organization to recommend or secure the lawyer's employment by a client, or as a reward for having made a recommendation resulting in the lawyer's employment by a client; Read More