State Bar of Wisconsin

SCR Chapter 20
Rules of Professional Conduct for Attorneys

On Jan. 5, 2007, the Wisconsin Supreme Court issued order 04-07 formally adopting changes to Chapter 20, the Rules of Professional Conduct for Attorneys, effective July 1, 2007.

• New SCR Chapter 20 (effective July 1, 2007) 265 KB
• SCR Chapter 20 (effective prior to July 1, 2007)
  • Chapter 20A -- Rules of Professional Conduct for Attorneys (Preamble - 20:1.17) (effective until June 30, 2007)
  • Chapter 20B -- Rules of Professional Conduct for Attorneys (20:2.1 - 20:8.5) (effective until June 30, 2007)
• Upcoming ethics seminars
• Contact State Bar ethics counsel

Trust account rules/sample forms

• Court Order Amending Lawyers' Trust Account Rules, Wisconsin Lawyer, June 2007 500 KB
• SCR 20:1.15 (Trust and Fiduciary Accounts): Redlined Rules Showing Changes 100 KB
• New Trust Account Rules: Lawyer Fees and Fee Agreements, Wisconsin Lawyer, June 2007
• Impact of New Fee and Trust Account Rules on Family and Criminal Law Practitioners, Wisconsin Lawyer, July 2007
• Sample forms
  • Optional Notice When Advanced Fee is Exhausted - Lawyer Continues Representation on Hourly Basis, Wisconsin Lawyer, July 2007
  • Sample End of Representation Letter – Hourly Billing and SCR 20:1.15(b)(4m) Alternative Used 25 KB
  • Sample End of Representation Letter – Fully Earned Flat Fee and SCR 20:1.15(b)(4m) Alternative Used 25 KB
  • Sample End of Representation Letter - Representation Not Completed; Return of Unearned Portion of Flat Fee - SCR 20:1.15(b)(4m) Alternative Protection 25 KB
  • Sample Fee Agreement - Advanced Hourly Fees Not Held in Trust Pursuant to SCR 20:1.15(b)(4m), Wisconsin Lawyer, June 2007
  • Sample Fee Agreement - Hourly Fees Held in Trust with Five-day Rule Alternative, Wisconsin Lawyer, June 2007
  • Sample Flat Fee Agreement Under New Rule - Fees Not Held in Trust Account Pursuant to SCR 20:1.15(b)(4m) Alternative 40 KB
  • Sample Short Flat Fee Agreement Under New Rule - Fees Held in Trust Account with 20:1.15(g)(1m) Notice 35 KB
  • Sample Letter at Conclusion of Representation - Fully Earned Flat Fee, Wisconsin Lawyer, July 2007
  • Sample Letter at Conclusion of Representation - Return of Unearned Portion of Flat Fee, Wisconsin Lawyer, July 2007
  • Sample Letter at Conclusion of Representation - Hourly Billing, Wisconsin Lawyer, July 2007

Related articles

• Ethics Opinion E-07-01: Contact with Current and Former Constituents of a Represented Organization
• New Rules Clarify Lawyers' Duty to Report Professional Misconduct, Wisconsin Lawyer, May 2007
• New Rules Detail Required Info in Client Engagement Letters, Wisconsin Lawyer, April 2007
• New Rules of Conduct for Limiting Representation, Wisconsin Lawyer, March 2007
• Overview of new Rules of Professional Conduct (SCR Chapter 20), Wisconsin Lawyer, February 2007
• Advising on Lawful Investigations, Wisconsin Lawyer, December 2006
• Assessing Client Competence, Wisconsin Lawyer, November 2006
• Screen Transferring Lawyers for Conflicts, Wisconsin Lawyer, August 2006
• Dual Practice: Combining the Practice of Law with Other Occupations, Wisconsin Lawyer, April 2006
• Other ethics-related articles

Related links

• Wisconsin Lawyer ethics articles
• History of Ethics 2000
• State Bar ethics books & products
• Supreme Court Rules
• Office of Lawyer Regulation
• Code of Judicial Conduct
• Wisconsin Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection
• ABA Center for Professional Responsibility
• American Legal Ethics Library

Lawyer regulation & discipline