Educational reference. This hub mirrors the Florida Bar’s published Rules of Professional Conduct (Chapter 4 of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar) for public educational use. The rule text and the Bar’s official Comment are public domain. The plain-English summaries and ethics-opinion commentary are the opinion of Phillips, Hunt & Walker — general information only, not legal advice. Reading this page does not create an attorney-client relationship.
The rules every Florida lawyer is bound by
If a Florida lawyer takes your case, that lawyer is bound by 66 active rules of professional conduct. The Florida Bar wrote them. The Florida Supreme Court adopted them. Every lawyer admitted in this state agrees to follow them when they swear in.
Most law firms don’t put these rules on their site. The reasons are obvious — the rules document the standard the firm’s own work could fail. We publish them because we think they should be easier to find, and because we believe the public deserves to know what their lawyer is supposed to be doing.
If you think your lawyer (or another Florida lawyer) is violating one of these rules, you have two paths: file a complaint with The Florida Bar, or hire a different lawyer to take it from here. We’d be happy to talk if it’s the second one.
Browse the rules by subchapter
4-1 Client-Lawyer Relationship
19 rules. Competence, communication, fees, conflicts of interest, confidentiality, declining or terminating representation, duties to prospective clients, safekeeping client property.
4-2 Counselor
3 rules. A lawyer’s role as adviser, evaluator, and third-party neutral. Independent professional judgment.
4-3 Advocate
9 rules. Conduct in litigation: meritorious claims, candor toward the tribunal, fairness to opposing parties, courtroom decorum, trial publicity.
4-4 Transactions with Persons Other Than Clients
4 rules. Truthfulness in statements, communication with represented and unrepresented persons, respect for third-party rights.
4-5 Law Firms and Associations
7 rules. Supervisory responsibilities, professional independence, fee splitting, unauthorized practice, restrictions on the right to practice.
4-6 Public Service
6 rules. Voluntary pro bono service, accepting court appointments, legal services organizations, law reform activities, short-term limited legal services programs.
4-7 Information About Legal Services
12 rules. Lawyer advertising and solicitation — what’s required, what’s misleading, filing and review requirements, referral services.
4-8 Maintaining the Integrity of the Profession
6 rules. Bar admission and disciplinary matters, statements about judges, reporting professional misconduct, jurisdiction, authorized business entities.
How to file a complaint with The Florida Bar
If you believe a Florida-licensed lawyer has violated one of these rules, The Florida Bar’s Attorney Consumer Assistance Program (ACAP) is the first point of contact for most complaints.
- Online: floridabar.org/public/acap/
- ACAP phone: 1-866-352-0707
- Mail: The Florida Bar, ACAP, 651 East Jefferson Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399
The Bar publishes a complete guide to the complaint and discipline process at floridabar.org/public/acap/.
Frequently asked questions
Why is this on a law firm’s website?
Phillips, Hunt & Walker maintains this page as a public reference. The rules themselves are public domain — published by The Florida Bar — and we believe broader access serves both the public and the profession. We publish the Bar’s text verbatim and add our own plain-English commentary on what each rule means in practice.
Can I sue my lawyer for violating one of these rules?
A violation of a Rule of Professional Conduct does not automatically give rise to a civil lawsuit. The Florida Bar’s disciplinary process and a civil malpractice claim are separate paths. The rules can be evidence of the standard of care in a civil case, but they are not by themselves the standard. Consult an attorney about your specific situation.
What’s a Florida Bar ethics opinion?
The Florida Bar’s Professional Ethics Committee publishes formal and informal advisory opinions interpreting the rules. They aren’t binding law, but they’re persuasive authority and commonly cited in disciplinary proceedings and malpractice cases. We’ve cross-referenced relevant ethics opinions on each rule page, with links back to the Bar’s published opinions.
Are these the most current rules?
This page mirrors the Bar’s chapter PDF effective February 16, 2026. We re-verify against the Bar’s published source on a recurring basis; the last verified date appears on each rule page. For the absolute latest text and any amendments adopted after our last verification, consult the Bar directly at floridabar.org/rules/rrtfb/.
About this resource
Maintained by Phillips, Hunt & Walker — a Florida-based litigation firm. We publish the Bar’s text verbatim with PHW-authored plain-English commentary. Our editorial role is source verification, link maintenance, and adding the consumer-facing explanation that the Bar’s own materials don’t provide.
Source: Rules Regulating The Florida Bar, Chapter 4, effective February 16, 2026, published by The Florida Bar.