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Welcome to the Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers website (“APRL” pronounced April). Originally formed over two decades ago primarily as an association of lawyers who represent other lawyers in disciplinary proceedings, APRL membership now encompasses lawyers who provide services in all aspects of legal ethics and professional responsibility. In addition to respondents' counsel work, APRL lawyers also represent and advise lawyers and law firms on ethics and professional responsibility, risk management, legal malpractice, and the law of lawyering. APRL also numbers academics and judges among its members. APRL remains the largest organization of lawyers primarily representing other lawyers in disciplinary proceedings. It has over 500 members world wide.
APRL marshals the talent, energy and perspectives of its members to bring about positive change in the areas of legal ethics and the law of lawyering. It also issues public statements and files amicus briefs. APRL and its members are passionate about professional responsibility and together they share their experiences, insights and expertise.
The organization holds two national conferences a year which serve as a means of sharing knowledge, providing a forum for the debate of ideas and creating an environment for social interaction. In addition to these semi-annual conferences, every two to three years APRL holds an international gathering. On a daily basis, APRL members across the country participate in a highly informed member listserv. No other organization provides the range of offerings that APRL does to make its members current, knowledgeable and prepared.
APRL News
Upcoming APRL Annual Meeting
San Francisco, California
August 8-10, 2013
Join APRL members and guests for the next APRL meeting to be held August 8-10, 2013 in San Francisco, California. Topics will include programs about law firm dissolutions; mindful ethics; advising state and federal government lawyers on ethics issues; legal education & professional responsibility; lawyer conduct in blogging, listserv, and social media communications. The joint APRL/NOBC program will focus on identifying areas of common ground for our organizations. For the lunch meeting on Friday, we will welcome Professor Rene Newman Knake of the Michigan State University School of Law, co-founder and co-director of the ReInvent Law initiative. The conference hotel will be the Sir Francis Drake, where we have secured a $225/night group rate. A separate wine country tour for the Sunday after the meeting is also planned. For more information about the meeting and accommodations, please click here.
Amicus Brief Filed by APRL with the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts
On February 25, 2013, APRL filed with the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts in RFF Family Partnership, LP v. Burns & Levinson, LLP, Case No. SCJ11371, an amicus curiae brief in support of the court's continued recognition of the availability of the attorney-client privilege for communications between lawyers and their law firm's in-house counsel. To review the brief, click here.
Amicus Brief Filed by APRL with the Supreme Court of Georgia
On January 24, 2013, APRL filed with the Supreme Court of Georgia in St. Simons Waterfront, LLC v. Hunter, MacLean, Exley & Dunn, P.C., Case No. S12G1924, an amicus curiae brief in support of the court's continued recognition of the availability of the attorney-client privilege for communications between lawyers and their law firm's in-house counsel. To review the brief, click here.
Legal Ethics Calendar for 2012-2014
The APRL legal ethics calendar provides information about the date and place of conferences that are of interest to its members and any lawyer with an interest in legal ethics, professional responsibility, and lawyer liability issues. To review the calendar, click here.
Public Statement on Ethics 20/20 Commission's Foreign Lawyer Proposals (12/11/12)
On December 11, 2012, the APRL Board approved two statements, the first in support of the ABA Ethics 20/20 Commission's proposed revisions to the ABA Model Rule on Pro Hac Vice Admission and the second in support of the Commission's proposed revisions to ABA Model Rule 5.5 and the ABA Model Rule for Registration of In-House Counsel concerning inbound foreign lawyers. To review or download the statements, please click here. On December 18, 2012, the Commission circulated its resolutions concerning those same issues, which will be considered by the ABA House of Delegates on February 11, 2013 at the ABA Mid-year Meeting in Dallas, Texas. To review the Commission's revised proposals, click here.
For Members: Getting Started with the Website
If you are an APRL member and this is the first time you are visiting the new site, you will need to update your member account information. Until you create your member account, you will not be able to take full advantage of the website's new features, nearly all of which are limited to registered members.
Download detailed instructions on how to update your account and pay for meetings and renewals online. [PDF format]
If you have forgotten your password, go to the login page, click “Forgot User ID or password”, and follow the instructions to retrieve your password.