[MPD Taskforce]
[Az. Ethical Rules Changes]
[AZBar Proposed Changes]

1) The State Bar of Arizona Task Force on the  Future of the Profession was assigned the responsibility of preparing PROPOSED  changes to the Arizona Supreme Court Rules and Ethical Rules, to authorize lawyers in Arizona to participate in MDPs.  Those DRAFT changes are being sent to the State Bar of Arizona Board of Governors for review.  The Task Force will  request that the Board permit the Task Force to disseminate the DRAFT changes to all State Bar Committees and Sections for comment.  The Task Force will then review the comments, make changes to the DRAFT rule revisions (if applicable),  and then seek Board permission to file the DRAFT changes with the Arizona Supreme Court....possibly this summer.

Attached to this email are: a) Draft revisions to the Arizona Supreme Rules regulating the practice of law in Arizona; and b) Draft revisions to the Rules of Professional Conduct.

2) I intended for this email to reach contacts in each interested state.  If I have missed anyone or any states, please forward this as you deem appropriate.

3) We will keep you all posted on the status of  this project in Arizona.  We don't anticipate any further action on this matter until the end of April.

4) Please let me know the current status of MDP  projects in your states.  Thank you to everyone on the Utah project for your  working draft, from which Arizona "borrowed" many concepts!

<<Draft rule changes.DOC>> <<revised rule 31.doc>>

Lynda C. Shely
Director of Lawyer Ethics
State Bar of Arizona
602-340-7284

Last Update: 09/04/02