The duty in context
Advise on alternatives, settlement and outcome client
The lawyer must inform the client of reasonably available alternatives to contested adjudication (such as mediation/ADR) and fully communicate settlement offers and likely net outcomes so the client can decide.
How the codes express this duty
E&W Solicitors SRA Principles & Code CCS 8.6 partial 100 cases
8.6 You give clients information in a way they can understand. You ensure they are in a position to make informed decisions about the services they need, how their matter will be handled and the options available to them.
SRA Code of Conduct for Solicitors, RELs and RFLs · 2019 · archived copy · official source ↗
E&W Barristers BSB Handbook no clear equivalent
Cayman Islands Legal Services Code 2026 no clear equivalent
AU Solicitors Solicitors' Conduct Rules Rule 7.2 strong 9 cases
A solicitor must inform the client or the instructing solicitor about the alternatives to fully contested adjudication of the case which are reasonably available to the client, unless the solicitor believes on reasonable grounds that the client already has such an understanding of those alternatives as to permit the client to make decisions about the client's best interests in relation to the matter.
Australian Solicitors' Conduct Rules · 2015 (June 2026 compilation) · archived copy · official source ↗
AU Barristers Uniform Barristers Rules rr38-40 strong 8 cases
A barrister must inform the client or the instructing solicitor about the alternatives to fully contested adjudication of the case which are reasonably available to the client, unless the barrister believes on reasonable grounds that the client already has such an understanding of those alternatives.
Legal Profession Uniform Conduct (Barristers) Rules · 2015 (as amended 14 May 2025) · archived copy · official source ↗
IE Solicitors Law Society Guide Ch2 — Litigation, arbitration and mediation; Ch5 — Duty of solicitors to encourage mediation and ADR; Ch10 — Explanations to client during settlement negotiations strong 16 cases
Solicitors must provide their client with information on mediation as a means of resolving disputes unless the circumstances deem it inappropriate to do so... To enable a client to make an informed decision about the settlement on offer, the solicitor should explain matters as fully as possible to the client, including the likely deductions that will be made from the settlement figure.
Solicitor's Guide to Professional Conduct (Law Society of Ireland) · 4th ed. (2022) · archived copy · official source ↗
IE Barristers Bar Code of Conduct Rule 3.26 partial 16 cases
Where a Barrister receives on behalf of a client an offer of settlement and the client is available for consultation and to instruct the Barrister, the Barrister, in the presence of the solicitor, shall inform the client fully of all the terms of the offer.
Code of Conduct for the Bar of Ireland · 2024 · archived copy · official source ↗
JM Attorneys Canons of Professional Ethics Canon III(i) partial
An Attorney shall not by his actions stir up strife or litigation, and where it is in the interest of his client he shall seek to obtain reasonable settlements of disputes.
Legal Profession (Canons of Professional Ethics) Rules · 1978 (principal) · archived copy · official source ↗
JE Lawyers Law Society of Jersey Code G.1.25 partial
Depending on the nature of the instruction, it may be necessary to provide additional costs/fees information, for example, ensuring that clients understand the cost implications of any offers of settlement, including details of the costs to be deducted and how the figures are calculated.
Law Society of Jersey Code of Conduct · 1 January 2017 · archived copy · official source ↗
ON Lawyers LSO Rules of Prof. Conduct r 3.2-4; r 3.2-4 commentary [1] strong
3.2-4 A lawyer shall advise and encourage the client to compromise or settle a dispute whenever it is possible to do so on a reasonable basis and shall discourage the client from commencing or continuing useless legal proceedings. [Commentary [1]: It is important to consider the use of alternative dispute resolution (ADR). When appropriate, the lawyer should inform the client of ADR options and, if so instructed, take steps to pursue those options.]
Law Society of Ontario — Rules of Professional Conduct · current · archived copy · official source ↗
BC Lawyers BC Code r 3.2-4 strong
A lawyer must advise and encourage a client to compromise or settle a dispute whenever it is possible to do so on a reasonable basis and must discourage the client from commencing or continuing useless legal proceedings.
Code of Professional Conduct for British Columbia (BC Code) · 2017 · archived copy · official source ↗
NZ Lawyers Conduct & Client Care Rules r 13.4 strong
A lawyer assisting a client with the resolution of a dispute must keep the client advised of alternatives to litigation that are reasonably available ... to enable the client to make informed decisions regarding the resolution of the dispute.
Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008 · SR 2008/214 · archived copy · official source ↗
SCO Solicitors LSS Standards of Conduct no clear equivalent
SG Lawyers Professional Conduct Rules 2015 no clear equivalent
HK Solicitors Solicitors' Guide Principle 10.17 strong
A litigation solicitor needs to keep in mind that a settlement may be in his client's interests and to advise and act accordingly. ... a solicitor should ... inform his client of a settlement offer made by the opposing party and give his opinion of its merits ... A litigation solicitor should consider and if appropriate advise his client on alternative dispute resolution procedures such as mediation.
Hong Kong Solicitors' Guide to Professional Conduct (Volume 1) · current · archived copy · official source ↗
HK Barristers Bar Code of Conduct para 10.27 partial
Where appropriate, a practising barrister should consider with his clients the possibility of attempting to resolve a dispute or any particular issue thereof by way of mediation.
Code of Conduct of the Bar of the Hong Kong SAR · 2018 · archived copy · official source ↗
Cases dealing with this duty
137 decisions · link basis: found breached = a tribunal finding; rule cited = the mapped provision is cited in the decision; text match = high-precision text pattern
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Joanne Elizabeth Allen
Breaches, Code of Conduct for Solicitors, REL's & RFL's 2019, Dishonesty, Lack of Integrity, SRA Principles 2019
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Nirosha Jayawardena
Breaches
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Quinones, Joseline Carol
The Solicitor failed to pay the Complainant’s invoice dated 17 September 2019 for the sum of $17,600.00 (the Invoice) for work performed pursuant to a total of four (4) costs agreements (the Costs Agreements). The Solic…
Reprimand Solicitor to undertake and complete further legal education Within seven days of completing the tutorial, is to provide to the Law Society’s Director Legal Regulation, a report which demonstrates to the reasonable satisfaction of the Director, the solicitor’s understanding of matters dealt with in the tutorial $0.00 Appeal Status: Dismissed Appeal Decision 1 PDF View decision -
de Robillard, Christian Roger
Ground 1: Fundamental breaches of the Legal Profession Uniform Conduct (Barristers) Rules 2015, in summary: 1. invoking the coercive powers of the Supreme Court against an officer of the Court (solicitor) resulting in t…
Order recommending removal of lawyer's name from the Roll of Australian Lawyers $0.00 Proceedings Instituted 2 PDFs View decision -
ARTHUR METAXAS
Unsatisfactory Professional Conduct
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Michael Keane
In the matter of Michael Keane, solicitor, Flynn & McMorrow, Solicitors, Bridge Street, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim, and in the matter of the Solicitors Acts 1954-2015 [2018/DT21 and High Court record 2020 no 21 SA] …
reprimand View decision -
David Doyle
In the matter of David Doyle, a solicitor previously practising as a partner in Doyle Associates, 56 Main Street, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, and in the matter of the Solicitors Acts 1954-2015 [2019/DT09 and High Court refe…
strike_off View decision -
James Dorney
In the matter of James Dorney, solicitor, practising as Dorney Solicitors, Phoenix House, Monahan Road, Cork, and in the matter of an application by the Law Society of Ireland to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, an…
suspension View decision -
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Edward Sibley
Breaches, Client Money, Solicitors' Accounts Rules
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John Richard Killington
Breaches
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Martin Edward Burnett
Breaches, Failures
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Habib Abraham MELLICK
Guilty of professional misconduct on 1 charge.
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John A Tobin
In the matter of John A Tobin, solicitor, practising as John A Tobin Solicitors, Level 3 Cornmarket, Robert Street, Limerick, and in the matter of an application by the Law Society of Ireland to the Solicitors Disciplin…
strike_off View decision -
Oliver Hanrahan
In the matter of Oliver Hanrahan, solicitor, formerly practising as Hanrahan Rynne Solicitors, 3B Riverside Business Park, Ennis, Co Clare, and in the matter of the Solicitors Acts 1954-2011 [9381/DT12/14 and High Court…
strike_off View decision -
James M Sweeney
In the matter of James M Sweeney, a solicitor formerly practising as James M Sweeney at 14 New Cabra Road, Phibsborough, Dublin 7, and in the matter of the Solicitors Acts 1954-2011 [3572/DT110/13 and High Court record …
strike_off View decision -
David Walsh
In the matter of David Walsh, solicitor, formerly practising as David Walsh & Co, Solicitors, at 12 Mount Street, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, and in the matter of the Solicitors Acts 1954-2011 [4550/DT116/13 and High Court…
fine View decision -
Paul Anthony Gibbon
Breaches, Client Money, Failures, Solicitors' Accounts Rules
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John JA Rynne
In the matter of John JA Rynne, solicitor, formerly practising as Rynne Hanrahan & Associates, Abbington House, 4 Limerick Road, Ennis, Co Clare, and in the firm of Hanrahan Rynne Solicitors, 3B Riverside Business Park,…
strike_off View decision
Duty classification does not yet cover every jurisdiction (Ontario, New Zealand and Singapore decisions are indexed but not yet duty-classified), so counts here understate those corpora.