While the Supreme Court of Alabama retains ultimate authority to regulate the legal profession, the Alabama State Bar’s Office of the General Counsel’s Disciplinary Division serves as the Court’s arm to investigate and prosecute claims that a lawyer has violated the Rules of Professional Conduct. The Disciplinary Division does not provide ethics advice.

Alabama lawyers are bound by strict rules of ethics in all professional dealings. The Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct help define a lawyer’s obligations to clients, to the judicial system, to the public, and to the profession. The Alabama Rules of Disciplinary Procedure govern the disciplinary process. And, the Alabama Standards for Imposing Lawyer Discipline are used to determine the appropriate discipline to be applied for violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct.