Cal. Rules of Prof. Conduct, rule 1.4 · Chapter 1. Lawyer-Client Relationship
Communication with Clients
Text — 2026 edition, as the State Bar of California publishes it (read October 22, 2026)
(a) A lawyer shall:
(1) promptly inform the client of any decision or circumstance with respect to which disclosure or the client’s informed consent* is required by these rules or the State Bar Act;
(2) reasonably* consult with the client about the means by which to accomplish the client’s objectives in the representation;
(3) keep the client reasonably* informed about significant developments relating to the representation, including promptly complying with reasonable* requests for information and copies of significant documents when necessary to keep the client so informed; and
(4) advise the client about any relevant limitation on the lawyer’s conduct when the lawyer knows* that the client expects assistance not permitted by the Rules of Professional Conduct or other law.
(b) A lawyer shall explain a matter to the extent reasonably* necessary to permit the client to make informed decisions regarding the representation.
(c) A lawyer may delay transmission of information to a client if the lawyer reasonably believes* that the client would be likely to react in a way that may cause imminent harm to the client or others.
(d) A lawyer’s obligation under this rule to provide information and documents is subject to any applicable protective order, non-disclosure agreement, or limitation under statutory or decisional law.
Notes and commentary — not rule text
Comment
[1] A lawyer will not be subject to discipline under paragraph (a)(3) of this rule for failing to communicate insignificant or irrelevant information. (See Bus. & Prof. Code, § 6068, subd. (m).) Whether a particular development is significant will generally depend on the surrounding facts and circumstances. For example, a lawyer’s receipt of funds on behalf of a client requires communication with the client pursuant to rule 1.15, paragraphs (d)(1) and (d)(4) and ordinarily is also a significant development requiring communication with the client pursuant to this rule.
[2] A lawyer may comply with paragraph (a)(3) by providing to the client copies of significant documents by electronic or other means. This rule does not prohibit a lawyer from seeking recovery of the lawyer’s expense in any subsequent legal proceeding.
[3] Paragraph (c) applies during a representation and does not alter the obligations applicable at termination of a representation. (See rule 1.16(e)(1).)
[4] This rule is not intended to create, augment, diminish, or eliminate any application of the work product rule. The obligation of the lawyer to provide work product to the client shall be governed by relevant statutory and decisional law.
History
[Publisher’s Note: Comment [1] was amended by order of the Supreme Court, effective January 1, 2023.]
Source of truth
- Edition
- 2026 edition, as the State Bar of California publishes it (read October 22, 2026)
- Official file
- https://www.calbar.ca.gov/sites/default/files/portals/0/documents/rules/Rules-of-Professional-Conduct.pdf (PDF pages 17)
- Text hash
- sha256 1f2a9d02ae9ba3de7c0ba1247f243fa0638f72ef68c9ccb1ee45d97a9db42a7b
- Composed by
- rpc/build 2026-10-22: the State Bar's 2026 PDF (pages 12-71) read by two readers, PyMuPDF glyph positions and pdfminer with the PDF's tagged structure, agreeing on 834 of 843 paragraphs character for character, the other nine (paragraph boundaries only) resolved against the rendered page; 205,485 printed glyphs accounted for; the State Bar's chapter pages a third reading
This rule cites
Provisions in this library that the text above cites, as it prints each citation. A range cited as “ss. 61.13-61.16” links its first and last provisions.
Business and Professions Code
Cited by 10 provisions
Provisions in this library whose text cites Cal. Rules of Prof. Conduct, rule 1.4. Each shows the citation as that text prints it.
California Rules of Professional Conduct
- Cal. Rules of Prof. Conduct, rule 1.2Scope of Representation and Allocation of AuthorityPrinted as rule 1.4
- Cal. Rules of Prof. Conduct, rule 1.2.1Advising or Assisting the Violation of LawPrinted as rule 1.4(a)(4) | rules 1.1 and 1.4
- Cal. Rules of Prof. Conduct, rule 1.4.1Communication of Settlement OffersPrinted as rule 1.4
- Cal. Rules of Prof. Conduct, rule 1.6Confidential Information of a ClientPrinted as rule 1.4
- Cal. Rules of Prof. Conduct, rule 1.13Organization as ClientPrinted as rule 1.4
- Cal. Rules of Prof. Conduct, rule 1.17Sale of a Law PracticePrinted as rules 1.4 and 1.5
- Cal. Rules of Prof. Conduct, rule 3.3Candor Toward the Tribunal*Printed as rules 1.2.1, 1.4(a)(4), 1.16(a), 8.4
- Cal. Rules of Prof. Conduct, rule 4.1Truthfulness in Statements to OthersPrinted as rule 1.4(a)(4)
- Cal. Rules of Prof. Conduct, rule 7.3Solicitation of ClientsPrinted as rule 1.4(a)(3) | rule 1.4(c) | rules 1.2, 1.4, or 1.9
- Cal. Rules of Prof. Conduct, rule 8.3Reporting Professional MisconductPrinted as rules 1.4
Procedural information only. Not legal advice and not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. Confirm the current text with the official publisher before relying on it.