Tex. Disciplinary Rules Prof'l Conduct R. 5.06 · Part V. LAW FIRMS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Restrictions on Right to Practice
Text — Effective March 7, 2025
A lawyer shall not participate in offering or making:
(a) a partnership or employment agreement that restricts the rights of a lawyer to practice after termination of the relationship, except an agreement concerning benefits upon retirement; or
(b) an agreement in which a restriction on the lawyers right to practice is part of the settlement of a suit or controversy, except that as part of the settlement of a disciplinary proceeding against a lawyer an agreement may be made placing restrictions on the right of that lawyer to practice.
Notes and commentary — not rule text
Comment:
1. An agreement restricting the rights of partners or associates to practice after leaving a firm not only limits their professional autonomy but also limits the freedom of clients to choose a lawyer. Paragraph (a) prohibits such agreements except for restrictions incident to provisions concerning retirement benefits for service with the firm.
2. Paragraph (b) prohibits a lawyer from agreeing not to represent other persons in connection with settling a claim on behalf of a client.
Source of truth
- Edition
- Effective March 7, 2025
- Official file
- https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1459244/texas-disciplinary-rules-of-professional-conduct-pdf.pdf (PDF pages 92)
- Text hash
- sha256 225659b78c410ca23a49860d02e9d40e937fae82954d9466a002fdfd887cf3bc
- Composed by
- compose_tx_conduct.py 2026-10-05: two PDF extractors agree character for character after the same chrome removal
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.