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Cessation of Practice

Look to the Texas Rules of Disciplinary Procedure, Part XIII:  Rule 8.04(a)(10) of the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct and the Interpretive Comments, Advertising Review Committee, Comment 23 for information about rules and procedures related to the cessation of practice.

The following articles may also provide additional and valuable information:

                “Dealing with the Death of a Solo Practioner,” James E. Brill, 2000
                                With copies of Texas Professional Ethics Opinions 266 (1963), 464 (1989)  and
                                479 (1991), relating to the sale of a law practice       

                “Dealing with the Death of a Solo Practioner: The Chaos of the Current Rules,” James E.
                Brill, 2003

                “Dealing with the Death of a Solo Practioner,” TLIE 2001

                “Dealing with the Death of a Solo Practioner, Part 2,” TLIE 2001

                “Checklist for Closing or Selling a Law Practice,” Jay Foonberg, 2002

                “Checklist for Valuing a Law Practice,” Jay Foonberg

                “The Transitioning Lawyer, How to Meet Your Ethical Obligations,” GPSOLO, Jan/Feb
                2000               

                “Disposition of Deceased Sole Practioner’s Client Files and Property,” American Bar
                Association, Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility, Formal
                Opinion 92-369, December 7, 1992

                EthicSearch: When a Lawyer Dies, March 2006, American Bar Association

                Additional Resources Regarding when a Lawyer Dies, ABA Center for Professional
                Responsibility, printed from website, 3/29/2006

                ‘How To Protect Yourself in Office-Sharing Arrangements,’ TLIE 1992

                “Archiving Legal Files:  Document Retention of Closed Legal Files: Ethical Dilemmas and
                Hidden Traps,” Jerry Selinger and Steve Borgman, Texas Bar Journal, Feb1994

                “What to Do if the Client Demands the File,” TLIE, 1995

                American Bar Association, Senior Lawyers Division, Recommendations for Programs to
                address death or disability of lawyers, May 21, 1997

                “Planning to Close Your Office,” Luther Jones, CDC, Dallas, 2002

                See also:

                                “The Guide: Planning Ahead: Establish an Advance Exit Plan to Protect Your
                                Clients’ Interests in the Event of Your Disability, Retirement or Death,” New York
                                State Bar Association’s Special Committee on Law Practice Continuity, available
                                online at www.nysba.org.

                                “Planning Ahead:  A Guide to Protecting Your Clients’ Interests in the Event of
                                Your Disability or Death, A Handbook and Forms,” Oregon State Bar Professional
                                Liability Fund, 1999, available by contacting Barbara S. Fishleder, Director of
                                Loss Prevention, Oregon State Bar, 1-503-639-6911.