Ethics Question of the Month • February 2026

Who You Gonna Call?

HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW about some of the Texas entities and programs related to lawyers, judges, and the legal profession? For each item, identify the entity or program that best matches the description.

  1. This committee is charged with overseeing the initial process for proposing a disciplinary rule under Chapter 81 of the Texas Government Code.

    A. The Texas Disciplinary Rules Committee
    B. The Professional Ethics Committee
    C. The Committee on Disciplinary Rules and Referenda
    D. The Professional Conduct Rules Committee

  2. This Texas agency investigates judicial misconduct and judicial disability allegations.

    A. The State Commission on Judicial Conduct
    B. The Judicial Ethics Commission
    C. The State Board of Judicial Review
    D.The Judicial Conduct Oversight Commission

  3. This committee, appointed by the Supreme Court of Texas, issues written opinions regarding the propriety of attorney professional conduct.

    A. The Texas Disciplinary Rules Committee
    B. The Professional Ethics Committee
    C. The Professional Conduct Rules Committee
    D. The State Bar Professionalism and Civility Committee

  4. This standing committee of the State Bar of Texas provides oversight to the Office of the Chief Disciplinary Counsel (CDC) and serves as the client of CDC in the Texas attorney discipline system.

    A. The Commission for Lawyer Discipline
    B. The Professional Ethics Committee
    C. The Attorney Discipline Committee
    D. The Texas Disciplinary Commission on Professional Conduct

  5. This confidential State Bar of Texas program assists lawyers, judges, law students, and other members of the legal community with issues related to wellness, substance use, suicide prevention, and mental health.

    A. The Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program
    B. The Texas Attorney Help Program
    C. The Committee on Attorney Assistance
    D. The Texas Lawyers’ Well-Being Program

  6. Established by the Supreme Court of Texas in 1974, this entity certifies lawyers and paralegals as specializing in particular areas of law.

    A. The Texas Board of Legal Certification
    B. The Texas Department of Legal Specialization
    C. The Texas Board of Legal Specialization
    D. The Texas Legal Certification Committee

  7. This confidential dispute-resolution program of the State Bar of Texas aims to facilitate productive communication between Texas attorneys and their clients.

    A. The Client-Attorney Communication Program
    B. The Client-Attorney Assistance Program
    C. The Client-Attorney Communication Service
    D. The Client-Attorney Dispute Resolution Program

  8. This adjudicatory body, appointed by the Supreme Court of Texas, is composed of 12 attorneys and hears appeals in attorney discipline cases.

    A. The Commission for Lawyer Discipline
    B. The Attorney Discipline Committee
    The Board of Disciplinary Review
    The Board of Disciplinary Appeals

  9. This judicial agency determines whether applicants meet the qualifications set by the Supreme Court of Texas for admission to the State Bar of Texas.

    A. The Texas Board of Bar Admissions
    B. The Texas Board of Law Examiners
    C. The Texas Office of Bar Admissions
    D. The Texas Board of Attorney Licensing

ANSWERS: 1(C), 2(A), 3(B), 4(A), 5(A), 6(C), 7(B), 8(D), 9(B).

ABOUT THE CENTER
The Texas Center for Legal Ethics was created by three former chief justices of the Supreme Court of Texas to educate lawyers about ethics and professionalism. Lawyers can access the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, the Texas Lawyer’s Creed, and a variety of other ethics resources at legalethicstexas.com.


DISCLAIMER
The information contained in Ethics Question of the Month is intended to illustrate an ethics issue of general interest in the Texas legal community; it is not intended to provide ethics advice that applies regardless of particular facts. For specific legal ethics advice, readers are urged to consult the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct (including the official comments) and other authorities and/or a qualified legal ethics attorney.