A client asks whether a lawyer can guarantee a specific result. This concerns which Rule?

• A. Model Rule 3.3.
• B. Model Rule 8.3.
• C. Model Rule 7.1.
• D. Model Rule 1.14.

Answer: (C)

The situation tests the rule about truthful communications regarding a lawyer’s services. Under Model Rule 7.1, a lawyer must avoid making false or misleading statements about what they can achieve for a client. Guaranteeing a specific result implies certainty about the outcome, which is inherently uncertain and depends on many factors outside the lawyer’s control. That kind of absolute promise can mislead a prospective client about the odds or the likely path of the case.

You can discuss your experience, qualifications, and a realistic range of possible outcomes, but you should not promise or guarantee a result. If a client asks for certainty, you explain that while you will work diligently and pursue the best possible strategy, outcomes cannot be guaranteed and depend on facts, law, and the decision-makers involved.

Other options don’t fit because they address different issues: candor to the court, reporting misconduct, or matters involving a client with diminished capacity, rather than advertising or communications about the lawyer’s services.