Which rule governs communication with a represented party about settlement?

• A. Rule 4.2
• B. Rule 7.2
• C. Rule 7.1
• D. Rule 5.3

Answer: (A)

The key concept is that you may not directly speak with a represented party about the settlement unless you have consent from that party’s counsel or the party is unrepresented. This is governed by Rule 4.2, which prohibits a lawyer from communicating about the matter with a person known to be represented by counsel, including settlement discussions, without the other side’s lawyer’s permission. The rule protects the integrity of the representation and helps prevent pressure or disclosure issues during negotiations by ensuring all communications go through the party’s counsel.

The other rules address different topics: Rule 7.2 concerns attorney advertising, Rule 7.1 deals with truthful communications about a lawyer’s services, and Rule 5.3 covers responsibilities for nonlawyer assistants. None of these specifically govern direct communications with a represented party about settlement. Therefore, the rule that governs this situation is Rule 4.2.