ER 1.4. Communication

(a) A lawyer shall: (1) promptly inform the client of any decision or circumstance with respect to which the client's informed consent, as defined in ER 1.0(e), is required by these Rules; (2) reasonably consult with the client about the means by which the client's objectives are to be accomplished; (3) keep the client reasonably informed about the status of the matter; (4) promptly comply with reasonable requests for information; and (5) consult with the client about any relevant limitation on the lawyer's conduct when the lawyer knows that the client expects assistance not permitted by the Rules of Professional Conduct or other law. (b) A lawyer shall explain a matter to the extent reasonably necessary to permit the client to make informed decisions regarding the representation. (c) In a criminal case, a lawyer shall promptly inform a client of all proffered plea agreements. (d) All lawyers/legal paraprofessionals in private practice shall inform the client in writing, prior to or at the commencement of the representation, if they do not have professional liability insurance. If notice has not been provided at or before the commencement of the representation, the lawyer/legal paraprofessional shall inform the client in writing within thirty (30) days of the date the lawyer/legal paraprofessional knows that the lawyer/legal paraprofessional no longer has professional liability insurance during the representation. (e) Unless these requirements are otherwise satisfied by applicable law, a government lawyer must proactively identify and provide the appropriate client representative with written confirmation of the scope and pertinent details of the government lawyer's representation. The writing must also confirm that the client representative is usually not an individual client of the government law firm. Where the government lawyer also functions as the client representative, such notice is not required proactively identify and provide the appropriate client representative with written confirmation of the scope and pertinent details of the government lawyer's representation. The writing must also confirm that the client representative is usually not an individual client of the government law firm. Where the government lawyer also functions as the client representative, such notice is not required. (f) A government lawyer must advise government officials, as well as any other client representative when appropriate, of the identity of the lawyer's client, the nature of the relationship between the government lawyer and the client representative, the potential impact of the government lawyer's other legal duties on the representation, and the circumstances under which a client representative may be treated as a separate client of the government lawyer. See ER 1.13 and ER 4.3 for further guidance.