Which rule governs the duty of confidentiality for lawyers?

The duty of confidentiality for lawyers is primarily governed by Rule 1.6 of the Model Rules of Professional Conduct. This rule establishes that a lawyer must not reveal information relating to the representation of a client unless the client gives informed consent or the disclosure is impliedly authorized to carry out the representation. This foundational principle ensures that clients can trust their attorneys with sensitive information without fear of unauthorized disclosure, which is central to maintaining the attorney-client privilege and fostering effective legal representation.

Other rules, while important to the practice of law, do not specifically address the duty of confidentiality in the same way. For example, Rule 1.5 pertains to the fees that attorneys charge and does not govern confidentiality directly. Rule 2.2 addresses the responsibilities of a lawyer as a mediator, but it does not cover confidentiality obligations in the lawyer-client relationship. Similarly, Rule 3.4 focuses on a lawyer's obligations concerning fairness to opposing parties and counsel, which is unrelated to the confidentiality of client information. Therefore, the focus on Rule 1.6 in governing the duty of confidentiality is both accurate and crucial to understanding a lawyer's ethical responsibilities.