In October 2024, the Texas Supreme Court adopted amendments to Texas Disciplinary Rule of Professional Conduct 5.01, the rule regarding responsibilities of a partner or supervisory lawyer.  The amendments impose new requirements on lawyers regarding their oversight of other lawyers.  

The most significant change applies to lawyers who have managerial authority in a law firm. These lawyers must now “make reasonable efforts to ensure that the firm has in effect measures giving reasonable assurance that all lawyers in the firm conform to [the] Rules.”  TDRPC 5.01(a). Comment 1 to Rule 5.01 states that this means lawyers with managerial authority are required to “make reasonable efforts to establish internal policies and procedures designed to provide assurance that all lawyers in the firm conform” with the TDRPC. Rule 5.01, cmt. 1. The policies and procedures specifically identified in Comment 1 include those designed to: 

detect and resolve conflicts of interest,   identify dates by which actions must be taken in pending matters,   account for client funds and property, and   ensure that inexperienced lawyers are properly supervised.  

See Rule 5.01, cmt. 1. If a supervised lawyer violates a disciplinary…