Professional Responsibility Advisory Office

Professional Responsibility Advisory Office Organizational Chart

History

In 1994, the Department recognized the need for a program dedicated to resolving professional responsibility issues facing Department attorneys.  As a result, the Department established the Professional Responsibility Officer Program.  After passage of 28 U.S.C. 530B (the McDade Amendment), which applied the state, District of Columbia, and territorial rules of professional conduct to federal attorneys, the Department established the Professional Responsibility Advisory Office (PRAO) on April 19, 1999.  As an independent component within the Department, PRAO reports to the Deputy Attorney General.

Mission

PRAO’s primary mission is to provide professional responsibility advice, litigation support, and training to Department officials and attorneys.  

Major Functions

PRAO’s major functions are to:

• Provide professional responsibility advice to the Department’s leadership and attorneys regarding policy initiatives and criminal, civil, and national security matters.   
• Deliver nation-wide professional responsibility training to Department attorneys and to individual Department components and offices.  
• Serve as the Department’s liaison to state and national bar organizations in matters related to the interpretation, revision, and implementation of the  rules of professional conduct.
• Advise Department attorneys accused of professional misconduct and coordinate with other Department components to defend attorneys against allegations that they failed to meet their professional responsibility obligations.
• Perform other duties and assignments determined by the Attorney General or Deputy Attorney General.