Rule 1.0 Terminology

(a) "Belief" or "believes" denotes that the person involved actually supposed the fact in question to be true. A person's belief may be inferred from circumstances.

(b) "Confirmed in writing," when used in reference to the informed consent of a person, denotes informed consent that is given in writing by the person or a writing that a lawyer promptly transmits to the person confirming an oral informed consent. See paragraph (e) for the definition of "informed consent." If it is not feasible to obtain or transmit the writing at the time the person gives informed consent, then the lawyer must obtain or transmit it within a reasonable time thereafter.
 

(c) "Firm" or "law firm" denotes a partnership, professional company, or other entity or a sole proprietorship through which a lawyer or lawyers render legal services; or lawyers employed in a legal services organization or the legal department of a corporation or other organization.
 

(d) "Fraud" or "fraudulent" denotes conduct that is fraudulent under the substantive or procedural law of the applicable jurisdiction and has a purpose to deceive.
 

(e) "Informed consent" denotes the agreement by a person to a proposed course of conduct after the lawyer has communicated adequate information and explanation about the material risks of and reasonably available alternatives to the proposed course of conduct.

(f) "Knowingly," "known," or "knows" denotes actual knowledge of the fact in question. A person's knowledge may be inferred from circumstances.
 

(g) "Partner" denotes a member of a partnership, an owner of a professional company, or a member of an association authorized to practice law.

(1) "Professional company" has the meaning ascribed to the term in C.R.C.P. 265.

(h) "Reasonable" or "reasonably" when used in relation to conduct by a lawyer denotes the conduct of a reasonably prudent and competent lawyer.

(i) "Reasonable belief" or "reasonably believes" when used in reference to a lawyer denotes that the lawyer believes the matter in question and that the circumstances are such that the belief is reasonable.

(j) "Reasonably should know" when used in reference to a lawyer denotes that a lawyer of reasonable prudence and competence would ascertain the matter in question.

(k) "Screened" denotes the isolation of a lawyer from any participation in a matter through the timely imposition of procedures within a firm that are reasonably adequate under the circumstances to protect information that the isolated lawyer is obligated to protect under these Rules or other law.

(l) "Substantial" when used in reference to degree or extent denotes a material matter of clear and weighty importance.

(m) "Tribunal" denotes a court, an arbitrator in a binding arbitration proceeding or a legislative body, administrative agency or other body acting in an adjudicative capacity. A legislative body, administrative agency or other body acts in an adjudicative capacity when a neutral official, after the presentation of evidence or legal argument by a party or parties, will render a binding legal judgment directly affecting a party's interests in a particular matter.

(n) "Writing" or "written" denotes a tangible or electronic record of a communication or representation, including handwriting, typewriting, printing, photostating, photography, audio or videorecording and e-mail. A "signed" writing includes an electronic sound, symbol or process attached to or logically associated with a writing and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign the writing.

History. Amended October 17, 1997, effective January 1, 1997; entire Appendix repealed and readopted April 12, 2007, effective January 1, 2008; (c) and (g) amended and effective February 26, 2009.

Case Notes:

ANNOTATION

Law reviews.For article, "Private Screening", see 38 Colo. Law. 59 (June 2009).

Cross References:

Law reviews: For article, "Colorado's New Rules of Professional Conduct: A More Comprehensive and Useful Guide for Lawyers", see 21 Colo. Law. 2101 (1992); for article, "Colorado's Rules of Professional Conduct: Implications for Criminal Lawyers", see 21 Colo. Law. 2559 (1992); for article, "So You Want to Be a 'Temp': Ethics and Temporary Attorney Relationships", see 24 Colo. Law. 805 (1995); for article, "The New Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct: A Survey of the Most Important Changes", see 36 Colo. Law. 71 (August 2007); for article, "Contract Lawyering: Benefits and Obstacles", see 37 Colo. Law. 61 (January 2008).