Under professional responsibility, which topic covers the attorney's obligations regarding the client's goals, settlement decisions, and decisions about testifying?

Under professional responsibility, which topic covers the attorney's obligations regarding the client's goals, settlement decisions, and decisions about testifying?

• A. Duties after termination
• B. Scope of Representation
• C. Termination - Mandatory
• D. Fees

Answer: (B)

The key idea is the scope of representation. This area sets who gets to make the big strategic calls in a case—the client or the attorney. The attorney must follow the client’s objectives and decisions about how to pursue the matter, including whether to settle and whether the client will testify. The lawyer provides informed advice and may push back or explain consequences, but ultimate authority on settlement offers, plea decisions, and whether to testify rests with the client. That’s why this topic fits: it directly governs how much control the client has over these pivotal strategic choices and how the attorney must respond to and implement the client’s decisions. The other listed topics cover different duties—what happens after representation ends, mandatory withdrawal rules, and fee-related issues—rather than the client’s control over goals and decisions like settlement and testifying.

The key idea is the scope of representation. This area sets who gets to make the big strategic calls in a case—the client or the attorney. The attorney must follow the client’s objectives and decisions about how to pursue the matter, including whether to settle and whether the client will testify. The lawyer provides informed advice and may push back or explain consequences, but ultimate authority on settlement offers, plea decisions, and whether to testify rests with the client. That’s why this topic fits: it directly governs how much control the client has over these pivotal strategic choices and how the attorney must respond to and implement the client’s decisions. The other listed topics cover different duties—what happens after representation ends, mandatory withdrawal rules, and fee-related issues—rather than the client’s control over goals and decisions like settlement and testifying.