Rule 6.4.Law Reform Activities Affecting Client Interests 
 A lawyer may serve as a director, officer or member of an 
 organization involved in reform of the law or its administration 
 notwithstanding that the reform may affect the interests of a client of 
 the lawyer.  When the lawyer knows or reasonably should know that the 
 interests of a client may be materially benefitted by a decision in 
 which the lawyer participates, the lawyer shall disclose that fact  to 
 the organization but need not identify the client. 
  
 

                                                                
ANNOTATIONSCOMMENT 
 Lawyers involved in organizations seeking law reform generally do 
 not have a client-lawyer relationship with the organization.  Otherwise, 
 it might follow that a lawyer could not be involved in a bar association 
 law reform program that might indirectly affect a client.  See also Rule 
 1.2(b).  For example, a lawyer specializing in antitrust litigation 
 might be regarded as disqualified from participating in drafting 
 revisions of rules governing that subject.  In determining the nature 
 and scope of participation in such activities, a lawyer should be 
 mindful of obligations to clients under other Rules, particularly Rule 
 1.7.  A lawyer is professionally obligated to protect the integrity of 
 the program by making an appropriate disclosure within the organization 
 when the lawyer knows or reasonably should know that a private client 
 might be materially benefitted. 
  
 COMMITTEE COMMENT 
 In addition to the principles contained in Ethical Consideration 
 2-33 and DR 5-101(A), this Rule draws on the principles contained in DR 
 8-101. 
  
  
  
 ANNOTATION 
  
 Annotator's note. 
 Rule 6.4 is similar to 
 DR 5-101 and DR 8-101 as they 
 existed prior to the 1992 repeal and reenactment of the Code of 
 Professional Responsibility. 
 Relevant cases construing 
 DR 5-101 have been included under Rule 1.7 and cases construing DR 8-101 have 
 been included under Rule 3.5.