It shall be the duty of every attorney to maintain originals, copies or computer-generated images of the following:
(1) records which identify the name and last known address of each of the attorney’s clients and which reflect whether the representation of the client is ongoing or concluded; and
(2) all financial records related to the attorney’s practice, for a period of not less than seven years, including but not limited to bank statements, time and billing records, checks, check stubs, journals, ledgers, audits, financial statements, tax returns and tax reports.
Adopted October 20, 1989, effective November 1, 1989; amended July 18, 1990, effective August 1, 1990 Adopted December 2, 1986, effective January 1, 1987; amended June 12, 1987, effective August 1, 1987; amended November 25, 1987, effective November 25, 1987; amended August 6, 1993, effective immediately; amended October 15, 1993, effective immediately; amended March 26, 2001, effective immediately; amended April 1, 2003, effective immediately.
Committee Comment(April 1, 2003)
This amendment gives attorneys the option of maintaining records in forms that save space and reduce cost without increasing the risk of premature destruction. For example, CDs and DVDs have a normal life exceeding seven years, so an attorney might use them to maintain financial records. At present, however, floppy disks, tapes, hard drives, zip drives, and other magnetic media have insufficient normal life to meet the requirements of this rule.