HARRISBURG (June 28, 2001) - The president of the Pennsylvania Bar Association today commended the action of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in adding Rule 1.17 to the Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct to allow for the sale of a law practice by a disabled lawyer or the estate of a deceased lawyer.

�This order is a giant step forward in protecting the clients of disabled and deceased lawyers,� said PBA President H. Reginald Belden Jr. of Greensburg. �This Rule will ensure that client representation is not in jeopardy when a sole practitioner becomes disabled or dies.�

The Pennsylvania Bar Association�s Solo and Small Firm Section first advocated the court�s adoption of Rule 1.17 in 1995. The PBA House of Delegates approved a resolution in support of the Rule in May 1995, and the PBA has worked since that time for its adoption by the Supreme Court.

�Rule 1.17 has the added benefit of enabling the families of disabled or deceased lawyers to have an orderly transfer of the professional duties and responsibilities of their loved ones to a trusted colleague,� said Belden.