Under Rule 5.2, if there is an arguable question of professional duty, the subordinate lawyer should:

Under Rule 5.2, if there is an arguable question of professional duty, the subordinate lawyer should:

• A. Follow the supervisor's directive.
• B. Disregard the supervisor's directive.
• C. Follow the supervisor's directive only if there is no arguable duty.
• D. Follow the supervisor if there is an arguable question of professional duty.

Answer: (D)

Rule 5.2 sets the standard for a subordinate lawyer when there’s a question about what the professional duties require. If there’s an arguable question of professional duty, the subordinate should follow the supervisor’s directive. The idea is that the supervising attorney’s judgment guides day-to-day decisions and helps ensure consistent and efficient representation, provided the directive does not clearly require violating the Rules. In practice, the subordinate should comply while also seeking to resolve any doubt about the duty—through discussion with the supervisor or by obtaining further advice—so that the issue can be clarified without undermining the client’s interests or the firm’s operations. If a directive would require violating the Rules, then the subordinate must not follow it.

Rule 5.2 sets the standard for a subordinate lawyer when there’s a question about what the professional duties require. If there’s an arguable question of professional duty, the subordinate should follow the supervisor’s directive. The idea is that the supervising attorney’s judgment guides day-to-day decisions and helps ensure consistent and efficient representation, provided the directive does not clearly require violating the Rules. In practice, the subordinate should comply while also seeking to resolve any doubt about the duty—through discussion with the supervisor or by obtaining further advice—so that the issue can be clarified without undermining the client’s interests or the firm’s operations. If a directive would require violating the Rules, then the subordinate must not follow it.