Connecticut Rules of Professional Conduct (Connecticut Practice Book) 1.2: Follow the client's objectives, limit scope only with informed consent, and never assist crime or fraud

What does 1.2 require?

The lawyer follows the client's decisions about the goals of the representation and about settlement, consults the client on how those goals will be pursued, and in a criminal case defers to the client, after consultation, on the plea, on waiving a jury and on whether to testify. Connecticut adds that where a third party contractually bound to defend and indemnify the client chooses to settle without any contribution from the client, the client's consent to settle is implied unless revoked. The scope of the work may be narrowed only where that is reasonable and the client gives informed consent, except that no consent is needed when a client being defended under a third-party contract cannot be found after reasonable efforts. The lawyer may not counsel or help a client in conduct the lawyer knows is criminal or fraudulent, though the lawyer may discuss the legal consequences of a proposed course, help the client make a good-faith effort to test the validity, scope, meaning or application of a law, or counsel conduct that Connecticut law expressly permits while explaining its consequences under other law.