---
title: "Advise on a decision that affects a lawyer's licence to practise"
url: "https://ailawframework.com/practice/professional-discipline-and-occupational-regulation/advise-on-a-practising-certificate-or-licence-decision/united-states"
type: "task_jurisdiction_version"
site: "AI Law Framework"
id: "A63-H20261018-8-US"
practice_area: "Professional Discipline & Occupational Regulation"
tier: "red"
lawyer_review: "required"
jurisdictions: ["US"]
last_reviewed: "2026-10-22"
---

# Advise on a decision that affects a lawyer's licence to practise

> List the decision, the conduct it describes, where the conduct occurred, and where the lawyer is admitted. Write no sentence of the advice.

Canonical page: https://ailawframework.com/practice/professional-discipline-and-occupational-regulation/advise-on-a-practising-certificate-or-licence-decision/united-states  
Last reviewed: 2026-10-22

Site index for agents: https://ailawframework.com/llms.txt

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Practice area | [Professional Discipline & Occupational Regulation](https://ailawframework.com/practice/professional-discipline-and-occupational-regulation.md) |
| Human involvement | Red: Lawyer writes; AI may check, clarify or collect data |
| How AI is used | List the decision, the conduct it describes, where the conduct occurred, and where the lawyer is admitted. Write no sentence of the advice. |
| What the lawyer must review | You write the advice. Model Rule 8.5(a) says a lawyer admitted in a jurisdiction is subject to its disciplinary authority regardless of where the conduct occurs, and a lawyer not admitted there is subject to it if the lawyer provides or offers to provide any legal services there. The same conduct may be subject to two jurisdictions. For conduct in connection with a matter pending before a tribunal, Rule 8.5(b)(1) applies the rules of the jurisdiction where the tribunal sits, unless the tribunal's rules provide otherwise. For other conduct, apply the rules of the jurisdiction where the conduct occurred, or, if the predominant effect is elsewhere, the rules of that jurisdiction. A lawyer is not subject to discipline if the conduct conforms to the rules of a jurisdiction in which the lawyer reasonably believes the predominant effect will occur. Model Rule 11 provides for court review of a suspension or disbarment, as described in that model, with bracketed times that are not a state's rule. Model Rule 8.4 is a model. Paragraph (c) covers conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation. Paragraph (g) covers harassment or discrimination, that the lawyer knows or reasonably should know, on the bases the paragraph lists, in conduct related to the practice of law. Paragraph (g) states that it does not preclude legitimate advice or advocacy consistent with the Rules. Whether the jurisdiction has adopted paragraph (g) was not checked. This advice does not cover a decision to grant or refuse an initial licence on character and fitness. Model Rule 8.1 was not opened. |
| Written for | United States |
| Applies to | [Advise on a practising certificate or licence decision](https://ailawframework.com/practice/professional-discipline-and-occupational-regulation/advise-on-a-practising-certificate-or-licence-decision.md) |

## Checking plan

- What the AI does: List the decision, the conduct it describes, where the conduct occurred, and where the lawyer is admitted. Write no sentence of the advice.
- Basis: Checked against the linked sources on 22 October 2026. Confirm the current instrument before reliance.

## Notes

- Do not state a character-and-fitness standard. Model Rule 8.1 and the admitting authority's rule were not opened.
- A tax practitioner may also face Circular 230. That regime was not applied in this advice.

## Sources

- [ABA Model Rule 8.5, Disciplinary authority and choice of law](https://www.americanbar.org/groups/professional_responsibility/publications/model_rules_of_professional_conduct/rule_8_5_disciplinary_authority_choice_of_law/) (checked 2026-10-22)
- [ABA Model Rule 8.4, Misconduct](https://www.americanbar.org/groups/professional_responsibility/publications/model_rules_of_professional_conduct/rule_8_4_misconduct/) (checked 2026-10-22)
- [ABA Model Rules for Lawyer Disciplinary Enforcement, Rule 11](https://www.americanbar.org/groups/professional_responsibility/resources/lawyer_ethics_regulation/model_rules_for_lawyer_disciplinary_enforcement/rule_11/) (checked 2026-10-22)

## Forms and precedents for this task

| Form or precedent | Kind | AI level | Summary |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Show cause event: notice, fitness statement and deadline checklist (Uniform Law)](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/professional-discipline-and-occupational-regulation/show-cause-event-notice-and-fitness-statement.md) | Checklist | Yellow | Checklist for a lawyer who must notify a show cause event or answer a designated show cause notice: which path applies, the 7-day and 28-day steps, and what the statement has to explain. |
| [Application to review a decision (QCAT Form 23)](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/professional-discipline-and-occupational-regulation/form-qld-qcat-23-review-decision.md) | Form | Yellow | Link to QCAT Form 23, the application to review a decision. The forms page places it with occupational regulation and again in the general forms. |
| [Structure for advice on a practising certificate or licensing outcome](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/professional-discipline-and-occupational-regulation/certificate-outcome-advice-structure.md) | Memo | Red | Headings for a lawyer's advice to a practitioner on what a certificate or licensing authority may do, and what the practitioner should do next. The lawyer writes the advice. |
| [Health practitioner immediate action: show cause and decision checklist (Ahpra)](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/professional-discipline-and-occupational-regulation/health-practitioner-immediate-action-show-cause.md) | Checklist | Yellow | Checklist for a health practitioner who is told a National Board proposes immediate action: the proposed action, the submission, the decision, the public register, and whether an appeal is open. |

Signed-in accounts can read the full text of each one.

*Practice guidance for planning and review. Confirm current primary sources and the requirements of the actual matter. This is general information, not legal advice.*