Practice question from The Client-Lawyer Relationship

Which of the following is a decision that belongs to the CLIENT, not the attorney, in civil litigation? A. Which witnesses to call at trial B. What discovery requests to file C. Whether to accept a settlement offer D. Which legal theories to pursue E. What motions to file with the court

Answer

C

Explanation

Under Rule 1.2(a), the client controls the objectives of representation, while the lawyer controls the means. Settlement authority is a decision about objectives - it determines whether to end the case and on what terms. This belongs to the client. The other options (witnesses, discovery, legal theories, motions) are all decisions about means/strategy that belong to the attorney, though the attorney should consult with the client.

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