The mission of the PRAO is to ensure prompt, consistent advice to
Department attorneys and Assistant United States Attorneys with respect
to professional responsibility and choice-of-law issues.
Provide definitive advice to government attorneys and the leadership
at the Department on issues relating to professional responsibility.
Assemble and maintain the codes of ethics, including, inter alia, all relevant interpretative decisions and bar opinions of the District of Columbia and every state and territory, and other reference materials.
Provide coordination with the litigating components of the Department
to defend Department attorneys and Assistant United States Attorneys
in any disciplinary or other hearing where it is alleged that they
failed to meet their ethical obligations.
Serve as liaison with the state and federal bar associations in
matters related to the implementation and interpretation of 28 U.S.C.
530B (the Ethical Standards for Attorneys for the Government Act)
and any amendments and revisions to the various state ethics codes.
Coordinate with other Department components to conduct training
for Department attorneys and client agencies to provide them with
the tools to make informed judgments about the circumstances that
require their compliance with 28 U.S.C. 530B (the Ethical Standards
for Attorneys for the Government Act) or that otherwise implicate
professional responsibility concerns.
Perform such other duties and assignments as determined from time
to time by the Attorney General or the Deputy Attorney General.