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.

The major functions of PRAO are to:

Provide definitive advice to government attorneys and the leadership at the Department on issues relating to professional responsibility.

Assemble and maintain the rules of professional conduct, 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 professional responsibility 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 rules of professional conduct.

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.