Under what condition may a lawyer be held responsible for another's violation of the Rules?

A lawyer may be held responsible for another's violation of the Rules if they order or ratify the conduct with knowledge. This principle is rooted in the idea that accountability in a legal practice is not solely about individual actions but also about the responsibility of supervising or facilitating misconduct. When a lawyer is aware of another's misconduct and either approves of it (ratifies) or directs it (orders), they share in the culpability because they have exercised control over the situation, thus undermining the ethical standards of the profession.

The rationale here is that ethical compliance is a collective responsibility in legal practice. It is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the legal profession that lawyers actively promote adherence to the Rules of Professional Conduct, not only in their own practices but also in the behaviors of those they manage or advise. Therefore, a lawyer's knowledge and active participation in directing or approving misconduct directly implicates them in any violations that occur.