# Ohio Gov.Bar R. III: Rule III. LEGAL PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AUTHORIZED TO PRACTICE LAW > Ohio · Court rules · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_OH_GOVBAR_RIII ## Section - **Citation:** Ohio Gov.Bar R. III - **Heading:** Rule III. LEGAL PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AUTHORIZED TO PRACTICE LAW - **Jurisdiction:** Ohio - **Kind:** Court rules - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** Ohio Rules of Court / Judges and Attorneys / Rules for the Government of the Bar of Ohio / Ohio Gov.Bar R. III ## Text LEGAL PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AUTHORIZED TO PRACTICE LAW Section 1. Firm Organization An attorney who is otherwise authorized to practice as an active attorney under Gov. Bar R. VI may practice law in Ohio, to the same extent as individuals and groups of individuals, through a legal professional association, corporation, or legal clinic, formed under Chapters 1701. or 1785. or licensed under Chapter 1703. of the Revised Code, a limited liability company, formed or registered under Chapter 1706. of the Revised Code, or a limited liability partnership, registered under former Chapter 1775. or Chapter 1776. of the Revised Code. Section 2. Name The name of a legal professional association, corporation, legal clinic, limited liability company, or limited liability partnership shall comply with Rule 7.5 of the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct. The name of a legal professional association or legal clinic shall end with the legend, “Co., LPA” or shall have immediately below it, in legible form, the words “A Legal Professional Association.” The name of a corporation, limited liability company, or limited liability partnership shall include a descriptive designation as required under sections 1701.05(A), 1706.07, or 1776.82, respectively, of the Revised Code. Section 3. Ethics and Discipline (A) Participation in a legal professional association, corporation, legal clinic, limited liability company, or limited liability partnership shall not relieve an attorney of or diminish any obligation under the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct or under these rules. uired under sections 1701.05(A), 1706.07, or 1776.82, respectively, of the Revised Code. Section 3. Ethics and Discipline (A) Participation in a legal professional association, corporation, legal clinic, limited liability company, or limited liability partnership shall not relieve an attorney of or diminish any obligation under the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct or under these rules. (B) An attorney shall not use a legal professional association, corporation, legal clinic, limited liability company, or limited liability partnership to share legal fees with a person not authorized to practice law in Ohio or elsewhere, except as permitted by Rule 5.4 of the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct. An attorney shall not participate in a legal professional association, corporation, legal clinic, limited liability company, or limited liability partnership in which a member, partner, or other equity holder is a person not authorized to practice law in Ohio or elsewhere, except as permitted by Rule 5.4 of the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct. (C) An attorney shall not use a legal professional association, corporation, legal clinic, limited liability company, or limited liability partnership to attempt to limit liability for his or her personal malpractice in violation of Rule 1.8 of the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct. (D) A legal professional association, corporation, legal clinic, limited liability company, or limited liability partnership in which an attorney is an officer, director, agent, employee, manager, member, partner, or equity holder shall be considered the attorney’s firm for purposes of the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct and these rules. Section 4. Financial Responsibility al Conduct. (D) A legal professional association, corporation, legal clinic, limited liability company, or limited liability partnership in which an attorney is an officer, director, agent, employee, manager, member, partner, or equity holder shall be considered the attorney’s firm for purposes of the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct and these rules. Section 4. Financial Responsibility (A) A legal professional association, corporation, legal clinic, limited liability company, or limited liability partnership shall maintain adequate professional liability insurance or other form of adequate financial responsibility for any liability of the firm arising from acts or omissions in the rendering of legal services by an officer, director, agent, employee, manager, member, partner, or equity holder. (1) “Adequate professional liability insurance” means one or more policies of attorneys’ professional liability insurance that insure the legal professional association, corporation, legal clinic, limited liability company, or limited liability partnership both: (a) In an amount for each claim, in excess of any deductible, of at least fifty thousand dollars multiplied by the number of attorneys practicing with the firm; and (b) An amount of one hundred thousand dollars for all claims during the policy year, multiplied by the number of attorneys practicing with the firm. No firm shall be required to carry insurance of more than five million dollars per claim, in excess of any deductible, or more than ten million dollars for all claims during the policy year, in excess of any deductible. icing with the firm; and (b) An amount of one hundred thousand dollars for all claims during the policy year, multiplied by the number of attorneys practicing with the firm. No firm shall be required to carry insurance of more than five million dollars per claim, in excess of any deductible, or more than ten million dollars for all claims during the policy year, in excess of any deductible. (2) “Other form of adequate financial responsibility” means funds, in an amount not less than the amount of professional liability insurance applicable to a firm under Section 4(A)(1) of this rule for all claims during the policy year, available to satisfy any liability of the firm arising from acts or omissions in the rendering of legal services by an officer, director, agent, employee, manager, member, partner, or equity holder. The funds shall be available in the form of a deposit in trust of cash, bank certificate of deposit, or United States Treasury obligation, a bank letter of credit, or a surety bond. (B) Each member, partner, or other equity holder of a legal professional association, corporation, legal clinic, limited liability company, or limited liability partnership shall be jointly and severally liable for any liability of the firm based upon a claim arising from acts or omissions in the rendering of legal services while he or she was a member, partner, or equity holder, in an amount not to exceed the aggregate of both of the following: (1) The per claim amount of professional liability insurance applicable to the firm under this rule, but only to the extent that the firm fails to have the professional liability insurance or other form of adequate financial responsibility required by this rule; rvices while he or she was a member, partner, or equity holder, in an amount not to exceed the aggregate of both of the following: (1) The per claim amount of professional liability insurance applicable to the firm under this rule, but only to the extent that the firm fails to have the professional liability insurance or other form of adequate financial responsibility required by this rule; (2) The deductible amount of the professional liability insurance applicable to the claim. The joint and several liability of the member, partner, or other equity holder shall be reduced to the extent that the liability of the firm has been satisfied by the assets of the firm. (C) Each officer, director, agent, employee, manager, member, partner or equity holder of a legal professional association, corporation, legal clinic, limited liability company, or limited liability partnership shall be liable for his or her own acts or omissions as provided by law, without prejudice to any contractual or other right that the person may be entitled to assert against a firm, an insurance carrier, or other third party. ## Nearby sections - [Ohio Gov.Bar R. I Rule I. ADMISSION TO THE PRACTICE OF LAW](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_OH_GOVBAR_RI.md) - [Ohio Gov.Bar R. II Rule II. LIMITED PRACTICE OF LAW BY A LEGAL INTERN](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_OH_GOVBAR_RII.md) - [Ohio Gov.Bar R. III Rule III. 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