# Rule 7, Rule 413, SCACR: Rule 7. GROUNDS FOR DISCIPLINE; SANCTIONS IMPOSED; DEFERRED DISCIPLINE AGREEMENT

> South Carolina · Court rules · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_SC_SCACR_413_R7

## Section

- **Citation:** Rule 7, Rule 413, SCACR
- **Heading:** Rule 7. GROUNDS FOR DISCIPLINE; SANCTIONS IMPOSED; DEFERRED DISCIPLINE AGREEMENT
- **Jurisdiction:** South Carolina
- **Kind:** Court rules
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** South Carolina Court Rules / South Carolina Appellate Court Rules / 413 / Rule 7, Rule 413, SCACR

## Text

RULE 7
GROUNDS FOR DISCIPLINE; SANCTIONS IMPOSED; DEFERRED DISCIPLINE AGREEMENT
(a) Grounds for Discipline.
It shall be a ground for discipline for a lawyer to:
(1)
violate or attempt to violate the Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 407, SCACR, or any other rules of this jurisdiction regarding professional conduct of lawyers;
(2)
engage in conduct violating applicable rules of professional conduct of another jurisdiction;
(3)
willfully violate a valid order of the Supreme Court, Commission or panels of the Commission in a proceeding under these rules, willfully fail to appear personally as directed, willfully fail to comply with a subpoena issued under these rules, or knowingly fail to respond to a lawful demand from a disciplinary authority to include a request for a response or appearance under Rule 19(b)(1), (c)(3) or (c)(4);
(4)
be convicted of a crime of moral turpitude or a serious crime;
(5)
engage in conduct tending to pollute the administration of justice or to bring the courts or the legal profession into disrepute or conduct demonstrating an unfitness to practice law;
(6)
violate the oath of office taken to practice law in this state and contained in Rule 402, SCACR;
(7)
willfully violate a valid court order issued by a court of this state or of another jurisdiction;
(8)
employ a person in violation of Rule 34;
(9)
willfully fail to comply with the terms of a finally accepted deferred disciplinary agreement or any terms of a finally accepted agreement for discipline by consent; and,
(10)
willfully fail to comply with a final decision of the Resolution of Fee Disputes Board.
violate a valid court order issued by a court of this state or of another jurisdiction;
(8)
employ a person in violation of Rule 34;
(9)
willfully fail to comply with the terms of a finally accepted deferred disciplinary agreement or any terms of a finally accepted agreement for discipline by consent; and,
(10)
willfully fail to comply with a final decision of the Resolution of Fee Disputes Board.
(b) Sanctions.
Misconduct shall be grounds for one or more of the following sanctions:
(1)
disbarment;
(2)
suspension for a definite period from the office of attorney at law. The period of the suspension shall not exceed 3 years and shall be set by the Supreme Court;
(3)
public reprimand;
(4)
admonition, provided that an admonition may be used in subsequent proceedings as evidence of prior misconduct solely upon the issue of sanction to be imposed;
(5)
restitution to persons financially injured, repayment of unearned or inequitable attorney's fees or costs advanced by the client, and reimbursement to the Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection;
(6)
assessment of the costs of the proceedings, including the cost of hearings, investigations, prosecution, service of process and court reporter services;
(7)
assessment of a fine;
(8)
limitations on the nature and extent of the lawyer's future practice;
(9)
debarment;
(10)
any other sanction or requirement as the Supreme Court may determine is appropriate.
Last amended by Order dated August 8, 2018.

## Nearby sections

- [Rule 1, Rule 413, SCACR Rule 1. PURPOSE](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_SC_SCACR_413_R1.md)
- [Rule 2, Rule 413, SCACR Rule 2. TERMINOLOGY](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_SC_SCACR_413_R2.md)
- [Rule 3, Rule 413, SCACR Rule 3. THE COMMISSION ON LAWYER CONDUCT](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_SC_SCACR_413_R3.md)
- [Rule 4, Rule 413, SCACR Rule 4. ORGANIZATION AND AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSION](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_SC_SCACR_413_R4.md)
- [Rule 5, Rule 413, SCACR Rule 5. DISCIPLINARY COUNSEL](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_SC_SCACR_413_R5.md)
- [Rule 6, Rule 413, SCACR Rule 6. COMMISSION COUNSEL](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_SC_SCACR_413_R6.md)
- [Rule 7, Rule 413, SCACR Rule 7. GROUNDS FOR DISCIPLINE; SANCTIONS IMPOSED; DEFERRED DISCIPLINE AGREEMENT](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_SC_SCACR_413_R7.md)
- [Rule 8, Rule 413, SCACR Rule 8. PROOF](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_SC_SCACR_413_R8.md)
- [Rule 9, Rule 413, SCACR Rule 9. CIVIL RULES APPLICABLE](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_SC_SCACR_413_R9.md)
- [Rule 10, Rule 413, SCACR Rule 10. RIGHT TO COUNSEL](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_SC_SCACR_413_R10.md)
- [Rule 11, Rule 413, SCACR Rule 11. EX PARTE CONTACTS](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_SC_SCACR_413_R11.md)
- [Rule 12, Rule 413, SCACR Rule 12. ACCESS TO DISCIPLINARY INFORMATION](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_SC_SCACR_413_R12.md)
- [Rule 13, Rule 413, SCACR Rule 13. IMMUNITY FROM CIVIL SUITS](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_SC_SCACR_413_R13.md)
- [Rule 14, Rule 413, SCACR Rule 14. TIME, SERVICE AND FILING](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_SC_SCACR_413_R14.md)

---

Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_SC_SCACR_413_R7. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.