United States District Court
Northern District Of Illinois
Local Rules
LR83.54.3. Dealing with Unrepresented Person
In dealing on behalf of a client with a person who is not represented by
counsel, a lawyer shall not state or imply that the lawyer is disinterested. When
the lawyer knows or reasonably should know that the unrepresented person
misunderstands the lawyer’s role in the matter, the lawyer shall make reasonable efforts to correct the
misunderstanding.
Committee Comment. An unrepresented person, particularly one not experienced in dealing with
legal matters, might assume that a lawyer is disinterested in loyalties or is a
disinterested authority on the law even when the lawyer represents a client.
During the course of a lawyer’s representation of a client, the lawyer should not give advice to an
unrepresented person other than the advice to obtain counsel.