(a) This part defines the professional ethical obligations of, and applies to, all ``covered attorneys.''
(b) ``Covered attorneys'' include:
(1) The following U.S. Government (USG) attorneys, referred to, collectively, as ``covered USG attorneys'' throughout this part:
(i) All active-duty Navy judge advocates (designator 2500 or 2505) or Marine Corps judge advocates (MOS 4402 or 9914).
(ii) All active-duty judge advocates of other U.S. armed forces who practice law or provide legal services under the cognizance and supervision of the JAG.
(iii) All civil service and contracted civilian attorneys who practice law or perform legal services under the cognizance and supervision of the JAG.
(iv) All Reserve or Retired judge advocates of the Navy or Marine Corps (and any other U.S. armed force), who, while performing official DON duties, practice law or provide legal services under the cognizance and supervision of the JAG.
(v) All other attorneys appointed by JAG (or the Director, Judge Advocate (JA) Division, Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC), in Marine Corps matters) to serve in billets or to provide legal services normally provided by Navy or Marine Corps judge advocates. This policy applies to officer and enlisted reservists, to active-duty personnel, and to any other personnel who are licensed to practice law by any Federal or state authorities, but who are not members of the Judge Advocate General's Corps or who do not hold the 4402 or 9914 designation in the Marine Corps.
(2) The following non-U.S. Government attorneys, referred to, collectively, as ``covered non-USG attorneys'' throughout this part: All civilian attorneys representing individuals in any matter for which JAG is charged with supervising the provision of legal services. These matters include, but are not limited to, courts-martial, administrative separation boards or hearings, and disability evaluation proceedings.
(3) The term ``covered attorney'' does not include those civil service or civilian attorneys who practice law or perform legal services under the cognizance and supervision of the General Counsel of the Navy.
(c) Professional or personal misconduct unrelated to a covered attorney's DON activities, while normally outside the ambit of these rules, may be reviewed under procedures established in subpart C of this part and may provide the basis for decisions by the JAG regarding the covered attorney's continued qualification to provide legal services in DON matters.
(d) Although the Rules in subpart B of this part do not apply to non-attorneys, they do define the type of ethical conduct that the public and the military community have a right to expect from DON legal personnel. Covered USG attorneys who supervise non-attorney DON employees are responsible for their ethical conduct to the extent provided for in Sec. 776.55 of this part. Accordingly, subpart B of this part shall serve as a model of ethical conduct for the following personnel when involved with the delivery of legal services under the supervision of the JAG:
(1) Navy legalmen and Marine Corps legal administrative officers, legal service specialists, and legal services reporters (stenotype);
(2) Limited duty officers (LAW);
(3) Legal interns; and
(4) Civilian support personnel including paralegals, legal secretaries, legal technicians, secretaries, court reporters, and others holding similar positions.