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32 CFR § 776.54 - Responsibilities of a subordinate attorney.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t32/s776.54"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "32 CFR § 776.54 - Responsibilities of a subordinate attorney."
title_number: 32
title_name: "National Defense"
section_number: "776.54"
section_name: "Responsibilities of a subordinate attorney."
chapter_name: "DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY"
subchapter_number: "G"
subchapter_name: "MISCELLANEOUS RULES"
part_number: "776"
part_name: "PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT OF ATTORNEYS PRACTICING UNDER THE COGNIZANCE AND SUPERVISION OF THE JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "10 U.S.C. 806, 806a, 826, 827, 1044; Manual for Courts-Martial, United States, 2012; U.S. Navy Regulations, 1990; Department of Defense Instruction 1442.02 (series); Secretary of the Navy Instruction 5430.27 (series), Responsibility of the Judge Advocate General of the Navy and the Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant of the Marine Corps for Supervision and Provision of Certain Legal Services."
regulatory_source: "80 FR 68389, Nov. 4, 2015; 80 FR 73991, Nov. 27, 2015, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "776"
---

# 776.54 Responsibilities of a subordinate attorney.

(a) A covered attorney is bound by this part notwithstanding that the covered attorney acted at the direction of another person.

(b) In recognition of the judge advocate's unique dual role as a commissioned officer and attorney, subordinate judge advocates shall obey lawful directives and regulations of supervisory attorneys when not inconsistent with this part or the duty of a judge advocate to exercise independent professional judgment as to the best interest of an individual client.

(c) A subordinate covered attorney does not violate this part if that covered attorney acts in accordance with a supervisory attorney's written and reasonable resolution of an arguable question of professional duty.

(d) [Reserved]