What is mandatory under Rule 1.4 regarding client communication?

Under Rule 1.4, which addresses communication between lawyers and their clients, it is mandatory for a lawyer to promptly respond to reasonable requests for information from a client. This rule emphasizes the importance of maintaining an open line of communication throughout the representation. Promptly responding to clients' inquiries ensures that they are kept informed about their case, aware of any developments, and able to make informed decisions regarding their legal matters. This commitment to communication fosters trust and strengthens the lawyer-client relationship, which is foundational in the practice of law.

In contrast, the other choices do not align with the requirements set forth in Rule 1.4. Keeping all communications confidential is a vital principle in legal practice, but it does not directly address the specific obligations of communication under Rule 1.4. Limiting communication to only important updates reduces transparency and could leave clients feeling uninformed. Additionally, only reaching out to clients at the end of a case would undermine the continuous engagement expected from a lawyer throughout the legal process, potentially leading to misunderstandings and dissatisfaction from the client. Hence, the expectation of prompt responses to reasonable requests stands out as the key requirement.