I will say i don’t believe they are supposed to consider other factors like this. this is about his fitness to be a lawyer, not punishment.

But then these rules are carried out by human beings, so who knows? but its not supposed to be as you imagined.

Here’s a link to the model rules of professional conduct which is notably not adopted in my state in regard to sexual relations. http://www.abanet.org/cpr/mrpc/rule_1_8.html

Virginia takes the view that multiple other general rules on conduct apply sufficiently to sexual relations so that they don’t have to spell it out.

the police arrested him for solicitation of prostitution. And he was disbarred.

Certainly he should be arrested for it, unless the statute of limitations has run. People don’t really think about it but quid pro quo sexual harrassment, as in “sleep with me or you are fired” or “sleep with me and i will give you free services” is solicitation of prostitution. and if you acquiesce, you just remove the word “solicitation” from the mix and move up to actual prostitution.

“We have three ways to pay: Cash, credit or couch.”

“We don’t get paid till you get . . .”

I’m sure some others come to mind.