Ethics Opinion 1277: Crowdfunding on behalf of indigent clients
Opinion 1277 (11/26/2024) Topic: Crowdfunding on behalf of indigent clients Digest: A non-profit criminal defense organization may set up and administer GoFundMe pages for the benefit of indigent current clients, provided that the financial assistance is rendered as gifts, not…
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Ethics Opinion 1276: Fake social media accounts offering legal services
Opinion 1276 (10/23/2024) Topic: Fake social media accounts offering legal services Digest: A lawyer who knows that an unknown or unidentified person is creating fake social media accounts in order to scam the public has no duty under the Rules…
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Ethics Opinion 1275: Disciplinary Authority and Choice of Law; Immigration Practice
Opinion 1275 (10/23/2024) Topic: Disciplinary Authority and Choice of Law; Immigration Practice Digest: A lawyer admitted to practice in New York who principally practices before federal immigration courts in another state must comply with any reporting obligations in that state’s…
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Ethics Opinion 1274: Conflicts of Interest, Former Clients, Government Lawyers
Opinion 1274 (09/12/2024) Topic: Conflicts of interest, former clients, government lawyers Digest: A lawyer employed in the counsel’s office of a state agency would not have a conflict in representing the agency in an enforcement action against a client the…
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Ethics Opinion 1273: Referral of real estate matters to lawyer from real estate broker who is also employed by lawyer as an associate
Opinion 1273 (08/28/2024) Topic: Referral of real estate matters to lawyer from real estate broker who is also employed by lawyer as an associate Digest: A lawyer may accept real estate clients referred by an associate in the lawyer’s firm…
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Ethics Opinion 1272: Conflict of Interest when part-time Department of Social Services Attorney represents clients adverse to Department of Social Services
Opinion 1272 (08/27/2024) Topic: Conflict of Interest when part-time Department of Social Services Attorney represents clients adverse to Department of Social Services Digest: Regardless of the scope of a part-time attorney’s work for a county Department of Social Services (“DSS”),…
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Ethics Opinion 1271: Sharing of Legal Fees with Non-Lawyer; Impermissible Referral Fees; Non-Refundable Retainer
Opinion 1271 (08/20/2024) Topic: Sharing of Legal Fees with Non-Lawyer; Impermissible Referral Fees; Non- Refundable Retainer Digest: A lawyer violates Rule 5.4(a), which prohibits a lawyer from sharing legal fees with a non-lawyer, if she pays a percentage of…
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Ethics Opinion 1270: Engagement letters; Recording attorney-client communications; Withdrawing from employment; Advance consent to withdrawal
Topic: Engagement letters; Recording attorney-client communications; Withdrawing from employment; Advance consent to withdrawal. Digest: A lawyer’s engagement letter or retainer agreement may prohibit the client from making audio or video recordings of communications between the lawyer and client provided…
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Ethics Opinion 1269: Part-Time Judge; Part-Time Public Defender; Conflict of Interest
Topic: Part-Time Judge; Part-Time Public Defender; Conflict of Interest Digest: A part-time assistant public defender whose law partner is both his cousin and a part-time town court judge may not represent clients of the public defender’s office in the town…
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Ethics Opinion 1268: Confidential information; publication of article about issues arising in a case handled by the lawyer
Topic: Confidential information; publication of article about issues arising in a case handled by the lawyer Digest: After the termination of the representation, a lawyer may publish an article that discusses legal issues in the representation, as long as the…
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