Topic: Virtual law office; advertising a VLO as the lawyer’s office address Digest: A New York lawyer’s website, advertisements, letterhead, and business cards may designate and hold out a virtual law office (“VLO”) as the lawyer’s physical office address, even if the lawyer works primarily from home in New York. As long as the … Continued
Opinion 1300 (08/31/2026) Topic: Imputation of conflicts when the relative of an attorney in a public defender office is a government official Digest: If a public defender office is a government office (as opposed to a non-government public defender office), then a public defender’s conflict of interest arising under Rule 1.7(a)(2) based on personal interests … Continued
Committee on Professional Ethics Opinion 1299 (08/31/2026) Topic: Description of foreign lawyer who has passed bar examination but is not admitted Digest: If a lawyer’s bill is sufficiently detailed, a lawyer may charge the client for time spent explaining the lawyer’s bill, after putting the client on notice that the time will be billed, insofar … Continued
Committee on Professional Ethics Opinion 1298 (08/11/2026) Topic: Description of foreign lawyer who has passed bar examination but is not admitted Digest: A candidate for admission to the New York State Bar who has passed the UBE, MPRE and NYLE may identify himself with the notation, “Passed the NY state bar examination (passed not admitted).” … Continued
Committee on Professional Ethics Opinion 1297 (07/22/2026) Topic: Advising private client regarding deceptive conduct while investigating alleged fraud involving federal government funds in violation of False Claims Act Digest: Currently, no authority under the New York Rules of Professional Conduct (the “Rules”) would permit the inquirer to induce, assist or supervise a client in engaging … Continued
Committee on Professional Ethics Opinion 1296 (07/08/2026) Topic: Representing an Alleged Incapacitated Person in Article 81 proceedings Digest: In a proceeding under Article 81 of the Mental Hygiene Law, an attorney for an alleged incapacitated client may not advocate for the appointment of a guardian or other restriction if the client opposes it. Rules: 1.2(a), … Continued
Committee on Professional Ethics Opinion 1295 (03/12/2026) Topic: Conflicts of interest; advertising; trust account; opening a solo law practice Digest: A lawyer not admitted in New York but admitted in New Jersey and the District of Columbia who intends to work for a New York law firm and simultaneously operate his own law firm in … Continued
Committee on Professional Ethics Opinion 1294 (03/11/2026) Topic: Conflict analysis for per diem attorney Digest: Where an on-line platform collects information from users about workplace experiences and the platform then shares that information in anonymized form with employment lawyers, who pay to have the user’s identifying information disclosed if the user consents to such disclosure, … Continued
Opinion 1293 (02/13/2026) Topic: Conflict analysis for per diem attorney Digest: A per diem lawyer may not represent a client against a former client in a substantially related matter, or against a current client in any matter, absent the person’s informed consent, confirmed in writing. A per diem lawyer may not represent a client where … Continued
Opinion 1292 (02/12/2026) Topic: Payment of legal fees by service provider identified to client by lawyer Digest: A lawyer who handles matters for individuals with disabilities under federal or state law may enter into agreements with providers of compensatory services to the disabled to supplement the lawyer’s legal fees, and the lawyer may provide information … Continued