NEW YORK STATE BAR ASSOCIATION Municipal attorney, political activity Committee on Professional Ethics Opinion #696 – 08/25/1997 (17-97) Topic: Partisan political activities by municipal attorney charged with investigating public corruption Digest: Municipal attorney charged with investigating public corruption may not participate in partisan political activities. Code: DR 1-102(A)(5). QUESTION Do the ethical restrictions on the … Continued
NEW YORK STATE BAR ASSOCIATION Advertisements, employee, letterhead, paralegals Committee on Professional Ethics Opinion #695 – 08/25/1997 (11-97) Topic: Use of “Certified Legal Assistant” title on letterhead and promotional materials. Digest: Use of “Certified Legal Assistant” title is permissible provided certifying entity meets certain standards and disclosure is made of certifying entity. Code: DR 2-101; … Continued
NEW YORK STATE BAR ASSOCIATION Conflict of interest, real estate, referral, solicitation Committee on Professional Ethics Opinion #694 – 08/25/1997 (3-97) Topic: Conflict of interest; solicitation by real estate broker; dual representation of purchaser and lender. Digest: Improper for attorney to participate in “Home Buyers Program.” Code: DR 2-103(A), DR 2-103(C), DR 5-101(A), DR 5?105(A) … Continued
NEW YORK STATE BAR ASSOCIATION Dual representation, employee, escrow funds, multiple representation, paralegals Committee on Professional Ethics Opinion #693 – 08/22/1997 (68-96) Topic: Nonlawyer Employees; Escrow Accounts; Attorney’s Signature Digest: Attorney may allow paralegal to use attorney’s signature stamp to execute escrow checks under certain circumstances Code: DR 1-104; DR 9-102(A), (B); DR 9-102(E); EC … Continued
New York State Bar Association County legislator, criminal practice, fees, legislature, part-time public Ethics Opinion 692 (06/23/1997) Overrules N.Y. State 431 (1976) Topic: Part-time legislator’s practice in criminal courts in city and county Digest: A part-time city or county legislator may not represent criminal defendants in cases in which the legislator expects to cross examine … Continued
NEW YORK STATE BAR ASSOCIATION Charities, gifts, referral Committee on Professional Ethics Opinion #691 – 06/10/1997 (5-97) Topic: Charitable donation to non-profit organization that refers attorneys to clients Digest: Attorney may make charitable donation to organization that provides referrals if donation is not compensation for referral. Code: DR 2-103(B) and (D). QUESTION May an attorney … Continued
NEW YORK STATE BAR ASSOCIATION Fees, matrimonial matters Committee on Professional Ethics Opinion #690 – 05/13/1997 (10-97) Topic: Contingent Fees; Domestic Rela-tions Digest: Lawyer in domestic relations matter or lawyer’s firm may represent client in a tort action against spouse under a con-tingent fee retainer, even if the tort action is tried as part of … Continued
NEW YORK STATE BAR ASSOCIATION Fees Committee on Professional Ethics Opinion #689 – 05/12/1997 (58-96) Topic: Accepting Fees from Petitioner for Representation in Guardian-ship Proceeding in Addition to Court Award. Digest: Lawyers may accept fees from guardianship petitioner in addition to court award as long as fee is not excessive or contrary to law, court … Continued
New York State Bar Association Conflict of interest, law school clinic Committee on Professional Ethics Opinion #688 – 05/08/1997 (47-96) Topic: Conflict of interest; lawyer’s own personal interests; law school clinic Digest: A supervising attorney at a law school legal clinic may properly represent a clinic client when the opposing counsel is a member of … Continued
NEW YORK STATE BAR ASSOCIATION Conflict of interest, dual practice, insurance Committee on Professional Ethics Opinion #687 – 04/21/1997 (45-96) TOPIC: Conflict of interest; dual practice as lawyer and insurance agent DIGEST: Lawyer licensed as an insurance broker may sell insurance pro-ducts to clients if the lawyer’s professional judgment as a lawyer will … Continued