Category: Ethics Opinions

Opinion 547

NEW YORK STATE BAR ASSOCIATION Committee on Professional Ethics Opinion #547 – 11/29/1982 (39-82) witnesses Topic: Witnesses, compensation Digest: Guidelines for payment of compensation to non­expert witnesses Code: DR 7-109(C)(2) QUESTION May an attorney compensate a non-expert witness for the reasonable value of his time spent in preparing for trial as well as in attending … Continued

Opinion 546

NEW YORK STATE BAR ASSOCIATION Committee on Professional Ethics Opinion #546 – 09/23/1982 (29-82) advertisements, law office Topic: Letterhead; branch office Digest: Law firm may list branch office on letterhead without appropriate disclaimer only if it provides for rendition of certain minimum services thereat Code: DR 2-101(A) and (D), 2-102(A)(4) QUESTION A law firm intends … Continued

Opinion 545

NEW YORK STATE BAR ASSOCIATION Committee on Professional Ethics Opinion #545 – 08/24/1982 (22-82) existing clients, confidences, employment, fraud Topic: Employment, withdrawal from, due to client’s unlawful conduct Digest: Lawyer may not assist client in illegal conduct, and must withdraw from the representation if the client persists in such conduct Code: EC 1-5; DR 1-102, … Continued

Opinion 544

NEW YORK STATE BAR ASSOCIATION Committee on Professional Ethics Opinion #544 – 06/08/1982 (10-82) conflict of interests, criminal practice, municipal attorney, part-time public official or employee, prosecutors, public, town/village attorney Modifies N.Y. State 184 (1971), 234 (1972), 257 (1972), 315 (1973), 367 (1974), 427 (1976)Clarified by 564 (1984) Topic: Conflict of interest; disqualification; criminal practice; … Continued

Opinion 543(1)

NEW YORK STATE BAR ASSOCIATION Committee on Professional Ethics Opinion #543 – 05/24/1982 (21-82) judges, quasi-judicial Topic: Quasi-judicial hearing officer; limitations on practice Digest: Restrictions on practice of Small Claims Real Property Tax Assessment Hearing Officers same as those on judges Code: EC 8-8; DR 5-105(D) QUESTION May an attorney who serves as a hearing … Continued

Opinion 543

NEW YORK STATE BAR ASSOCIATION Committee on Professional Ethics Opinion #543 – 05/24/1982 (21-82) judges, quasi-judicial Topic: Quasi-judicial hearing officer; limitations on practice Digest: Restrictions on practice of Small Claims Real Property Tax Assessment Hearing Officers same as those on judges Code: EC 8-8; DR 5-105(D) QUESTION May an attorney who serves as a hearing … Continued

Opinion 542

NEW YORK STATE BAR ASSOCIATION Committee on Professional Ethics Opinion #542 – 05/10/1982 (9-82) advertisements, foreign, non-lawyer, partnership Topic: Foreign law firm; local office Digest: British law firm may establish office in this state where office is to be managed by solicitor admitted to practice in New York Code: Canon 3; EC 3-9; DR 2-102(D), … Continued

Opinion 541

NEW YORK STATE BAR ASSOCIATION Committee on Professional Ethics Opinion #541 – 03/29/1982 (8-82) disqualification, judges Topic: Judges; appearance of integrity and impartiality of judiciary Digest: Judge may not hear cases involving law firms with which he is discussing employment Code: EC 9-4; Rules Governing Judicial Conduct: Rule 100-3(c)(1), 100-5(c)(1) QUESTION May a judge participate … Continued

Opinion 540

NEW YORK STATE BAR ASSOCIATION Committee on Professional Ethics Opinion #540 03/29/1982 (7-82) Topic: Advertising; Bar Association pamphlets Overrules in part N.Y. State 46, 211 Digest: Proper for lawyer to use New York State Bar Association “Know Your Rights Pamphlet Series” in direct mail and other advertising Code: DR 2-101,2-103(A) QUESTION 1.         May a … Continued

Opinion 539

NEW YORK STATE BAR ASSOCIATION Committee on Professional Ethics Opinion #539 – 02/08/1982 (50-81) Clarified by Opinion 614 Topic: Advertising; results obtained in prior cases Digest: Improper to advertise examples of results obtained in prior cases Code: DR 2-101; EC 2-10 QUESTION May a lawyer include in his advertisement a listing briefly describing selected cases … Continued