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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Ethics Opinion 1267: Paying for a recommendation or referral
TOPIC: Paying for a recommendation or referral. DIGEST: A website that promises to connect potential clients with attorneys whom the website claims have excellent qualifications and are carefully vetted, constitutes an “advertisement” on behalf of the lawyers available through the…
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