A Better Proposal for the New York Rules of Professional Conduct
The New York State Bar Association recommends amendments to Rule 8.4(g) of the New York Rules of Professional Conduct relating to discrimination and harassment in the practice of law.
Practice Area: Ethics
Tackling the Closed File Beast
The time to close files properly and under your ethical obligations begins with the next matter you open.
NY Law Professor To Speak About Enabling Former President Trump’s Degradation of the Rule of Law
Accepting an award from the New York State Bar Association this month, Professor Bennett Gershman will discuss how lawyers allowed former President Donald Trump to subvert the rule of law, undermine constitutional rights and engage in conduct destructive of democracy.
Ethics Opinion 1206
Topic: Litigation Financing Digest: A law firm may not refer its clients to a company providing litigation financing where the sole owner of the company is married to a lawyer who is “of counsel” to the law firm. Rules: 1.8(e); 1.8(i); 1.10 (a); 7.5(a). FACTS 1. The Committee has received an inquiry from a lawyer … Continued
Ethics Opinion 1205
Topic: Government Employee Negotiating for Private Employment Digest: A lawyer serving as in-house counsel for a federal agency may not negotiate for private employment with an organization that is an adverse party in litigation before the agency where the lawyer is participating personally and substantially in the litigation. Rules: 1.0(l) & (n), 1.11 FACTS 1. … Continued
Ethics Opinion 1204
Topic: Law Firm Letterhead Digest: A law firm that has purchased a retired (and now deceased) lawyer’s practice may list on the purchasing law firm’s letterhead the name and dates of operation of the former law firm. Rules: 7.1(a), 7.5(a) FACTS 1. The inquiring lawyer is a member of a law firm with two offices. … Continued
Ethics Opinion 1203
Topic: Withdrawal from representation based on attorney health concerns Digest: An attorney may withdraw from representation, with the permission of the Immigration Court, based on fear of contracting COVID-19 as a result of in-person appearances in the proceeding, where such fear renders it difficult for the attorney to carry out the representation effectively. Rules: 1.0(w), … Continued
Ethics Opinion 1202
Topic: Legal fees Digest: A lawyer may charge a fixed fee for a matter as long as it is not excessive, and the lawyer specifies the services that are included in the engagement. The client must remain liable for costs, other than as permitted by Rule 1.8(e). The lawyer may require advance payment of fees, … Continued
Ethics Opinion 1201
Topic: Retired lawyers; referral fees Digest: A lawyer who received a referral of a contingency-fee wrongful death matter from a lawyer who later retired under the rules of the Office of Court Administration before the conclusion of the case may share the legal fee with the retired lawyer if the latter assumed joint responsibility for … Continued
Ethics Opinion 1200
Topic: Dual practice as a lawyer and wealth management provider; conflicts of interest Digest: A lawyer may not simultaneously provide legal services and wealth management services to a client for separate fees. A lawyer may provide wealth management services to non-law clients, subject to Rule 5.7. A lawyer may not refer a law client to … Continued