Ethics Committee Formal Opinion #1995‑96/12 Referral Fees: When May They Be Paid and How May They Be Advertised May 8, 1996 ANNOTATION: QUESTIONS: May fees be paid to an attorney solely for the act of referring a client matter to another attorney? Are advertisements by law firms stating that “Referral Fees Honored” unethical? Read … Read more
Ethics Committee Advisory Opinion #1996-97/3 March 25, 1997 ANNOTATIONS: Before representing a client against a former employer/client, the attorney must ensure that the current representation involves neither (1) a substantially related matter, nor (2) any confidential information received during the representation of the former client, whether or not such information was received in confidence. Rule … Read more
Ethics Committee Formal Opinion #1996-97/5 Conflict of Interest: Representing a Client Through Business Arrangement with For-profit Lay Corporation February 25, 1997 ANNOTATIONS: An attorney may ethically enter into a business arrangement with a corporation whereby for a set fee, the attorney reviews denials of social security claims to decide whether the client should appeal a … Read more
Ethics Committee Advisory Opinion #1995-96/5 Presentation of False Evidence to a Tribunal by a Third Party Non-client November 16, 1995 ANNOTATION: In a situation in which an attorney becomes aware that a third party non-client may have submitted false information to a tribunal, the attorney may not reveal the falsity of this evidence to the … Read more
Ethics Committee Formal Opinion #1997-98/1 Conflict of Interest: Member of a Firm Appearing Before Governmental Board When Another Member of the Same Firm is a Member of the Board January 14, 1998 ANNOTATIONS: An attorney may appear before a quasi-judicial governmental board or agency on which an attorney of that same firm is a member, … Read more
Ethics Committee Advisory Opinion #1996-97/6 Conflict of Interest: Part-time Municipal Prosecutor Representing Criminal Defendants in Courts Other Than Where He/She Prosecutes March 25, 1997 ANNOTATIONS: An attorney may ethically enter into a business arrangement with a corporation whereby for a set fee, the attorney reviews denials of social security claims to decide whether the client … Read more
Ethics Committee Formal Opinion #1998-99/3 Safeguarding Settlement Funds of Clients and Third Parties: Recognized Valid Liens on Settlement Funds in Lawyer’s Possession Presented to the Board of Governors May 20, 1999 QUESTION: What ethical obligations does a lawyer have to a lienholder who has a recognized valid lien on settlement funds in the lawyer’s possession? … Read more
Ethics Committee Formal Opinion # 1998-99/10 Presented to the Board of Governors May 18, 2000 COMMITTEE’S POSITION: Despite the fact that the Ethics Committee thoroughly examined the issues raised by this proposed referral-fee arrangement over the course of several months, no consensus could be reached. One group of Committee members believe, based primarily on its … Read more
Ethics Committee Formal Opinion #1998-99/14 Presented to the Board of Governors May 18, 2000 QUESTION: May a lawyer who is also a licensed broker for life and health insurance sell such insurance products to her estate planning clients? FACTS: A lawyer has an active estate planning practice. One common method to insure that an estate … Read more
Ethics Committee Formal Opinion #1998-99/15 ANNOTATIONS: A lawyer may not represent both parties with respect to the preparation or filing of a joint petition in a domestic relations matter. QUESTION PRESENTED: May an attorney with the consent and participation of both parties prepare and/or file a Joint Petition in a Domestic Relations matter? Read more