Category Archives: ABA opinions

ABA Formal Ethics Opinion 506 addresses lawyers’ responsibilities regarding nonlawyer assistants

Posted on June 20, 2023 by jcorsmeier

Hello everyone and welcome to this Ethics Alert which will discuss recently published ABA Formal Opinion 506, which addresses ABA Model Rule 5.3 and lawyers’ responsibilities regarding nonlawyer assistants.  The formal opinion was released on June 7, 2023 and the … Continue reading →

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ABA Formal Opinion 504 provides guidance to lawyers who wish to practice on multiple jurisdictions

Posted on March 22, 2023 by jcorsmeier

discuss recent ABA Formal Opinion 504, which addresses changes in the legal profession to meet the demands of clients who have interstate businesses and in other legal matters.  ABA Formal Opinion 504 is here:  Formal Opinion 504 (americanbar.org)    As … Continue reading →

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ABA Formal Opinion 498 provides guidance on lawyer compliance with ethics rules in a virtual practice

Posted on March 11, 2021 by jcorsmeier

Hello everyone and welcome to this Ethics Alert, which will discuss recent American Bar Association Formal Opinion 498, which provides guidance on ethics rules compliance to lawyers who engage in virtual practice.  ABA Formal Opinion 498 is here:  https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/professional_responsibility/aba-formal-opinion-498.pdf. The ABA … Continue reading →

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ABA Formal Opinion 496 addresses ethics issues related to lawyer responses to online criticism and provides guidance

Posted on January 13, 2021 by jcorsmeier

Hello everyone and welcome to this Ethics Alert, which discusses recent American Bar Association (ABA) Formal Opinion 496, which addresses ethics issues related to lawyer responses to online criticism and provides guidance.  ABA Formal Opinion 496 is here:  https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/professional_responsibility/aba-formal-opinion-496.pdf As … Continue reading →

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ABA Formal Opinion 495 addresses ethics and UPL issues related to lawyers working remotely and provides guidance

Posted on December 21, 2020 by jcorsmeier

Hello everyone and welcome to this Ethics Alert, which will discuss American Bar Association (ABA) Formal Opinion 495, which addresses ethics issues related to lawyers working remotely and provides guidance  ABA Formal Opinion 495 is here:  https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/professional_responsibility/aba-formal-opinion-495.pdf     The ABA opinion … Continue reading →

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ABA Formal Ethics Opinion 493 addresses Model Rule 8.4(g) prohibiting harassment and discrimination based upon, inter alia, race, sex, religion, national origin, and sexual orientation

Posted on July 15, 2020 by jcorsmeier

Hello everyone and welcome to this Ethics Alert, which will discuss the (very) recent (July 15, 2020) American Bar Association Formal Opinion 493 titled “Model Rule 8.4(g): Purpose, Scope, and Application”, which provides guidance on application of the rule prohibiting harassment … Continue reading →

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ABA Formal Opinion 491 discusses a lawyer’s obligation to avoid counseling or assisting a client in a crime or fraud

Posted on April 30, 2020 by jcorsmeier

Hello everyone and welcome to this Ethics Alert, which will discuss recent ABA  Formal Opinion 491 (issued 4/29/20), which discusses and provides guidance regarding a lawyer’s obligation to avoid counseling or assisting in crime or fraud in non-litigation settings.  The … Continue reading →

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The client is missing and the statute of limitations expires soon: what can or must a lawyer do?

Posted on October 16, 2019 by jcorsmeier

Hello everyone and welcome to this Ethics Alert, which will discuss the ethics issues when a client is missing (or refuses to communicate) and the statute of limitations is about to expire.  I have been asked this question (or a … Continue reading →

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ABA formal ethics opinion provides guidance for recusal of judge because of a personal relationship

Posted on September 6, 2019 by jcorsmeier

Hello everyone and welcome to this Ethics Alert, which will discuss ABA Formal Opinion 488, which provides guidance on a judge’s obligation to recuse because of a social or close personal relationship with a lawyer or party.  ABA Formal Opinion … Continue reading →

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ABA Formal Opinion 484 provides guidance when a client may need third party legal fee financing

Posted on November 29, 2018 by jcorsmeier

Hello everyone and welcome to this Ethics Alert which will discuss ABA Formal Opinion 484, which addresses third party financing of the lawyer’s fees and concludes that a lawyer may refer a client to a fee financing companies even if … Continue reading →

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