ABA Formal Opinion 506: Handling Advance Deposits From Clients
On May 3, 2023, the ABA issued Formal Opinion 506 providing guidance to lawyers on how to handle fees paid in advance by clients for services to be performed in …
ABA Opines on the Use of Nonlawyers for Client Intake
On June 7, 2023, the American Bar Association Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility released Formal Opinion 506 providing guidance on a lawyer’s ethical obligations when the lawyer delegates to …
ABA Publishes Guidance on Office Sharing Arrangements With Other Lawyers
On July 12, 2023, the American Bar Association published Formal Opinion 507 providing guidance on office sharing arrangements with other lawyers. See ABA Formal Op. 507 (July 12, 2023). Many …
Judicial Recusal for Activities of a Spouse
Many married couples exemplify the adage “what’s mine is yours, and what’s yours is mine.” It’s an expression of generosity meaning that things belong to both parties equally and that …
New Article on Harmonizing Legal Ethics Rules with Advocacy Norms
My new Georgetown Journal of Legal Ethics article is out. Here is a link: Dane S. Ciolino, Harmonizing Legal Ethics Rules with Advocacy Norms, 36 Geo. J. of Legal Ethics …
Chat GPT: A Lawyer’s Dream Come True or Their Worst Nightmare?
The modern-day lawyer utilizes technology in every aspect of their practice. Most lawyers communicate primarily—if not exclusively—with clients and opposing counsel through email. Microsoft Teams meetings and Zoom court appearances …
May 2023 Discipline
These lawyers were subject to Louisiana Supreme Court disciplinary orders or Louisiana Attorney Discipline Board recommendations published during the month of April 2023. Lousiana Supreme Court LADB Hearing Committee
Utah Includes Mental, Physical, and Emotional Health of Lawyers Within Duty of Competence
On May 17, 2023, Utah joined several other states to include language about the mental, physical, and emotional health of lawyers within its comments to Rule 01.01 of the Utah …
LASC Amends Rule 1.10 Pertaining To The Imputation of Conflicts
On May 12, 2023, the Louisiana Supreme Court amended Louisiana Rule of Professional Conduct Rule 1.10 pertaining to the imputation of conflicts when lawyers are associated in a firm. The …
Louisiana Attempts Regulation of Litigation Finance Agreements
Louisiana is moving forward with attempts to require the disclosure of litigation finance agreements. If enacted, SB196 would require that parties in litigation disclose litigation finance agreements where a funder …