Virtual Law Offices Shouldn’t Violate the Louisiana Rules of Professional Conduct
A summer 2014 formal opinion by the Association of the Bar of the City of New York approved the use of virtual law offices (“VLOs”) by New York lawyers. See N.Y.C. …
May a Law Firm Have a Nonlawyer “Officer”
“No,” according to the Professional Ethics Committee for the State Bar of Texas. See Tx. Bar Op. No. 642. In an opinion released during the summer of 2014, the committee concluded: …
ABA Approves Deal-of-the-Day Internet Marketing by Lawyers
The ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility has approved the use of group-coupon or deal-of-the-day marketing programs by lawyers. In Formal Opinion 465 (Oct. 21, 2013), the committee considered …
Why You Should Cool Down Before Responding to That Internet Post
An Illinois lawyer was disciplined last month for improperly disclosing confidential information in responding to an unfavorable Avvo.com post by her client. See In re Tsamis, No. 6288664, Illinois Disciplinary Commission (Aug. 26, …
No Advanced Waivers of Aggregate Settlement Rule
According to a formal of the New York City Bar, a lawyer cannot seek a client’s advanced consent to an aggregate settlement. The opinion provides: “Under Rule 1.8(g), absent court …
May I List My Practice “Specialty” on LinkedIn?
I sure wouldn’t. The New York State Bar Association Committee on Professional Ethics advised in a Summer 2013 ethics opinion that a lawyer may not list the lawyer’s services under …
ABA Opinion Approves Fee Sharing with Lawyer in Another Jurisdiction Even Though Nonlawyer May Own Part of Firm There
ABA Formal Opinion 464 (Aug. 19, 2013) considered whether a lawyer in, for example, Louisiana, could share legal fees with a lawyer in, for example, the District of Columbia even …
ABA Formal Opinion on Client Due Diligence, Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing
The ABA’s most recent formal opinion, Formal Op. 463 (May 23, 2013), addresses client due diligence, money laundering and terrorist financing. The Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility …
May Lawyers and Accountants “Team Up” to Handle BP Claims?
Many lawyers and accountants have “teamed up” to work jointly to assist claimants with submitting claims against British Petroleum (“BP”) arising out of the April 2010 oil spill caused by …
May I “Friend” an Unrepresented Person on Social Media to Gather Information to Help My Client?
A June 2013 ethics advisory opinion from the New Hampshire Bar Association Ethics Committee advises against a lawyer “friending” a nonparty witness if the lawyer “omit[s] identifying information” from the …