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Legal Ethics
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- Opinion 387: Serving as Local Counsel for a Matter Being Litigated in a District of Columbia Court
- Opinion 386: Aggregate Settlements
- Opinion 385: Advising Clients About Communications with Represented Opponents
- Opinion 384: Restrictions on Accepting a Legal Fee For Benefit of Certain Incarcerated Persons Before Notifying Prior Counsel of Record
- Opinion 383: Disclosure of Client Confidences or Secrets in Compliance With the Outside Counsel Guidelines of Another Client; Advance Agreement to Withdraw from Representation in the Event of a “Midstream” Conflict
- Opinion 382: Lawyer-Directors Representing Entity-Clients
- Opinion 381: Responding to Third-Party Subpoena
- Opinion 380: Conflict of Interest Issues Related to Witnesses
- Opinion 379: Attorneys’ Charging Liens and Client Confidentiality
- Opinion 378: Acceptance of Cryptocurrency as Payment for Legal Fees
- Opinion 377: Duties When a Lawyer is Impaired
- Opinion 376: Mandatory Arbitration Provisions in Fee Agreements
- Opinion 375: Ethical Considerations of Crowdfunding
- Opinion 374: Ethical Obligations Regarding Prospective Client Information
- Opinion 373: Court-Ordered Representation of Clients in Criminal Domestic Violence Matters Who Are Party to Parallel Civil Protection Order Proceedings
- Opinion 372: Ethical Considerations in Law Firm Dissolutions
- Opinion 371: Social Media II: Use of Social Media in Providing Legal Services
- Opinion 370: Social Media I: Marketing and Personal Use
- Opinion 369: Sharing of Legal Fees With a Lawyer Referral Service
- Opinion 368: Lawyer Employment Agreements—Restrictions on Departing Lawyer Who Competes with Former Firm
- Opinion 367: Representation of Client by Lawyer Seeking Employment with Entity or Person Adverse to Client, or Adversary’s Lawyer; Clarification of Opinion 210
- Opinion 366: Ethical Issues that Commonly Arise in Private Adoption Matters
- Opinion 365: Conflict of Interest Analysis for Government Agency Lawyer Defending Agency from Furlough-Related Employment Complaints While Pursuing Her Own Furlough-Related Employment Complaint
- Opinion 364: Confidentiality Obligations When Former Client Makes Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Claim
- Opinion 363: In-House Lawyer’s Disclosure or Use of Employer/Client’s Confidences or Secrets in Claim Against Employer/Client for Employment Discrimination or Retaliatory Discharge
- Opinion 362: Non–lawyer Ownership of Discovery Service Vendors
- Opinion 361: Lawyer’s Acceptance of Compensation From Non–Lawyer Entity for Referring Client to Such Entity; Opinion 245 Overruled in Part
- Opinion 360: Contact With Non-Party Treating Physician Witness
- Opinion 359: Disposition of Missing Client’s Trust Account Monies in the District of Columbia
- Opinion 358: Subpoenaing Witness When Lawyer for Congressional Committee Has Been Advised that Witness Will Decline to Answer Any Questions on Claim of Privilege; Legal Ethics Opinion 31 Revisited.
- Opinion 357: Former Client Records Maintained in Electronic Form
- Opinion 356: Absence of Conflict of Interest When Lawyer Cannot Identify Affected Clients and Nature of Conflict; Applicability of “Thrust Upon” Exception Where Lawyer Cannot Seek Informed Consent.
- Opinion 354: Providing Financial Assistance to Immigration Clients Through Lawyer’s Execution of Affidavit of Support on Form I-864 as a Joint Sponsor
- Opinion 353: Whether a lawyer representing a client with diminished capacity can seek the appointment of a substitute surrogate decision-maker when the current surrogate decision-maker is making decisions for the client against the advice of the lawyer
- Opinion 352: Professional Responsibility Duties for Temporary Contract Lawyers and the Firms that Hire Them
- Opinion 351: Sharing Legal Fees with Clients
- Opinion 350: Whether a Lawyer is Obliged to Surrender to a Former Client Work-Product Procured Through the Former Client’s Factual Misrepresentations
- Opinion 349: Conflicts of Interest for Lawyers Associated with Screened Lawyers Who Participated in a Joint Defense Group
- Opinion 348: Accepting Credit Cards for Payment of Legal Fees
- Opinion 347: Reverse Contingent Fees
- Opinion 346: The Required Elements for Triggering a Duty of Confidentiality to a Prospective Client
- Opinion 345: Reimbursement of Interest Charges Incurred When a Lawyer Uses The Firm's Line of Credit to Advance the Costs of the Representation
- Opinion 344: Conflicts of Interest for Lawyers Engaged in Lobbying Activities that Are Not Deemed to Involve the Practice of Law
- Opinion 343: Application of the “Substantial Relationship” Test When Attorneys Participate in Only Discrete Aspects of a New Matter
- Opinion 342: Participation in Internet-Based Lawyer Referral Services Requiring Payment of Fees
- Opinion 341: Review and Use of Metadata in Electronic Documents
- Opinion 340: Contacts with Government Officials In Litigated Matters
- Opinion 339: Threat of Criminal Referral In Civil Debt Collection Matter
- Opinion 338: Whether A Law Firm May Retain the Name of a Partner Who Becomes Both “Of Counsel” to that Law Firm and a Partner in a Different Law Firm Also Bearing His Name
- Opinion 337: Lawyer as Expert Witness
- Opinion 336: A Lawyer’s Fiduciary Role as a Court-Appointed Guardian of an Incapacitated Individual
- Opinion 335: Whether a Lawyer May, as Part of a Settlement Agreement, Prohibit the Other Party’s Lawyer From Disclosing Publicly Available Information About the Case
- Opinion 334: Agreement Between Lawyer and Media Representatives
- Opinion 333: Surrendering Entire Client File Upon Termination of Representation
- Opinion 332: Firm Names for Solo Practitioners
- Opinion 331: Contact With In-House Counsel Of A Represented Entity
- Opinion 330: Unbundling Legal Services
- Opinion 329: Non-Profit Organization Fee Arrangement with an Attorney to whom it Refers Matters
- Opinion 328: Personal Representation of Constituents of an Organization, Including Individuals Who Participate in an Organization’s Governance
- Opinion 327: Joint Representation: Confidentiality of Information Revisited
- Opinion 326: Referral of Person Adverse to a Client to Another Lawyer
- Opinion 325: Agreement to Distribute Former Firm Profits to Partners From Former Firm Only as Long as They Continue to Practice in New Merged Firm: Rule 5.6(a)
- Opinion 324: Disclosure of Deceased Client’s Files
- Opinion 323: Misrepresentation by an Attorney Employed by a Government Agency as Part of Official Duties
- Opinion 322: Whether a Nonlawyer Employed by a Law Firm May Be Partly Compensated by a Percentage of the Profits of the Cases on Which He Works
- Opinion 321: Communications Between Domestic Violence Petitioner and Counsel for Respondent in a Privately Litigated Proceeding for Criminal Contempt
- Opinion 320: Jury Nullification Arguments by Criminal Defense Counsel
- Opinion 319: Purchase by a Lawyer of a Legal Claim From a Nonlawyer
- Opinion 318: Disclosure of Privileged Material by Third Party
- Opinion 317: Repudiation of Conflict of Interest Waivers
- Opinion 316: Lawyers’ Participation in Chat Room Communications With Internet Users Seeking Legal Information
- Opinion 315: Personal and Substantial Participation in Prior Litigation
- Opinion 314: Whether a Nonlawyer Union Employee May Supervise a Union Attorney
- Opinion 313: Whether a Lawyer May Continue to Represent a Client When That Lawyer Represented the Same Client in the Same Matter While Serving as a Public Officer or Employee
- Opinion 312: Information That May Be Appropriately Provided to Check Conflicts When a Lawyer Seeks to Join a New Firm
- Opinion 311: Choice-of-Law Rules for Professional Conduct in Non-Judicial Proceedings
- Opinion 310: Propriety Of Lawyer Charging Interest When the Client Fails to Pay Fees
- Opinion 309: Advance Waivers of Conflicts of Interest
- Opinion 308: Ethical Constraints on Lawyers Who Leave Private Employment for Government Service
- Opinion 307: Participation in Government Program Requiring Payment of Percentage of Fee
- Opinion 306: Practicing Law While Simultaneously Selling Insurance
- Opinion 305: Ethical Considerations Arising From Representation of Trade Association
- Opinion 304: Management of a Law Firm’s Human Resources Functions by an Employee Management Company
- Opinion 303: Sharing Office Space and Services by Unaffiliated Lawyers
- Opinion 302: Soliciting Plaintiffs for Class Action Lawsuits or Obtaining Legal Work Through Internet-based Web Pages
- Opinion 301: Conflict of Interest: Simultaneous Representation of Two Plaintiffs Against a Common Defendant in Separate but Related Lawsuits
- Opinion 300: Acceptance of Ownership Interest in Lieu of Legal Fees
- Opinion 299: Duty of Confidentiality to a Corporate Client That Has Ceased Operations
- Opinion 298: Sale or Assignment of Accounts Receivable to a Collection Agency
- Opinion 297: Representation of Client in Negotiated Rulemaking Proceeding for Which Lawyer Was Responsible While in Government
- Opinion 296: Joint Representation: Confidentiality of Information
- Opinion 295: Restriction on Communications by a Lawyer Acting as Guardian Ad Litem in a Child Abuse and Neglect Proceeding
- Opinion 294: Sale of Law Practice by Retiring Lawyer
- Opinion 293: Disposition of Property of Clients and Others Where Ownership Is in Dispute
- Opinion 292: Conflict of Interest: “Thrust Upon” Conflict
- Opinion 291: Contracts with Temporary Lawyers: Restrictions on Subsequent Employment
- Opinion 290: Disclosure of Protected Information of Insureds to Insurers and Outside Auditing Agencies
- Opinion 289: “Cause” Litigation by a Non-Profit Foundation Run by Non-Lawyers; Prospectively Restricting Clients’ Right to Waive Attorneys’ Fees or Agree to a Confidential Settlement
- Opinion 288: Compliance with Subpoena from Congressional Subcommittee to Produce Lawyer’s Files Containing Client Confidences or Secrets
- Opinion 287: Ex Parte Contact With Former Employees of Party-Opponents
- Opinion 286: Contingent Referral Fees
- Opinion 285: Nonlawyer Former Government Employee Working for a Lawyer
- Opinion 284: Advising and Billing Clients for Temporary Lawyers
- Opinion 283: Disposition of Closed Client Files
- Opinion 282: Duties of Lawyer Employing a Social Worker Who Is Obligated to Report Child Abuse
- Opinion 281: Transmission of Confidential Information by Electronic Mail
- Opinion 280: Direct Communications Between a Lawyer Representing a Client and Members of a Local Government Board
- Opinion 279: Availability of Screening as Cure for Imputed Disqualification
- Opinion 278: Partnership With Foreign Lawyer
- Opinion 277: Retention by Former Law Firm of Withdrawing Partner’s Name
- Opinion 276: Lawyer Mediator Must Conduct Conflicts Check
- Opinion 275: Receipt of Confidential Information Bars Subsequent Representation of Another Client in the Same or a Substantially Related Matter Unless Screen Can Be Erected
- Opinion 274: Government Agency Attorneys May Participate in a Public Meeting at Which Claimants Who Are Represented by Counsel Are Present
- Opinion 273: Ethical Considerations of Lawyers Moving From One Private Law Firm to Another
- Opinion 272: Conflict of Interests: “Hot Potato”
- Opinion 271: Inactive Members: Business Cards and Letterhead
- Opinion 270: Whether Subordinate Lawyer Must Alert Client and Report Superior’s Misconduct After Lawyer Has Left Practice
- Opinion 269: Obligation of Lawyer for Corporation to Clarify Role in Internal Corporate Investigation
- Opinion 268: Conflict of Interest Issues Where Private Lawyers Provide Volunteer Legal Assistance to the D.C. Corporation Counsel; Reconsideration of Opinion 92
- Opinion 267: Disclosure of Billing Practices: Billings Based on Time and “Attorney Charge”
- Opinion 266: Withdrawal From Representation Requiring Court Approval; Withdrawal Conditioned on Disclosure of Client’s Whereabouts
- Opinion 265: Positional Conflicts of Interest in Simultaneous Representation of Clients Whose Positions on Matters of Law Conflict With Other Clients’ Positions on Those Issues in Unrelated Matters
- Opinion 264: Refunds of Special Retainers; Commingling of Such Funds with the General Funds of the Law Firm Upon Receipt
- Opinion 263: Contacts With Persons Represented by Counsel; Application of Rule 8.4(g) to Criminal Contempt Proceedings
- Opinion 262: Application of Rule 1.5(d) to Receipt of a Contingent Fee in a Writ of Error Coram Nobis Proceeding
- Opinion 261: Emergency Room Referrals by a Law School Clinical Program
- Opinion 260: Agreements Limiting the Professional Liability of Lawyers to Former Clients
- Opinion 259: Conflict Issues in Representations Involving Estates
- Opinion 258: Application of Rule 4.2(a) to Lawyers as Parties Proceeding Pro Se
- Opinion 257: Disclosure Obligations of Criminal Defense Lawyer Charged With a Crime by the Prosecutor
- Opinion 256: Inadvertent Disclosure of Privileged Material to Opposing Counsel
- Opinion 255: Use of Former Firm Lawyer on a Contract Basis
- Opinion 254: Use of Abbreviations by Limited Liability Companies, Limited Liability Partnerships and Professional Limited Liability Companies
- Opinion 253: Referral Fee Arrangement Between Law Firms and Insurance Companies
- Opinion 252: Obligations of a Lawyer Appointed Guardian ad Litem in a Child Abuse and Neglect Proceeding With Respect to Potential Tort Claims of the Child
- Opinion 251: Safekeeping of Settlement Proceeds Claimed Both by the Client and a Third Person
- Opinion 250: Duty to Turn Over Files of Former Client to New Lawyer When Unpaid Fees Are Outstanding
- Opinion 249: Lawyer Advertising
- Opinion 248: Whether Lawyer May Represent Multiple Plaintiffs Claiming Employment Discrimination in Selection of Other Person for Position They Sought
- Opinion 247: Whether Settlement Lawyer Selected by Real Estate Purchaser Has a Sufficient Lawyer-Client Relationship With Seller to Warrant Disqualification; Conflict of Interest if Adverse Party Formerly Was Represented by a Firm to Whom Lawyer Is “Of Counsel”
- Opinion 246: A Lawyer’s Obligation to Report Another Lawyer’s Misconduct
- Opinion 245: Payment of Referral Fee to a Lawyer for Recommendation of Registered Agent
- Opinion 244: Inclusion of Name of Nonlawyer Partner in Firm Name
- Opinion 243: Joint Representation in Divorce Cases
- Opinion 242: Ethical Obligations of Attorney Holding Documents Provided by Client That May Be Property of Third Party
- Opinion 241: Financial Penalty Imposed on Departing Lawyer Who Engages in Legal Practice in D.C. Area
- Opinion 240: Ethical Obligations of D.C. Corporation Counsel Attorneys Representing Custodial Parents in Social Security Act Title IV-D Cases
- Opinion 239: Attorney-Client Relationship Between a Lawyer and Her Firm; Reporting of Professional Misconduct
- Opinion 238: Written Fee Agreements
- Opinion 237: Conflict of Interests: Previous Representation of Witness in Unrelated Matter
- Opinion 236: Divulging Client Confidences and Secrets in a Bankruptcy Proceeding in Order to Collect Fees Is Permitted in Limited Circumstances
- Opinion 235: Registered Limited Liability Partnership/Limited Liability Company
- Opinion 234: Defense Counsel's Duties When Client Insists On Testifying Falsely
- Opinion 233: Payment of “Success Fees” to Nonlawyer Consultants
- Opinion 232: Multiple Clients/Criminal Matter
- Opinion 231: Lawyer as Legislator
- Opinion 230: Assertion of Retaining Liens; Preservation of Confidences and Secrets of Trust Client in Dispute Between Former Co-trustee and Successor Trust
- Opinion 229: Surreptitious Tape Recording by Attorney
- Opinion 228: Lawyer-Witness Participation in Pre-Trial Proceedings
- Opinion 227: Migratory Paralegals and Lawyers/Imputed Disqualification/Screening
- Opinion 226: Service by Lawyer in Private Practice as In-House Counsel and Real Estate Broker
- Opinion 225: Prepaid Legal Services
- Opinion 224: Misleading Firm Name
- Opinion 223: Nondisclosure of Protected Information to Funding Agency
- Opinion 222: Attorney's Obligation Under Rule 9.1 Does Not Apply To Lawful Acts Outside The District Of Columbia
- Opinion 221: Law Firm Employment Agreement
- Opinion 220: Threats to File Disciplinary Charges
- Opinion 219: Conflict of Ethical Obligations
- Opinion 218: Retainer Agreement Providing for Mandatory Arbitration of Fee Disputes Is Not Unethical
- Opinion 217: Multiple Representation; Intermediation
- Opinion 216: Representation of Closely Held Corporation in Action Against Corporate Shareholder
- Opinion 215: Communication With Potential Client Currently Represented by Other Counsel
- Opinion 214: Disclosure to Internal Revenue Service of Name of Client Paying Fee in Cash
- Opinion 213: Defense Counsel’s Obligation to Inform Court of Adverse Evidence
- Opinion 212: Representation by Law Firm Adverse to Former Client in a Substantially Related Matter After Lawyers Who Represented Former Client Have Left the Law Firm
- Opinion 211: Fee Agreements; Mandatory Arbitration Clauses
- Opinion 210: Representation of Criminal Defendants by Attorney Seeking Position as Assistant U.S. Attorney
Sub Navigation
- D.C. Bar Lawyer Referral Service
- Membership
- Continuing Legal Education
-
Communities
- Join A Community
- About Communities
- Programs and Events
- Publications
- Connect
- Leadership Resource Portals
- Communities On-Demand Library
- Public Statements
- Communities Elections
- Leadership
- Podcasts
- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Resources
- Communities Newsletter
- Annual Well-Being Summit
- D.C. Bar Communities Lawyer of the Year Awards
-
Legal Ethics
- Rules of Professional Conduct
- Ethics Opinions 210-Present
- Ask the Ethics Experts
- Court of Appeals Adopts Amendments to IOLTA Rules
- Ethics Advice
- Ethics Opinions Substantively Affected by the Amended Rules
- D.C. Bar Voluntary Standards of Civility in Professional Conduct
- Publications
- Additional Resources
- Speaking of Ethics Columns
- Legal Ethics Opinions 2-209
- Practice Management Advisory Service
- Mandatory Course
- Lawyer Assistance Program
- Career Center
- External Resources
- Fee Dispute Program
