State Bar Opinions on the subject of which
items in a client file must be
returned to the client on the client's request.
Links to the full text are included where available. Digests of all of these opinions are available in the ABA/BNA Lawyers' Manual on Professional Conduct. The Manual is a useful general resource for research in professional responsibility. In addition to a general treatise on professional responsibility, it also has digests of thousands of state and local bar association ethics opinions. The Manual is very widely available in law libraries and is also available on Westlaw in the database ABA-BNA. Further information about the Lawyers' Manual (which includes a 30 day free trial) is available here.
1) Alabama
Opinion 92-05 (3/11/92) Fees; Unpaid fees; Files of client; Attorneys'
liens.
2) Alaska Opinion Opinion
2003-3 (5/6/03) Discharge of lawyer; Files of client; Former clients.
3) Arizona
Opinion 04-01 (1/04) Liens; Files of client; Collection of legal fees.
4) California (San Francisco)Opinion 1990-1 (7/90)
5) Colorado
Opinion 104 (4/17/99) Files of client; Withdrawal from representation;
Photocopies.
6) Connecticut Opinion 03-02 (2/21/03) Files of client; Liens; Costs and
expenses of litigation; Discharge of lawyer.
7) DC
Opinion 333 (12/05) Files of client; Former clients; Work product.
8) District of Columbia Opinion 168 (4/15/86)
9) Georgia Opinion 87-5 (9/26/88) Fees; Withdrawal from representation
of client; Files of client; Attorneys' liens.
10) District
of Columbia Opinion 250 (10/18/94)
11) Kentucky
Opinion E-395 (3/97)
12) Louisiana
Opinion 05-RPCC-003 (4/4/05) Files of client; Withdrawal from representation;
Attorneys' liens.
13) Mississippi
Opinion 236 (undated) Court-appointed lawyers; Public defenders; Files
of client.
14) New
York State Opinion 766 (9/10/03) Files of client; Former clients; Photocopies;
Fees.
15) New York State (Nassau County) Opinion 91-31 (11/18/91)
16) North Dakota
Opinion 93-15 (11/17/93) Discharge of lawyer; Communication with client;
Files of client; Attorneys' liens.
17) Oregon Opinion
2005-125 (8/05) Discharge of lawyer; Files of client; Client funds and
property.
18) Rhode
Island Opinion 89-13 (7/20/89) Client files; Decision-making authority
of client.
19) Rhode
Island Opinion 93-76 (10/5/93)
20) Rhode
Island Opinion 2000-06 (8/3/00) Files of client; Multiple representation;
Divorce; Former clients.
21) Virginia Opinion 1418
(5/14/91) Criminal representation; Ineffective assistance of counsel; Files
of client.
22) Virginia Opinion 1690
(6/5/97) Files of client; Attorneys' liens.
