ABA FORMAL ETHICS OPINIONS INDEX BY ISSUE DATES
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As a member of the Center for Professioal Responsibility you can download FREE copies of all ethics opinions either by the issue date or subject index.
ABA Members Only
As a member of the ABA you can download FREE copies of ethics opinions for a period of ONE YEAR following their release or scroll down to purchase archive issues. You can also use the index by subject to make your search easier.
The following is the index of the Formal Ethics Opinions of the American Bar Association's Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility that can be purchased for $7.50 through the ABA bookstore. Simply click on the  next to each opinion to purchase a hard copy or pdf versions. The opinions that have been withdrawn and are no longer available for purchase are 94-382, 93-372, and 92-368.
A subscription service is also available for $35.00 a year which offers hard copy delivery of opinions as they are issued. To subscribe call the ABA Service Center at 1-800-285-2221. Opinion collections are also available for purchase: |
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Formal Opinion 07-448 October 20, 2007 Appointed Counsel's Relationship to a Person Who Declines to be Represented |
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| Formal Opinion 07-447 August 9 , 2007 Ethical Considerations in Collaborative Law Practice |
Formal Opinion 07-446 May 5, 2007 Undisclosed Legal Assistance to Pro Se Litigants |
| Formal Opinion 07-445 April 11, 2007 Contact by Counsel with Putative Members of Class Prior to Class Certification |
Formal Opinion 06-444 September 13, 2006 Permissibility Of Restrictive Covenants In Lawyer Agreements Concerning Benefits Upon Retirement |
| Formal Opinion 06-443 August 5, 2006 Contact With Inside Counsel of an Organization Regarding a Matter When the Organization is Represented in the Matter by Outside Counsel |
Formal Opinion 06-442 August 5, 2006 Review and Use of Metadata |
| Formal Opinion 06-441 May 13, 2006 Ethical Obligations of Lawyers Who Represent Indigent Criminal Defendants When Excessive Caseloads Interfere With Competent and Diligent Representation (a service to the public defender community). FREE DOWNLOAD |
Formal Opinion 06-440 May 13, 2006 Unsolicited Receipt of Privileged or Confidential Materials: Withdrawal of Formal Opinion 94-382 (July 5, 1994) |
| Formal Opinion 06-439 April 12, 2006 Lawyer’s Obligation of Truthfulness When Representing a Client in Negotiation: Application to Caucused Mediation |
Formal Opinion 06-438 February 10, 2006 Lawyer Proposing to Make or Accept an Aggregate Settlement or Aggregated Agreement |
| Formal Opinion 05-437 October 1, 2005 Inadvertent Disclosure of Confidential Materials: Withdrawal of Formal Opinion 92-368 (November 10, 1992) |
Formal Opinion 05-436 May 11, 2005 Informed Consent to Future Conflicts of Interest; Withdrawal of Formal Opinion 93-37 |
| Formal Opinion 05-435 December 8, 2004 Ethical Obligations of a Lawyer Who Represents a Liability Insurer Named in Litigation Who Simultaneously Represents a Client Against an Insured of the Liability Insurer |
Formal Opinion 05-434 December 8, 2004 Lawyer Retained by Testator to Disinherit Beneficiary that Lawyer Represents on Unrelated Matters |
| Formal Opinion 04-433 August 25, 2004 Obligation of a Lawyer to Report Professional Misconduct by a Lawyer Not Engaged in the Practice of Law |
Formal Opinion 04-432 January 14, 2004 Lawyer Arranging or Posting Bail for a Client |
| Formal Opinion 03-431 August 8, 2003 Lawyer's Duty to Report Rule Violations by Another Lawyer Who May Suffer from Disability or Impairment |
Formal Opinion 03-430 July 9, 2003 Propriety of Insurance Staff Counsel Representing the Insurance Company and Its Insureds; Permissible Names for an Association of Insurance Staff Counsel |
| Formal Opinion 03-429 June 11, 2003 Obligations With Respect to Mentally Impaired Lawyer in the Firm |
Formal Opinion 02-428 August 9, 2002 Drafting Will on Recommendation of Potential Beneficiary Who Also is Client |
| Formal Opinion 02-427 May 31, 2002 Contractual Security Interest Obtained by a Lawyer to Secure Payment of a Fee |
Formal Opinion 02-426 May 31, 2002 Lawyer Serving as Fiduciary for an Estate or Trust |
| Formal Opinion 02-425 February 20, 2002 Retainer Agreement Requiring the Arbitration of Fee Disputes and Malpractice Claims |
Formal Opinion 01-424 September 22, 2001 A Former In-House Lawyer May Pursue a Wrongful Discharge Claim Against Her Former Employer and Client As Long As Client Information Properly Is Protected |
| Formal Opinion 01-423 September 22, 2001 Forming Partnerships With Foreign Lawyers |
Formal Opinion 01-422 June 24, 2001 Electronic Recordings by Lawyers Without the Knowledge of All Participants |
| Formal Opinion 01-421 February 16, 2001 Ethical Obligations of a Lawyer Working Under Insurance Company Guidelines and Other Restrictions |
Formal Opinion 00-420 November 29, 2000 Surcharge to Client for Use of a Contract Lawyer |
| Formal Opinion 00-419 - (in its entirety) July 7, 2000 Use of Credit Cards for Payment of Legal Fees; Withdrawal of Formal Opinions 320 (1968) and 338 (1974) and Informal Opinions 1120 (1969) and 1176 (1971) |
Formal Opinion 00-418 July 7, 2000 Acquiring Ownership in a Client in Connection with Performing Legal Services |
| Formal Opinion 00-417 April 7, 2000 Settement Terms Limiting a Lawyer's Use of Information |
Formal Opinion 00-416 April 7, 2000 Lawyer's Purchase of Accounts Receivable from Client |
| Formal Opinion 99-415 September 8, 1999 Representation Adverse to Organization by Former In-House Lawyer |
Formal Opinion 99-414 September 8, 1999 Ethical Obligations When a Lawyer Changes Firms |
| Formal Opinion 99-413 March 10, 1999 Protecting the Confidentiality of Unencrypted E-Mail |
Formal Opinion 98-412 September 9, 1998 Disclosure Obligations of a Lawyer Who Discovers That Her Client Has Violated a Court Order During Litigation |
| Formal Opinion 98-411 August 30, 1998 Ethical Issues in Lawyer-to-Lawyer Consultation |
Formal Opinion 98-410 February 27, 1998 Lawyer Serving as Director of Client Corporation |
| Formal Opinion 97-409 August 2, 1997 Conflicts of Interest: Successive Government and Private Employment |
Formal Opinion 97-408 August 2, 1997 Communication with Government Agency Represented by Counsel |
| Formal Opinion 97-407 May 13, 1997 Lawyer as Expert Witness or Expert Consutant |
Formal Ethics Opinion 97-406 Conflicts of Interest: Effect of Representing Opposing Counsel in Unrelated Matter |
| Formal Opinion 97-405 April 19, 1997 Conflicts in Representing Government Entities |
Formal Opinion 96-404 August 2, 1996 Client Under a Disability |
| Formal Opinion 96-403 August 2, 1996 Obligations of a Lawyer Representing an Insured Who Objects to a Proposed Settlement within Policy Limits |
Formal Opinion 96-402 August 2, 1996 Propriety of Payments to Occurrence Witnesses |
| Formal Opinion 96-401 August 2, 1996 Job Negotiations with Adverse Firm or Party |
Formal Opinion 96-400 January 24, 1996 Job Negotiations with Adverse Firm or Party |
| Formal Opinion 96-399 January 18, 1996 Ethical Obligations of Lawyers Whose Employers Receive Funds from the Legal Services Corporation to their Existing and Future Clients when Such Funding is Reduced and when Remaining Funding is Subject to Restrictive Conditions |
Formal Opinion 95-398 October 27, 1995 Access of Nonlawyers to a Lawyer's Data Base |
| Formal Opinion 95-397 September 18, 1995 Duty to Disclose Death of a Client |
Formal Opinion 95-396 July 28, 1995 Communications with Represented Persons |
| Formal Opinion 95-395 July 24, 1995 Obligations of a Lawyer who Formerly Represented a Client in Connection with a Joint Defense Consortium |
Formal Opinion 95-394 July 24, 1995 Settlement Agreement Restricting Lawyer's Right to Undertake Other Representations Against a Government Agency |
| Formal Opinion 95-393 April 24, 1995 Disclosure of Client Files to Non-Lawyer Supervisors |
Formal Opinion 95-392 April 24, 1995 Sharing Legal Fees with a For-Profit Corporate Employer |
| Formal Opinion 95-391 April 24, 1995 Use of the Title "Judge" by Former Judge in the Practice of Law |
Formal Opinion 95-390 January 25, 1995 Conflicts of Interest in the Corporate Family Context |
| Formal Opinion 94-389 December 5, 1994 Contingent Fees |
Formal Opinion 94-388 December 5, 1994 Relationships Among Law Firms |
| Formal Opinion 94-387 September 26, 1994 Disclosure to Opposing Party and Court That Stature of Limitations Has Run |
Formal Opinion 94-386 August 6, 1994 Citing of Unpublished Opinions Revised October 15, 1995 Where Court Rules Prohibit Such Usage |
| Formal Opinion 94-385 July 5, 1994 Sunpoenas of a Lawyer's Files |
Formal Opinion 94-384 July 5, 1994 Withdrawal by Lawyer Against Whom Opposing Counsel has Filed a Disciplinary Complaint |
| Formal Opinion 94-383 July 5, 1994 Use of Threatened Disciplinary Complaint Against Opposing Counsel |
Formal Opinion 94-381 May 9, 1994 Restrictions on Right to Practice |
| Formal Opinion 94-380 May 9, 1994 Counseling a Fiduciary |
Formal Opinion 93-379 December 6, 1993 Billing for Professional Fees, Disbursements and Other Expenses |
| Formal Opinion 93-378 November 8, 1993 Ex Parte Contacts with Expert Witnesses |
Formal Opinion 93-377 October 16, 1993 Positional Conflicts |
| Formal Opinion 93-376 August 6, 1993 The Lawyer's Obligation Where a Client Lies in Response to Discovery Requests |
Formal Opinion 93-375 August 6, 1993 The Lawyer's Obligation to Disclose Information Adverse to the Client in the Context of Bank Examination |
| Formal Opinion 93-374 June 7, 1993 Sharing of Court-Awarded Fees with Sponsoring Pro Bono Organizations |
Formal Opinion 93-373 April 16, 1993 Contingent Fees in Civil Cases Based on the Amount of Money Saved for the Client |
| Formal Opinion 93-371 April 16, 1993 Restrictions on the Right to Represent Clients in the Future |
Formal Opinion 93-370 February 5, 1993 Judicial Participatatin in Pretrial Settlement Negotiations |
| Formal Opinion 92-369 December 7, 1992 Disposition of Deceased Sole Practitioners' Client Files and Property |
Formal Opinion 92-367 October 16, 1992 Lawyer Examining a Client as an Adverse Witness, Or Conducting Third Party Discovery of the Client |
| Formal Opinion 92-366 August 8, 1992 Withdrawal When a Lawyer's Services Will Otherwise be Used to Perpetrate a Fraud |
Formal Opinion 92-365 July 6, 1992 Trade Associations as Clients |
| Formal Opinion 92-364 July 6, 1992 Sexual Relations with Clients |
Formal Opinion 92-363 July 6, 1992 Use of Threats of Prosecution in Connection With a Civil Matter |
| Formal Opinion 92-362 July 6, 1992 Contact With Opposing Party Regarding Settlement Offer |
Formal Opinion 91-361 July 12, 1991 Representation of a Partnership |
| Formal Opinion 91-360 July 11, 1991 Prohibition of Partnerships With Nonlawyers: Extrajurisdictional Effect |
Formal Opinion 91-359 March 22, 1991 Contact With Former Employee of Adverse Corporate Party |
| Formal Opinion 90-358 September 13, 1990 Protection of Information Imparted by Prospective Client |
Formal Opinion 90-357 May 10, 1990 Use of Designation "Of Counsel"; Withdrawal of Formal Opinion 330 (1972) and Informal Opinions 678 (1963), 710 (1964), 1134 (1969), 1173 (1971), 1189 (1971) and 1246 (1972) |
| Formal Opinion 88-356 December 16, 1988 Temporary Lawyers |
Formal Opinion 87-355 December 14, 1987 Lawyer's Participation in For-Profit Prepaid Legal Service Plan |
| Formal Opinion 87-354 November 7, 1987 Lawyer's Use of Medical-Legal Consulting Firm |
Formal Opinion 87-353 April 20, 1987 Lawyer's Responsibility With Relation To Client Perjury |
| Formal Opinion 85-352 July 7, 1985 Tax Return Advice; Reconsideration of Formal Opinion 314 |
Formal Opinion 84-351 October 20, 1984 Letterhead Designation of 'Affiliated' or 'Associated' Law Firms |
| Formal Opinion 84-350 May 7, 1984 Communications With Adverse Parties; Withdrawal of Formal Opinion 75 (1932) and Informal Opinions C-426 (1961), 524 (1962), 1140 (1970) and 1255 (1972) |
Formal Opinion 84-349 May 7, 1984 Lawyer Confidentiality; Withdrawal of Formal Opinions 155 (1936) and 156 (1936) |
