The Florida Bar Ethics Opinions
Free plain-English summaries of legal ethics opinions issued by the The Florida Bar, with full citations and source links on every page.
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If a lawyer learns mid-case that the client's personal-injury accident was faked, may the lawyer withdraw, and may the lawyer report what the client said?
The lawyer may withdraw, returning the file or moving to withdraw even without the client's agreement, and need give no specific reason unless the client insists. Whether the lawyer may disclose infor…
Can a lawyer be made to give the IRS the name and address of a client for whom he obtained a tax ruling on a hypothetical question?
No. The committee unanimously concluded a lawyer is neither required to nor may ethically disclose to the IRS the name and address of a client at whose request the lawyer framed a hypothetical questio…
May a lawyer holding funds for a client tell the client's creditors he holds the funds so they can garnish them?
No. The committee concluded it is improper for an attorney to advise his client's creditors that he holds funds due to the client so the creditor may proceed against them; the lawyer's duty is to repr…
Must a lawyer keep a client's confidence when the client threatens a crime, and may he pay a forwarding fee to the lawyer who referred the case?
The duty to preserve a client's confidences outlasts the engagement, but the committee said the Canons both permit and require a lawyer to disclose a client's announced intention to commit a crime; wh…
Can a lawyer use a collection agency to collect an unpaid legal fee from a client?
The opinion concluded that a lawyer whose reasonable efforts to collect a delinquent fee fail may use a reputable collection agency, provided the lawyer discloses no client details beyond what is rele…
May a legal services organization give information about its clients to a county funding agency?
The opinion concluded that a legal services organization may furnish client information to a county funding agency only with the affected clients' consent, because legal aid lawyers must protect confi…
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Legal ethics opinions from the The Florida Bar interpret the rules of professional conduct for working lawyers, in response to inquiries from members and committees. They are not binding like court discipline decisions, but courts and discipline boards treat formal opinions as substantial guidance on how the rules apply. Every opinion above has a plain-English question and short answer, plus a link to the original source on the bar's site.