State Bar of Nevada Ethics Opinions
Free plain-English summaries of legal ethics opinions issued by the State Bar of Nevada, with full citations and source links on every page.
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Can a lawyer accept an anonymous lump-sum cash payment that is meant to cover legal fees for the lawyer's clients and a co-defendant represented by a different lawyer?
The Committee concluded that accepting an anonymous lump-sum cash payment intended to cover fees for both the lawyer's clients and a co-defendant represented by another lawyer raises conflict and conf…
Can a lawyer disburse settlement proceeds from the trust account before the settlement check clears, if the lawyer is willing to cover a bounced check?
The Committee concluded that no, a lawyer may not disburse settlement proceeds (to anyone, including the client) until the check or draft has cleared the banking process and been physically deposited …
Can a lawyer collect a client's auto med-pay insurance proceeds, hold them in trust, and negotiate down the medical provider's bill before paying it?
The Committee concluded that yes, the Nevada rules do not prohibit a lawyer from obtaining a client's medical-payment coverage monies under an auto policy, holding them in trust until the end of the c…
When a third party (such as a medical-lien holder) claims part of a client's settlement, what must the lawyer holding the funds do, especially if the client says don't pay?
The Committee concluded that under SCR 165 (now NRPC 1.15) a lawyer owes duties to a third party only when that party 'has' an actual interest in the specific funds (an assignment, statutory or contra…
Can a legal services nonprofit keep clients' unclaimed trust-account funds under its retainer agreement?
No. The Committee concluded a nonprofit legal services corporation cannot contract to take clients' unclaimed trust funds after three years, because that is not a reasonable fee and gives the lawyer a…
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Legal ethics opinions from the State Bar of Nevada 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.