New York State Bar Association Ethics Opinions
Free plain-English summaries of legal ethics opinions issued by the New York State Bar Association, with full citations and source links on every page.
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Can a lawyer take a contingent fee for handling a rate-increase application before an administrative agency?
The opinion concluded that, unless prohibited by statute or rule, a contingent fee for processing an administrative rate-increase application is not improper per se, provided it is reasonable, openly …
Does a client's new lawyer have to notify the former lawyer about a settlement?
The opinion concluded that, absent a statutory lien, a successor lawyer has no duty or right to notify the discharged predecessor of a settlement without the client's consent; the successor is not res…
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Legal ethics opinions from the New York State Bar Association 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.