Pennsylvania Bar Association Ethics Opinions
Free plain-English summaries of legal ethics opinions issued by the Pennsylvania Bar Association, with full citations and source links on every page.
No Pennsylvania Bar Association opinions match these filters
Try a different search term or clear the filters.
When can a Pennsylvania lawyer be listed as "of counsel" to a law firm?
Only when there is a close, continuing, personal professional relationship between the lawyer and the firm. The opinion concludes the label must not be false or misleading, and an of-counsel lawyer is…
Can one lawyer represent both a corporation and its director defendants in a shareholder derivative suit?
Only sometimes. The opinion concludes joint representation is permitted when the claims amount to mere mismanagement and a disinterested corporate official consents, but is barred when there are serio…
Can a Pennsylvania lawyer ask a client to sign a COVID-19 liability waiver?
Only with informed consent. The opinion concludes that asking a client to waive the right to compensation for COVID-19 exposure creates a personal-interest conflict, so the lawyer may seek the waiver …
Browse Pennsylvania Bar Association opinions by topic
Legal ethics opinions from the Pennsylvania 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.