Rhode Island Supreme Court Ethics Advisory Panel Ethics Opinions
Free plain-English summaries of legal ethics opinions issued by the Rhode Island Supreme Court Ethics Advisory Panel, with full citations and source links on every page.
No Rhode Island Supreme Court Ethics Advisory Panel opinions match these filters
Try a different search term or clear the filters.
I did title and tax work for someone two years ago; now my bank client wants me to pursue a defaulted loan against him. May I?
The panel advised that Rule 1.9 governs and the attorney cannot continue to represent the lender in the collection matter against the former client unless the former client's informed consent is obtai…
I unknowingly represented my client's litigation opponent in an unrelated workers' comp claim. May I keep representing my original client against him?
The panel advised that if the two matters are not the same or substantially related, Rule 1.9(a) does not preclude continuing the original representation, but because the attorney may hold information…
I once represented a husband and wife; now the wife is my current client's adversary in a matter about the same property. May I continue?
The panel advised that because the present matter is substantially related to the prior joint representation (both concern the parties' interest in the same real estate), Rule 1.9(a) bars continuing a…
I investigated a lawsuit as a public agency's investigator, not its lawyer. Now as an attorney elsewhere, can I represent the plaintiffs against that agency?
The panel advised that Rule 1.11(a) plainly bars the attorney from representing a private client in a matter in which the attorney participated as a public officer or employee (even as an investigator…
Browse Rhode Island Supreme Court Ethics Advisory Panel opinions by topic
Legal ethics opinions from the Rhode Island Supreme Court Ethics Advisory Panel 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.