Los Angeles County Bar Association Ethics Opinions
Free plain-English summaries of legal ethics opinions issued by the Los Angeles County Bar Association, with full citations and source links on every page.
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When a California client discharges a contingent-fee lawyer and successor counsel settles the case, what must the predecessor lawyer do to substantiate its quantum-meruit fee lien, and how must trust funds be handled while the lien is in dispute?
The opinion concludes that the predecessor lawyer owes a continuing fiduciary duty to the former client and must promptly quantify the quantum-meruit lien (with reconstructed time records or other rea…
Can a California lawyer concurrently be 'of counsel' to a law firm and run a separate solo practice, and use separate business cards and stationery for each capacity?
The opinion concludes the dual capacity is ethically permitted; the lawyer may use separate business cards and stationery for the two practices so long as the relationship satisfies the 'close, person…
Legal ethics opinions from the Los Angeles County 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.