State Bar of Michigan Ethics Opinions

Free plain-English summaries of legal ethics opinions issued by the State Bar of Michigan, with full citations and source links on every page.

245 opinions · Updated June 25, 2026
245 opinions

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Can a candidate for the Michigan Supreme Court criticize a divided opinion of that court during the campaign?

The opinion concluded that a candidate for the Michigan Supreme Court may criticize the majority portion of a divided opinion of that court, and the legal philosophy underlying it, so long as the…

1982

Could a Michigan judicial candidate use a 'strict sentencing philosophy' slogan in campaign advertising?

The opinion concluded that a judicial candidate could not use the slogan 'A strict sentencing philosophy!' in campaign literature, because standing alone it created an impression the candidate would…

February 15, 1980

Can a lawyer pay a Welcome Wagon type service to deliver the lawyer's welcome letter and pamphlet to newcomers in the community to promote the lawyer's practice?

No; the opinion concluded paying a private intermediary that is not a qualified referral service to recommend or promote the lawyer's services to potential clients violated the disciplinary rules…

February 1980

Can a Michigan lawyer advertise legal services by direct mail without it being improper solicitation?

The opinion concluded that a lawyer may advertise legal services by mail, and that such advertising is not impermissible solicitation as long as it is general in nature and is not directed to or…

August 1979

When may a court-appointed defense lawyer ask to be relieved from the appointment in Michigan?

The opinion concluded that an appointed lawyer cannot unilaterally reject the appointment but is bound to disclose disqualifying circumstances, such as lack of competence in the area or strong…

1972

Browse State Bar of Michigan opinions by topic

Conflicts of Interest (86) Judicial Conduct (56) Confidentiality (44) Advertising (41) Fee Arrangements (36) Judge Disqualification (28) Client Communication (27) Lawyer as Arbitrator or Mediator (21) Solicitation (20) Withdrawal (20) Former Clients (18) Government Lawyers (18)

Legal ethics opinions from the State Bar of Michigan interpret the rules of professional conduct for working lawyers, in response to inquiries from members and committees. They are advisory, 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.

Ethics opinions from other bars

Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct of the District of Columbia Courts (15) Alabama Judicial Inquiry Commission (967) Alabama State Bar (139) Alaska Bar Association (146) American Bar Association (150) Arkansas Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee (120) Board of Professional Responsibility of the Supreme Court of Tennessee (203) Colorado Bar Association (113) Colorado Judicial Ethics Advisory Board (82) Connecticut Bar Association (73) Disciplinary Board of the Hawaii Supreme Court (19) District of Columbia Bar (182) Illinois Judicial Ethics Committee (185) Illinois State Bar Association (389) Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission (13) Kentucky Bar Association (380) Los Angeles County Bar Association (100) Louisiana State Bar Association (22) Maine Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics (57) Maine Board of Overseers of the Bar (217) Maryland Judicial Ethics Committee (256) Massachusetts Bar Association (127) Minnesota Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board (26) Mississippi Judicial Election Oversight Committee (9) Nebraska Judicial Ethics Committee (122) Nebraska Supreme Court Lawyers' Advisory Committee (279) New Hampshire Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics (24) New Hampshire Bar Association (35) New Jersey Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Professional Ethics (558) New Mexico Advisory Committee on the Code of Judicial Conduct (193) New York City Bar (180) New York State Bar Association (932) North Carolina State Bar (578) Office of Legal Ethics Counsel & Advisory Committee of the Supreme Court of Missouri (930) Ohio Board of Professional Conduct (453) Oklahoma Bar Association (328) Orange County Bar Association (17) Oregon State Bar (196) Pennsylvania Bar Association (21) Rhode Island Supreme Court Ethics Advisory Panel (700) South Carolina Bar (505) South Dakota Special Committee on Judicial Election Campaign Intervention (20) State Bar Association of North Dakota (195) State Bar of Arizona (304) State Bar of California (189) State Bar of Georgia (65) State Bar of Montana (78) State Bar of Nevada (61) State Bar of New Mexico (90) State Bar of Wisconsin (263) Texas Professional Ethics Committee (707) The Florida Bar (543) The Mississippi Bar (162) Utah Courts Ethics Advisory Committee (19) Utah State Bar Ethics Advisory Opinion Committee (102) Vermont Bar Association (315) Vermont Judicial Ethics Committee (23) Virginia State Bar (299) Washington State Bar Association (1104) West Virginia Judicial Investigation Commission (773) West Virginia State Bar (Lawyer Disciplinary Board) (104) Wyoming Supreme Court Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee (18)