Can I invite judges to the opening ceremonies for my new law office?
Apply this to your situation
This page answers the general question as of 1991. Ask about yours and see what the current Rhode Island Rules of Professional Conduct say for your facts, with citations.
Plain-English summary
The inquiring attorney asked whether an attorney may properly invite members of the judiciary to the opening ceremonies of the attorney's newly formed law office.
The panel took the position that there is no ethical problem presented by inviting members of the judiciary to the opening ceremonies of the attorney's newly formed law office.
Currency note
This opinion was issued in 1991, after the Rhode Island Supreme Court adopted the Model Rules of Professional Conduct effective November 15, 1988. The Rhode Island Supreme Court later revised the Rules of Professional Conduct in 2007 as part of the nationwide Ethics 2000 process, which renumbered and amended several provisions. Subsequent rule amendments or later opinions may have changed the analysis. Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance. Verify against current rules before relying on any specific rule mentioned here.
Common questions
Q: May a lawyer invite judges to a law office opening?
A: Under this opinion, yes. The panel concluded there is no ethical problem presented by inviting members of the judiciary to the opening ceremonies of a newly formed law office.
Q: Did the panel identify any conditions or limits?
A: The panel's response was a brief, unqualified conclusion that the invitation presents no ethical problem; it did not attach conditions in the digest.
Background and rules framework
The opinion does not cite a Rule of Professional Conduct. The panel issued a brief conclusion that inviting members of the judiciary to a law office opening presents no ethical problem, without identifying a specific rule or analyzing gift or influence provisions.
Citations and references
Rules of Professional Conduct:
- The opinion cites no Rule of Professional Conduct.
Statutes:
- None cited.
Cases:
- None cited.
Other opinions cited:
- None cited.
See also
- RI EAP Op. 95-45: Marketing Letters Must Say Advertisement
- RI EAP Op. 95-55: A Lawyer's Name in a Shared Television Advertisement
Source
- Landing page: https://www.courts.ri.gov/attorney-resources/Pages/Ethics-Advisory-Panel-default.aspx
- Original PDF: https://www.courts.ri.gov/Opinions/EAP%2091-05.pdf
Original opinion text
Best-effort transcription from a scanned PDF. Minor errors may remain; the linked PDF is authoritative.
DIGEST OF ETHICS ADVISORY PANEL
OPINION #91-5, REQUEST #135
Issued February 20, 1991
An attorney seeks Panel advice as to whether an attorney may properly invite members of the judiciary to the opening ceremonies of the attorney's newly formed law office.
The Panel takes the position that there is no ethical problem presented by inviting members of the judiciary to the opening ceremonies of the attorney's newly formed law office.
Ethics Advisory Panel advice is protective in nature. There is no requirement that an attorney abide by a Panel opinion, but if he or she does, he or she is fully protected from any charge of impropriety.
What do the rules say today, for your facts?
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