Model Rules of Professional Conduct

Judges only hiring clerks from their alma maters is bad look, new ABA ethics opinion says

Judges should use merit-based selection for court hires and not use their positions to influence outside officials, according to an ethics opinion released Wednesday by the ABA.

Feb 18, 2026 10:03 AM CST

Florida Bar won’t discipline former Rep. Gaetz for alleged sexual misconduct

The Florida Bar will not consider taking disciplinary action against former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Florida Republican and President Donald Trump’s initial choice to be the U.S. attorney general in his second term.

Jan 29, 2026 11:58 AM CST

A practical guide to trust and estates drafting software

Transactional lawyers spend significant amounts of time working with documents. When drafting legal documents, precision matters; and ensuring that statutory and technical requirements are satisfied is essential.

Jan 22, 2026 1:48 PM CST

Lawyers must provide information to former clients, but there are limits, new ABA ethics opinion says

Lawyers sometimes have to provide additional information to former clients and their new attorneys, even if the information is not found in the former client’s file, according to an ABA ethics opinion released Wednesday.

Jan 21, 2026 10:00 AM CST

‘Am I the Drama?’ What Cardi B can teach the legal profession

When rapper Cardi B released Am I the Drama? just weeks after winning a high-profile assault lawsuit, she turned legal adversity into cultural commentary. From narrative framing and courtroom conduct to trial publicity and client counseling, her experience offers practical lessons for lawyers and law students on managing reputation, evidence and ethics in the court of law and the court of public opinion.

Dec 17, 2025 9:01 AM CST

Why state bars are struggling to keep pace with AI in legal practice

Walk into any law firm today, and you’ll likely find attorneys using artificial intelligence tools for everything from contract analysis to brief writing. Yet if you walk into most state bar associations, you’ll find regulatory frameworks that haven’t caught up to this new reality.

Dec 15, 2025 12:31 PM CST

In withdrawal filings, client confidentiality must be guarded, even if it brings risk of denial, new ABA ethics opinion says

Disclosure of client information in support of a withdrawal motion must be narrowly tailored, according to a new ethics opinion from the ABA’s Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility.

Dec 3, 2025 10:00 AM CST

If mediating for unrepresented parties, lawyer must explain role clearly, new ABA ethics opinion says

Sometimes lawyers who work as mediators must explain to unrepresented parties the differences between mediating a case and representing clients and discuss what that means, according to a new ethics opinion by the ABA’s Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility.

Oct 15, 2025 10:02 AM CDT

As Customs searches more electronic devices, lawyers have some considerations when they cross borders

The government is searching more cellphones and laptops of international travelers than they have in the past, and lawyers need to take extra steps to protect their client information.

Sep 8, 2025 9:02 AM CDT

Firm founders who sought liquidated damages for early attorney exits should be suspended, conduct board says

The founding partners of a law firm who required lawyers to pay liquidated damages for early exits should be suspended for 90 days, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals’ Board on Professional Responsibility said in a July 30 opinion.

Aug 4, 2025 11:54 AM CDT

ABA ethics opinion addresses jury selection discrimination from consultants and AI technology

When using peremptory challenges, lawyers should not strike jurors based on discrimination, according to an ethics opinion by the ABA’s Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility.

Jul 9, 2025 10:20 AM CDT

Nonlawyers can partly own law firms in Puerto Rico under revised ethics rules

Puerto Rico has enacted new lawyer ethics rules that allow nonlawyers to have an ownership interest in law firms, a departure from Model Rule 5.4 of the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct on professional independence.

Jun 25, 2025 2:59 PM CDT

Bullying is a problem in the legal profession. How can the cycle be broken?

“I have heard from so many people saying, ‘This is exactly what happened to me,’” says Erin Gordon, author of Look What You Made Me Do: Confronting Heartbreak & Harassment in Big Law. “Partners in particular have power in their firms, and they are like bullies in the schoolyard.”

Jun 1, 2025 12:00 AM CDT

Lawyer at a Party: How to handle unwanted legal inquiries

“My lease says no pets allowed, but that’s only for like really big dogs—right?” You take a deep breath, look at your inquisitor and wonder anew why you left the comfort of your home for this cocktail party. At home, no one asks you legal questions.

May 29, 2025 9:51 AM CDT

Recruitment of lawyers from Trump-targeted firms is ethics violation, Democrats’ letter says

Updated: Two Democratic lawmakers are asking White House counsel David Warrington and six BigLaw firms for information related to deals made with President Donald Trump to avoid punitive executive orders.

Apr 9, 2025 2:40 PM CDT