Model Rules of Professional Conduct

Love, Lies and Liability: Ethical boundaries in the age of dating apps

Dating apps, designed for deep connection, have the potential to create ethical tensions for the attorney swipers out there.

May 20, 2026 10:18 AM CDT

Besides payment, what can be addressed in client engagement agreements? New ABA opinion offers direction

A lawyer can identify when they may withdraw from representing clients in engagement agreements, including topics that are not explicitly identified in the withdrawal rule, such as clients not consulting with counsel before speaking to the press, according to a new ABA ethics opinion.

May 20, 2026 10:04 AM CDT

Yes or No Questions: Getting your client to say less can be difficult, if not impossible, some lawyers say

“Are you sure you don’t want him to keep talking?” It’s a problem that many lawyers face: What can and should they do about a client with the gift of gab? While experienced lawyers have tips on working with loquacious clients, they also agree on one main point: In the end, some clients can’t help it. They can’t shut up.

May 6, 2026 2:06 PM CDT

When should counsels disclose judges’ conflicts? Responsibilities addressed in new ABA ethics opinion

If a lawyer knows or should know information in a court proceeding that would likely warrant a judicial disqualification, they have an obligation to disclose it, even if the judge doesn’t, according to an ethics opinion released Wednesday by the ABA.

Apr 8, 2026 10:01 AM CDT

How can lawyers be sure clients understand what they’re saying?

Jenny Bradley, owner of Triangle Smart Divorce in Cary, North Carolina, says lawyers can miss some important clues that their clients are struggling to understand the advice they are getting.

Apr 1, 2026 1:10 AM CDT

Where can 1Ls get five-figure signing bonuses?

Updated: In a move that some say is costing large law firms more money in recruitment programs, at least 15 Am Law 100 firms are offering first-year associates as much as $50,000 if they commit to 2L summer associate programs.

Mar 26, 2026 10:47 AM CDT

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