Ethics Opinions
Ethics opinions are drafted by the State Bar of California’s Committee on Professional Responsibility and Conduct (COPRAC).
These advisory opinions address the ethical propriety of hypothetical attorney conduct. Although not binding, they are frequently cited in decisions of the California Supreme Court, the State Bar Court Review Department, and the Courts of Appeal.
Attorneys may also contact the Ethics Hotline, a telephone research service that assists attorneys with questions relating to their ethical responsibilities. The Ethics Hotline can be reached by calling 800-238-4427 (800-2-ETHICS) in California or 415-538-2150 or by submitting an Ethics Hotline Research Assistance Request Form.
Finding ethics opinions
- The California Ethics Opinions Table categorizes California-published ethics opinions by subject matter on topics such as conflicts of interest and confidentiality, as well as other topics relevant to professional responsibility. The opinions table is meant to serve as a research aid and entry point into the full text of each opinion.
- Alternatively, scroll down to view COPRAC’s full catalog of ethics opinions, listed in reverse chronological order starting with the most recent.
- Can’t find an ethics opinions that addresses your issue? You may request a formal opinion by visiting the Opinion Requests page. Requests will be considered by the Committee on Professional Responsibility and Conduct.
Recent ethics alert
Recent practical guidance
- Practical Guidance for the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence in the Practice of Law (updated and approved by the Board of Trustees as of May 14, 2026)
Ethics opinions
| Opinion # | Summary |
|---|---|
| CAL 2026-210 | Flat Fees and Termination |
| CAL 2024-209 | Succession Planning |
| CAL 2023-208 | Ethical Obligations When Working Remotely |
| CAL 2021-207 | Clients with Diminished Capacity |
| CAL 2021-206 | Colleague Impairment |
| CAL 2021-205 | Duties to Prospective Client |
| CAL 2020-204 | Litigation Funding |
| CAL 2020-203 | Data Breach |
| CAL 2020-202 | Advising a Cannabis Business |
| CAL 2020-201 | Ethical Obligations When Departing Firm |
| CAL 2019-200 | Witness Perjury |
| CAL 2019-199 | Attorney Directory and Rating Websites |
| CAL 2019-198 | Settling Before Withdrawal |
| CAL 2019-197 | Seeking Advice About Current Clients |
| CAL 2016-196 | Attorney Blogging |
| CAL 2016-195 | Publicly Available Confidential Information |
| CAL 2015-194 | Puffing in Negotiations |
| CAL 2015-193 | Electronically Stored Information and Discovery Requests |
| CAL 2015-192 | Disclosure of Confidences at Motions for Withdrawal |
| CAL 2014-191 | In Rem Bankruptcy Proceedings |
| CAL 2014-190 | Dissolving Firm and Moving to New Firm |
| CAL 2013-189 | Deceitful Conduct |
| CAL 2013-188 | Unsolicited Email Correspondence |
| CAL 2013-187 | Third-Party Payor |
| CAL 2012-186 | Social Networking |
| CAL 2012-185 | Settling Dispute with Former Client |
| CAL 2012-184 | Virtual Law Offices |
| CAL 2012-183 | Duty of Confidentiality and Seeking Legal Advice |
| CAL 2011-182 | Directly Adverse with Another Client |
| CAL 2011-181 | Implied Consent Under "No Contact" Rule |
| CAL 2011-180 | Gift From Client |
| CAL 2010-179 | Data Breach |
| CAL 2009-178 | Settling Fee Dispute with Former Client |
| CAL 2009-177 | Jointly Payable Settlement Check |
| CAL 2009-176 | Fee-Waiver Settlement Offer |
| CAL 2008-175 | Successor Counsel Lien Duties |
| CAL 2007-174 | Return of Electronic Client Files |
| CAL 2007-173 | Private Will Depository/Registry |
| CAL 2007-172 | Fees Paid by Credit Card |
| CAL 2006-171 | Withdrawn Fees When Client Later Disputes |
| CAL 2006-170 | Charging Lien in Contingency Fee Agreement |
| CAL 2005-169 | Overdraft Protection; Withdrawal of Earned Fees |
| CAL 2005-168 | Implied Formation Through Communications Sent via Website |
| CAL 2004-167 | Firm Name Implies a Connection to Governmental Entities |
| CAL 2004-166 | Communications with Prospective Clients in Mass Disaster Internet Chatrooms |
| CAL 2004-165 | Appearance Attorneys |
| CAL 2003-164 | Implied Formation Through Radio Call-In Show |
| CAL 2003-163 | Representing Corporation and Corporate Officer Individually |
| CAL 2003-162 | Advocation of Civil Disobedience |
| CAL 2003-161 | Implied Formation in a Non-Office Setting |
| CAL 2002-160 | Settlement Authority/Right to Legal Fees When Client is Missing |
| CAL 2002-159 | Financing Representation Through Mortgage Loan on Client’s Real Property |
| CAL 2002-158 | Separation of Public Defenders Office into Different Branches |
| CAL 2001-157 | Former Client File Retention |
| CAL 2001-156 | Constituent Sub-Entities Positions are Antagonistic |
| CAL 2001-155 | Attorney Website Advertising |
| CAL 1999-154 | Investment Advisory Service Involving Legal and Non-Legal Advice |
| CAL 1999-153 | Representing Corporation and Shareholder A Against Shareholder B |
| CAL 1998-152 | Duties to Former Clients and Imputed Conflicts |
| CAL 1997-151 | Discovery Sanctions |
| CAL 1997-150 | Shared Office Space and Services |
| CAL 1997-149 | Non-Expert Witness Payment |
| CAL 1997-148 | Markets/Advises Estate Plans to the Public |
| CAL 1996-147 | Billing on Multiple Matters at Same Time |
| CAL 1996-146 | Advising or Assisting Violation of Law |
| CAL 1996-145 | Ascertaining Representation Status |
| CAL 1995-144 | Solicitation Through Investigatory Interviewing of Witnesses |
| CAL 1995-143 | Third Party Presentations Promoting a Lawyer’s Services |
| CAL 1995-142 | Targeted Mailings to Criminal Defendants |
| CAL 1995-141 | Rendering of Non-Legal Services to Client |
| CAL 1995-140 | Compensation From Insurance Agent to Whom Client is Referred |
| CAL 1995-139 | Matters Adverse to Insurer when Hired by Insurer to Represent Insured |
| CAL 1994-138 | Hiring of Outside Lawyer Not Specific to a Case |
| CAL 1994-137 | Receipt of Conflicting Instructions from Organization’s Partners |
| CAL 1994-136 | Attorney’s Fees Pursuant to Civil Rights Statutes |
| CAL 1994-135 | Structured Settlement Fee Agreements |
| CAL 1994-134 | Employment Terminated but Substitution of Counsel not Filed |
| CAL 1993-133 | Represent Formerly Adverse Party in Malpractice Claim Against Former Attorney |
| CAL 1993-132 | Director for Corporation but Facilitating Transaction for Another Client |
| CAL 1993-131 | Communications Between Represented Persons |
| CAL 1993-130 | Payment from Executor and Statutory Fees |
| CAL 1993-129 | Principal Law Firm and “Of Counsel” Representing Adverse Interests |
| CAL 1993-128 | Screening of Criminal Defense Attorney Who Previously Assisted in Prosecution |
| CAL 1992-127 | Release of Criminal Client File to Successor Counsel |
| CAL 1992-126 | Attorneys Organizing and Participating in Temporary Employment Agencies |
| CAL 1991-125 | Ex Parte Communication with Director of Organization |
| CAL 1991-124 | Letter Stating “All Available Legal Remedies Will be Pursued” |
| CAL 1989-116 | Mandatory Binding Arbitration Clause of Potential Malpractice Claim |
| CAL 1989-115 | Waiver of Client’s Right to Disqualify Attorney |
| CAL 1989-114 | Waving Statutory Fees as Part of Settlement in Civil Rights Action |
| CAL 1989-113 | Adversity to Wholly Owned Subsidiary |
| CAL 1989-112 | Institute Conservatorship Without Client's Consent |
| CAL 1989-111 | Answer Due and Client is Missing |
| CAL 1989-110 | Bankruptcy Trustee Communicating with Represented Bankruptcy Parties |
| CAL 1989-109 | Not Published |
| CAL 1989-108 | Arguing Different Sides of the Same Legal Question Before Same Judge |
| CAL 1989-107 | Not Published |
| CAL 1989-106 | Offer to Dismiss Criminal Charges Conditioned on Release from Civil Liability |
| CAL 1988-105 | Soliciting Personal Injury Victims by Phone or Mail and Waivers of Improper Solicitations |
| CAL 1988-104 | Restrictions on Lawyer’s Right to Practice |
| CAL 1988-103 | Paralegal Duties |
| CAL 1988-102 | Not Published |
| CAL 1988-101 | Interpleader |
| CAL 1988-100 | Communication with Discharged Juror |
| CAL 1988-99 | Not Published |
| CAL 1988-98 | Not Published |
| CAL 1988-97 | Lay Signatory on Client Trust Account |
| CAL 1988-96 | Disclosure of Client’s Past Misconduct |
| CAL 1987-95 | Disclosure of Excluded Evidence to Jurors After Trial |
| CAL 1987-94 | Structured Settlements |
| CAL 1987-93 | Criminal Law Conflicts |
| CAL 1987-92 | Sexual Relationship With a Client |
| CAL 1987-91 | Insurance In-House Counsel to Represent Insureds |
| CAL 1986-90 | Disclosure of Stolen Property |
| CAL 1986-89 | “Of Counsel” Law Firm Relationships |
| CAL 1986-88 | Law Firm Designated as “Of Counsel” to Another Law Firm |
| CAL 1986-87 | Disclosure of Client’s Prior Criminal Conviction |
| CAL 1985-86 | Duties to Client When Law Firm Dissolves |
| CAL 1985-85 | Ex Parte Communication with Rehabilitation Consultant |
| CAL 1984-84 | Duties to Prospective Client |
| CAL 1984-83 | Public Defender and District Attorney are Married to One Another |
| CAL 1984-82 | Ex Parte Communication with Administrative Officials |
| CAL 1984-81 | Threatening to File EEOC Complaint |
| CAL 1984-80 | Attorney Representing Client While Further Serving as Tripartite Arbitrator |
| CAL 1984-79 | Client Enters Contingency Agreement with Firm for Expert Testimony |
| CAL 1984-78 | Ex Parte Communication with Trial Judge on Matter Reviewed by Higher Court |
| CAL 1984-77 | Inability to Communicate in Client’s Language |
| CAL 1984-76 | Disclosure of Evidence About the Crime |
| CAL 1983-75 | Referral Fee to Layperson |
| CAL 1983-74 | Client Perjury |
| CAL 1983-73 | Threatening Administrative or Disciplinary Charges |
| CAL 1983-72 | Contingency Fees Based on Value of Community Property |
| CAL 1983-71 | Authority of ABA Model Code on California Lawyer |
| CAL 1983-70 | Increasing Fees to Cover Fees Paid to Lawyer Referral Service |
| CAL 1982-69 | Real Estate Transaction Involving Legal and Non-Legal Services |
| CAL 1982-68 | Creditor Collection Matters |
| CAL 1982-67 | Mailing Advertisements |
| CAL 1982-66 | Using a “Trade Name” for a Law Office |
| CAL 1982-65 | Donation of Legal Services |
| CAL 1981-64 | Legal Services Program Funding Reduced or Terminated |
| CAL 1981-63 | Law Firm Represents Member of City Council While Representing Actions Against City |
| CAL 1981-62 | Notes or Liens as Security for Fees |
| CAL 1981-61 | Soliciting Business from Another Attorney Including In-House Counsel |
| CAL 1981-60 | Earned Fees Paid to Service Exchange |
| CAL 1981-59 | Representing Two Defendants in Separate and Unrelated Criminal Cases |
| CAL 1981-58 | Disclosure of Expert Opinion to Third Parties |
| CAL 1981-57 | Representing Client Against Clients of a Former Legal Partner |
| CAL 1981-56 | Arbitration Provision in Retainer Agreement |
| CAL 1981-55 | Attorney as Guarantor on a Client’s Cost Bond |
| CAL 1980-54 | Non-Targeted, Mailed Solicitations to Potential Business Clients |
| CAL 1980-53 | Interest Charged on Past Due Client Receivables |
| CAL 1980-52 | Public Defender Represents Client When their Former Client is a Witness |
| CAL 1979-51 | Public Agency Attorneys Labor Action |
| CAL 1979-50 | Nonattorney Disclosure of Client Confidences |
| CAL 1979-49 | District Attorney Communicating with Represented Defendant in Another Matter |
| CAL 1979-48 | Failure to Pay Reporter’s Fees |
| CAL 1977-47 | Malpractice Arbitration Agreements |
| CAL 1977-46 | Attorney-Council Member Conflicts |
| CAL 1977-45 | Welfare and Institutions Code 300 Conflicts |
| CAL 1977-44 | Participating in a Service Exchange |
| CAL 1977-43 | Communications with Public Official |
| CAL 1977-42 | Public Defender Soliciting Employment of Criminal Defendants |
| CAL 1976-41 | Representation of a Pretermitted Heir of Decedent’s Estate |
| CAL 1976-40 | Prosecutor Informing Crime Victim of Possible Civil Remedies |
| CAL 1976-39 | Communicating with Jurors After Trial |
| CAL 1976-38 | Advancing Litigation Costs |
| CAL 1976-37 | Disclosure of Confidences in Child Custody Case |
| CAL 1975-36 | Identity of Client Trust Account Funds |
| CAL 1975-35 | Legal Fees Paid by Criminal Organization |
| CAL 1975-34 | Division of Fees Following Dissolution of Firm |
| CAL 1975-33 | Communication with Adverse Party’s Physician |
| CAL 1975-32 | Professional Announcements in “Nonlegal Newspapers” |
| CAL 1974-31 | Not Published |
| CAL 1972-30 | Misleading Communications to Commence Trial |
| CAL 1972-29 | Participation in a TV Lecture Series to for Legal and Nonlegal Services |
| CAL 1971-28 | Not Published |
| CAL 1971-27 | Firm Name Indicating a Partnership None Exists |
| CAL 1971-26 | Not Published |
| CAL 1971-25 | Third Party Preservation of Client Confidences |
| CAL 1971-24 | Use of Professional Designation Symbol |
| CAL 1970-23 | Court Appointment to Represent Indigent Defendants |
| CAL 1970-22 | Joint Clients in Criminal Defense |
| CAL 1970-21 | Not Published |
| CAL 1970-20 | Misleading Firm Names |
| CAL 1969-19 | Advertising Materials |
| CAL 1969-18 | Lawyer and Consultant Partnership |
| CAL 1969-17 | Attorney Participation in Radio Programming |
| CAL 1968-16 | Delay of Litigation Until Fees are Paid |
| CAL 1968-15 | Attorney Becoming Affiliate Member of a Board of Realtors |
| CAL 1968-14 | Not Published |
| CAL 1968-13 | Solicitating Clients on Behalf of Organizational Client |
| CAL 1967-12 | Attorney as Private Professor |
| CAL 1967-11 | Duty of Candor to Opposing Counsel |
| CAL 1967-10 | Legal Advertising and Specialization |
| CAL 1967-9 | Not Published |
| CAL 1967-8 | Paid Political Advertising by Attorneys |
| CAL 1967-7 | Advertisements in Out-of-Town Telephone Directories |
| CAL 1967-6 | Not Published |
| CAL 1966-5 | Recording Telephone Conversations |
| CAL 1965-3 | Interview Manager of Adverse Party |