Legal+Ethics+Research

Legal Ethics Research
__Introduction __ Legal ethics research consists of finding __national and state legal ethics codes__, __ethics opinions__ and __case law__. Depending upon the state you are practicing in will determine what code, opinions and case law you will need to look at.

=Your Research Strategy=

1. Determine the issues and jurisdiction. Does the scenario involve only legal ethics or other areas of law? 2. Consult a Secondary Source. 3. Find Ethical Rules. 4. Find relevant case law, ethics opinions, or disciplinary proceeding decisions.

=American Bar Association Ethics Research=

· Adopted the original [|Canons of Professional Ethics] in 1908 and last amended them in 1970. · Adopted the [|Model Code of Professional Responsibility] in 1969 and last amended it in 1981 · Adopted its current [|Model Rules of Professional Conduct] in 1983 and amended them several times since. · The ABA Model Rules are persuasive only.

[|ABA Opinions] The ABA's Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility, with its predecessors, has issued ethics opinions since 1924. The publications reporting ABA opinions, noted below, generally contain indexes giving subject access to their contents.

=Where to find Opinions=


 * __ABA Journal: __** Reports opinions when issued.

[|ABA/BNA Lawyer's Manual on Professional Conduct]: BNA database. Reports formal opinions 1982-and informal 1980-


 * ABA Recent Ethics Opinions: ** Reports formal opinions 349-.


 * __ABA Reports __**: annual

=Older formal opinions =


 * __ABA Opinions of the Committee on Professional Ethics: __** (1967) Reports formal opinions 1-315 (1924-1965); two paper supplements contain nos. 316-333. This volume supersedes a 1958 collection.


 * __<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">ABA Formal and Informal Opinions: __**<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';"> (1985) Reports formal opinions 316-348 (1967-1982).

=Older informal opinions=


 * __<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">ABA Opinions of the Committee on Professional Ethics: __**<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';"> (1967). Provides digest of first 300 informal opinions, up to 1952


 * __<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">ABA Informal Ethics Opinions __**<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">: 2 vols. (1975). Reports all informal opinions available from 1961 to 1973, omitting confidential opinions or those only of internal ABA interest.


 * __<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">ABA Formal and Informal Ethics Opinions __**<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">: (1985). Reports informal opinions from 1974 to 1982.

=__<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">Westlaw and Lexis __=

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">Westlaw includes ABA Opinions and Model Rules in file **Topical Materials by Practice Area > Legal Ethics & Professional Responsibility**

Lexis includes ABA Opinions and Model Rules in file **Area of Law By Topic > Ethics**

=**__<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">New York State Ethics Research __**=

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">The four Appellate Divisions of state Supreme Court (which under Judiciary Law ' <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';"> 90 maintain attorney discipline) uniformly adopted the [|New York Rules of Professional Conduct] on April 1, 2009 replacing the Disciplinary Rules of the Code of Professional Conduct.

The Rules of Professional Conduct appear at 22 NYCRR Part 1200 and follow the same format as the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct.

The Appellate Divisions DID NOT adopt all the ABA Model Rules.

When Rules of Professional Conduct adopted, the [|NYSBA Comments] were not adopted.

[|Conversion chart] of Disciplinary Rules to Rules of Professional Conduct.

__IMPORTANT STATUTES, REGULATIONS and COURT RULES

Judiciary Law:__ includes various provisions dealing with the courts, attorney ethical issues (not included in Model Rules), etc...

__NYCRR__: Judiciary Title 22 includes the Attorney Model Rules.

__Court Rules__: includes Uniform Court Rules and other local rules that affect attorney practice and ethics. =__<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">Older Codes __=

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">The NYSBA adopted the ABA's original Canons of Ethics in 1909 and subsequently amended them a number of times, mainly to reflect changes the ABA made in its own standards.

NYSBA adopted the ABA's Code of Professional Responsibility in 1970.

NYSBA rejected the ABA's 1983 Model Rules and extensively to revise the Code. A version of the Code revised by the NYSBA, and further revised by the courts, was adopted in April 1990 went into effect on Sept. 1, 1990.

__<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">Where to find text of Older Codes __
 * __<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">McKinney's Consolidated Laws __<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">: superseded Judiciary Law, Book 29 Appendix. Gives text of Code, with historical notes and commentary, and digests New York court decisions and ethics opinions interpreting provisions.


 * __<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">Consolidated Laws Service __<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">, superseded Judiciary Law, Volume 19B. Gives text of Code, with digests of New York court decisions and ethics opinions interpreting provisions.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">R. Simon, __Simon's New York Code of Professional Responsibility Annotated__ (annual). Includes commentary and cites to cases and ethics opinions.

=__<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">Ethics Opinions __=

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">The NYSBA Committee on Professional Ethics issues both formal and informal opinions. Ethics opinions also issued by the Association of the Bar of the City of New York. These opinions are advisory only.

__<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">Where to Find Ethics Opinions __ <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">[|NYSBA Opinions]: Current opinions are on NYSBA website.

__<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">NYSBA Journal __<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">. Prints opinions when issued. __<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';"> New York Law Journal __<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">. Prints opinions when issued. Available in print, microform or on Westlaw.

[|New York Ethics Opinions: from Oceana]: contains ethics opinions from Association of the Bar of the City of New York, NYSBA, NY County Lawyers’ Association, and Bar Association of Nassau County.

[|Opinions of the Committees on Professional Ethics of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York and the New York County Lawyers' Association] (1956) (KFN5076.5/A2/As78/1956). Reports opinions up to 1956 and provides subject index and cross-reference table from old to new series of ABCNY opinion numbers.

=Disciplinary Proceedings Opinions=

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">Each Appellate Division department has a Committee on Professional Standards. This Committee is responsible for <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">investigating inquiries concerning the professional conduct of attorneys who are admitted to practice, reside, have an office in, are employed or transact business in a particular Department.

· __<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">Westlaw __<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">: in file Topical Materials by Practice of Law > Legal Ethics & Professional Responsibility > State Cases. Includes decisions related to the regulation and practice of law. · __<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">Lexis __<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">: in file Area of Law By Topic > Ethics >Find Cases > By State

=<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">Secondary Sources = __<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';"> Restatement __
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">American Law Institute, __Restatement of the Law Governing Lawyers__, 2 vols. (2000): The ALI regards this as an independently important contribution to the norms governing the legal profession, standing with the ABA Code and Rules.

__<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">Treatises __
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">Hazard, G., and Hodes, W., __The Law of Lawyering: a Handbook on the Model Rules of Professional Conduct__


 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">Wolfram, C., __Modern Legal Ethics__ (1986)


 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">Aronson, Robert H., Professional Responsibility in a Nutshell (2d. ed. 2006)

__<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">Looseleaf Services __ __<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';"> Digest of Bar Association Ethics Opinions __<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';"> (Maru, ed., 1970-1980). Digests ABA and state opinions. ABA digests are given first in numerical order, followed alphabetically by states. 1980 supplement provides detailed subject index to all volumes.

__<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">National Reporter on Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility __<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">, 4 vols. Organized by state, __Reporter__ gives full text of current state ethics codes and some recent court and bar ethics opinions. Also provides bibliography on professional responsibility.

__<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">Internet Sites __ <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';"> [|State Bar Web Sites]: alphabetical listing of all states with bar associations and rules of professional conduct.

[|American Legal Ethics Library] (Cornell Legal Information Institute). Links to all states professional responsibility material; includes current text of NY Code of Professional Responsibility.

[|ABA Center for Professional Responsibility]: Provides access to ABA codes, opinions and reports.

[|Legalethics.com]: provides information on ethical issues associated with the use of technology by legal professionals