ABA opinion addresses lawyer-client communications

The American Bar Association Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility has issued Formal Opinion 472 that addresses the obligations of a lawyer under ABA Model Rules in communicating with a person in the area of limited-scope legal representation.


Limited-scope legal representation typically means a designated service or services, rather than the full package of traditionally offered services that an attorney might provide. 

The client and lawyer select the service to be provided, and representation typically is limited to that agreement.

The new formal opinion clarifies communication with clients under this form of representation.

It seeks to provide additional guidance under ABA Model Rule 4.2, which covers communication with a person represented by counsel, and ABA Model Rule 4.3, which deals with communications with an unrepresented person.

The ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility periodically issues ethics opinions to guide lawyers, courts and the public in interpreting and applying
ABA model ethics rules to specific issues of legal practice, client-lawyer relationships and judicial behavior.

––––––––––––––––––––
Subscribe to the Legal News!
http://legalnews.com/Home/Subscription
Full access to public notices, articles, columns, archives, statistics, calendar and more
Day Pass Only $4.95!
One-County $80/year
Three-County & Full Pass also available