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what to do? The Ethics Counsel and the Advisory Service Committee might have the answer you're
seeking.
Established for just that purpose, the Ethics Advisory Service Committee comprised of attorneys across the
state along with Ethics Counsel provide confidential non-binding ethics opinions to Louisiana licensed
attorneys.

To access this service you only need to put your question in writing and fax or email to the attention of
Ethics Counsel at fax: (504)598-6753 or e-mail to Eric Barefield. For simple inquires contact Ethics
Counsel by phone at 504-619-0122 or 1-800-421-5722.

There is generally a turn-around time of approximately five to ten working days on advisory opinions,
possibly a little longer or shorter depending upon the complexity and/or novelty of the issue(s) involved
and number of requests from other members being handled at the time. Please note, the committee and
Ethics Counsel are authorized to respond only to prospective ethical behavior of the attorney requesting the
opinion and cannot respond to third party queries.

The Ethics Advisory Service is not authorized or permitted to answer questions from the general public
regarding the conduct of Louisiana attorneys. It does not offer or provide legal advice or give legal
opinions. The Ethics Advisory Service does not accept, investigate or prosecute complaints regarding
attorney misconduct nor does it provide evaluations of whether or not a Louisiana attorney may have
committed misconduct. Complaints of attorney misconduct or questions regarding the complaint process
should be directed to the Office of Disciplinary Counsel at 1-800-326-8022 or ladb.org.

The Ethics Advisory Service does NOT answer HYPOTHETICAL questions, its goal is to assist Louisiana
lawyers by providing non-binding confidential opinions regarding a member's own prospective conduct.

Ethics Counsel

There are two full time Ethics Counsel on staff at the LSBA. They conduct approximately 50-65 Ethics
CLE seminars each year (pre pandemic).

Public Ethics Advisory Opinions

Review opinions that have been prepared by the Publications Subcommittee of the Association’s Rules of
Professional Conduct Committee. The issues and topics covered within these opinions originate from actual
requests for ethics advisory opinions submitted to the Ethics Advisory Service by lawyer members of the
Association. In selecting topics and issues for publication, the Publications Subcommittee has reviewed
opinions referred to it by Ethics Counsel and/or panel members of the Ethics Advisory Service for purposes
of determining whether the opinions submitted address issues of interest, importance and/or significance to
the general bar and which are not highly fact-sensitive. The Publications Subcommittee has made every
effort to promote and maintain confidentiality of the parties involved in the original requests.

These public opinions have been prepared by the Publications Subcommittee of the Association’s Rules of
Professional Conduct Committee. The issues and topics covered within these opinions originate from actual
requests for ethics advisory opinions submitted to the Ethics Advisory Service by lawyer members of the
Association.

In selecting topics and issues for publication, the Publications Subcommittee has reviewed opinions
referred to it by Ethics Counsel and/or panel members of the Ethics Advisory Service for purposes of
determining whether the opinions submitted address issues of interest, importance and/or significance to
the general bar and which are not highly fact-sensitive. The Publications Subcommittee has made every