Page 339 - 2024 Orientation Manual

The Ethics Advisory Service is not authorized or permitted to answer questions from the general public
regarding the conduct ofLouisiana attomeys. It does not offer or provide legal advice or give legal
opinions. The Ethics Advisory Service does not accept, investigate or prosecute complaints regarding
attomey misconduct nor does it provide evaluations of whether or not a Louisiana attomey may have
committed misconduct. Complaints of attomey misconduct or questions regarding the complaint process
should be directed to the OfEce of Disciplinary Counsel at l-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 ofthe
Association. In selecting topics and issues for publication, the Publications Subcommittee has reviewed
opinions referred to it by Ethics Counsel and/or panel members ofthe 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 Subcommiftee has made every
effort to promote and maintain confidentiality olthe parties involved in the original requests.

These public opinions have been prepared by the Publications Subcommittee ofthe 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
refened 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
eflort to promote and maintain confidentiatity ofthe parties involved in the original requests.

Published Ooinions
The comments and opinions of the Committee public or private are not binding on any person or
tribunal, including-but not limited to the Office of Disciplinary Counsel and the Louisiana
Attomey Disciptinary Board. Public opinions are those which the Committee has published-
specifically designated thereon as "PUBLIC"-and may be cited. Private opinions are those that
have not been published by the Committee-specifically designated thereon as "NOT FOR
PUBLICATION"-and are intended to be advice for the originally-inquiring lawyer only and are
not intended to be made available for public use or for citation. Neither the LSBA, the members of
the Committee or its Ethics Counsel assume any legal liability or responsibility for the advice and
opinions expressed in this process.

Opinions are published on the LSBA website as follows:
05-LSBA-RPCC-001 PUBLIC Opinion (414105) Lawyer Retirement-Ethical Requirements to
Clienl;
05-LSBA-RPCC-002 PUBLIC Opinion (41105) Contingency Fees in Domestic Relations Cases;