New ISBA ethics opinions address conflict of interest, client fraud, obligations of GALs

Three newly posted ISBA ethics opinions deal with obligations of lawyers who 1) represent local governments, 2) have a client who gave false evidence in an administrative hearing, and 3) serve as GALs in adoptions.

13-04 - A lawyer serving as an officer of a financial institution who also owns a significant stock interest in it must comply with the requirements of RPC 1.8 when representing a municipality that engages in business transactions with the financial institution. Read the full opinion.

13-05 - When a lawyer discovers that his or her client in an administrative hearing has previously submitted false material evidence to the tribunal, the lawyer must attempt to persuade the client to correct or withdraw the false evidence, but if that fails and if the effect of the false evidence cannot otherwise be undone, the lawyer must disclose the false evidence. Read the full opinion.

13-06 - A lawyer, serving as a guardian ad litem of minors in an adoption proceeding, must obtain the consent of the lawyer for the petitioning parties before interviewing the petitioners and likewise must obtain consent before contacting the petitioners to request an interview with the minors. Read the full opinion.

Find more ethics resources including other ISBA Advisory Opinions and our ISBA Ethics Hotline at http://www.isba.org/ethics