Ethics Question of the Week: Any rules to be aware of when joining a Board?

Q. I would like to join the Board of Governors for my local Bar Association. Are there any rules I should be aware of before joining?

A. IRPC 6.3 allows a lawyer to serve as a “director, officer, or member of a not-for-profit legal services organization, apart from the law firm I which the lawyer practices, notwithstanding that the organization serves persons having interest adverse to a client of the lawyer.”  A lawyer shall not participate in any decisions or actions if they would be incompatible with the lawyer’s obligations to a client under Rule 1.7 or if they would have a material adverse effect on the representation of a client of the organization whose interests are adverse to a client of the lawyer. 

ISBA members can browse past ISBA Ethics Opinions, access our Ethics Hotline, and other resources on the ISBA Ethics Page.

[Disclaimer. These questions are representative of calls received on the ISBA’s ethics hotline. The information provided below is meant as an educational tool to highlight potentially applicable Illinois RPC or other ethics resources that might help the lawyer answer the question posed. The information provided isn’t legal advice. Because every situation is different, often complex, and the law is constantly evolving, you shouldn’t rely upon this general information without conducting your own research.]