ISBA Ethics Opinions on Client Funds and Property | Illinois State Bar Association

Opinion 20-06 | Client Funds and Property
Lawyer's possession of dispute settlement funds.
Opinion 19-03 | Client Files | Client Funds and Property | Confidentiality
Requests to produce lawyer business records including client trust account information
Opinion 15-03 | Client Funds and Property
Unclaimed wills
Opinion 15-02 | Client Funds and Property
Disposition of unclaimed and unidentified client funds
Opinion 14-01 | Client Funds and Property | Fees and Expenses
Credit card used to fund a security retainer
Opinion 12-19 | Client Funds and Property | Fees and Expenses | Fees Paid by Third Party
Use of advance payment retainers in family law matters
Opinion 06-01 | Client Funds and Property | Financial Assistance to Clients
Lawyer’s personal guarantee to pay liens and subrogation claims
Opinion 02-02 | Client Funds and Property | Fees and Expenses
Transfer of dissolved corporate client’s funds held in trust by lawyer to lawyer as fees

Client deposited funds into Firm's trust account for a specific transaction. The transaction never closed. More than five years later, Client and subsidiaries were involuntarily dissolved by Illinois Secretary of State. Firm may properly transfer the funds to its operating account in satisfaction of its claim for attorney fees if it has obtained written consent from the dissolved Client, through one of its former officers. Absent consent, Firm should reduce its claim to judgment and thereafter obtain a court order to set off its judgment lien against the funds held in the trust account.
Opinion 01-02 | Client Files | Client Funds and Property | Withdrawal from Representation
Failure to pay legal fees, disposal of files
Opinion 01-01 | Client Files | Client Funds and Property | Communication with Client
Former client access to lawyer’s file
Opinion 95-11 | Client Funds and Property | Fee Agreements
Improper to negotiate settlement check of missing client
Opinion 93-03 | Client Funds and Property | Reporting Lawyer Misconduct
Duty to report improper financial assistance to client
Opinion 93-17 | Client Funds and Property | Fees and Expenses
Deduction of attorney fees from funds held in escrow
Opinion 91-16 | Client Funds and Property
Disbursement of settlement proceeds to prior attorney without client consent
Opinion 88-15 | Client Funds and Property | Fees and Expenses
Lawyer transferring client funds held in trust for lawyer’s fees
Opinion 88-13 | Client Funds and Property | Confidentiality | Court Obligations
Lawyer advised, or in possession, of client incriminating physical evidence by third person.
Opinion 845 | Client Funds and Property | Deceased or Missing Clients
Holding funds of missing client

ISBA Advisory Opinions on Professional Conduct are prepared as an educational service to members of the ISBA. While the opinions express the ISBA interpretation of the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct and other relevant materials in response to a specific hypothesized fact situation, they do not have the weight of law and should not be relied upon as a substitute for individual legal advice. For more information, call the ISBA Legal Department at (217) 525-1760 or (800) 252-8908.