ISBA Ethics Opinions on Government Representation | Illinois State Bar Association

Opinion 16-05 | Conflict of Interest | Government Representation | Nonlawyer Assistants
Member of city council employed by law firm as paralegal
Opinion 14-07 | Advice to Client | Government Representation | Scope of Representation
Providing legal services to clients under the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act
Opinion 14-05 | Conflict of Interest | Conflict of Interest - Personal Interests | Government Representation | Prosecutors
State's Attorney representing county in labor negotiaitons with county law enforcement personnel
Opinion 13-07 | Conflict of Interest | Government Representation | Prosecutors
Lawyer serving as both a municipal prosecutor and administrative hearing officer for the same municipality
Opinion 12-13 | Conflict of Interest - Personal Interests | Government Representation | Imputed Disqualification
Representing municipality in non-adjudicative zoning matter oppossed by law firm partner and availability of municipality informed consent to allow representation in other matters.
Opinion 12-12 | Appearance of Impropriety | Conflict of Interest - Personal Interests | Government Representation | Imputed Disqualification
Defending government entity in matter brought by law firm partner and availability of government entity's informed consent to allow representation in other matters
Opinion 07-01 | Conflict of Interest | Government Representation
Concurrent representation of private parties against government entities and as counsel for other government entities in unrelated matters

Because state government is not one entity composed of all departments under the jurisdiction of the Governor for purposes of resolving conflict of interest questions, a lawyer may represent one state government agency while representing a private party adverse to another state government agency.
Opinion 96-07 | Government Representation
Successive government and private employment
Opinion 95-05 | Conflict of Interest | Government Representation | Imputed Disqualification
Lawyer representing municipality in various defense matters may bring unrelated claim against municipal agency only with consent of both clients
Opinion 94-03 | Advertising and Solicitation | Government Representation
Social hospitality to elected and appointed government officials
Opinion 94-21 | Conflict of Interest | Government Lawyers | Government Representation
Representation of client adverse to current municipal client in different matters
Opinion 94-16 | Government Representation | Prosecutors
Concurrent representation of civil and criminal defendants while acting as special prosecutor in same jurisdiction
Opinion 90-34 | Conflict of Interest | Government Representation
Law firm representing municipality and criminal defendants charged in municipality
Opinion 89-15 | Conflict of Interest | Government Representation
Participation of city attorney in ordinance adoption proceeding where city attorney will personally benefit
Opinion 87-04 | Conflict of Interest | Government Representation
Part-time county public defender representing civil client adverse to county
Opinion 86-13 | Government Representation
Part-time private lawyer representing municipality and criminal defendants charged with municipal ordinance violations
Opinion 86-04 | Government Representation | Prosecutors
Lawyers within same firm acting as criminal defense counsel and part-time county prosecutors in unrelated matters
Opinion 84-05 | Government Representation | Imputed Disqualification | Prosecutors
Representation of client in personal injury matter by firm that includes former county prosecutors of same client arising out of same facts
Opinion 852 | Government Representation | Prosecutors
Part-time municipal prosecutor representing criminal defendants in same county
Opinion 748 | Government Representation
Municipal attorney representing criminal defendants charged in municipality

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.