The South Carolina Bar Ethics Advisory Committee provides the full text of all ethics opinions since 1990 online. To find the opinion you need, simply use the search form below.
The opinions in this database contain the advice of the Committee based on the state of the law at the time of each opinion. Opinions are not updated to reflect changes in the Rules of Professional Conduct, more recent opinions, or other law. Further research may be necessary. Earlier opinions are available through vLex Fastcase.
Frequently Asked Questions are also available.
Ethics Advisory Opinion 99-14
In criminal matters, City Solicitor represents the city and the people, not the public safety officers per se. A lawyer normally may advise only a client or a relative, agent, or employee of a client not to cooperate by voluntarily providing relevant information to another party.
Ethics Advisory Opinion 99-13
It appears that a client-attorney relationship exists between Attorney and Spouse. Accordingly, Client does not have the right to have Spouse removed as a party, nor should Attorney take any action regarding Spouse’s claim without Spouse’s consent.
Ethics Advisory Opinion 99-12
Lawyer A would not violate his duty of confidentiality under Rule 1.6 by taking such action as is necessary to prevent his client from committing suicide and/or preventing harm to others.
Ethics Advisory Opinion 99-11
An attorney may not counsel or assist a client in a transaction that the lawyer knows is criminal or fraudulent.
Ethics Advisory Opinion 99-10
John Doe is disqualified under the Rules of Professional Conduct from handling the wrongful death case. In Opinion #97-41 the Committee concluded that a part-time special prosecutor could not handle a civil matter when the Solicitor's office was handling a criminal case based on the facts involved in the civil case.
Ethics Advisory Opinion 99-09
The attorneys have a duty to review the web page and to counsel their client about the advantages and disadvantages of the use of the page.
Ethics Advisory Opinion 99-08
Lawyer's representation of Manager in an action against Employer will not violate Rule 1.7(a) or Rule 1.7(b) of the Rules of Professional Conduct, as there are no facts indicating that representation of Manager will be directly adverse to Client or that Lawyer has a conflicting responsibility to the Client or Employer.
Ethics Advisory Opinion 99-07
A lawyer may not engage in the practice of law as either an employee of or an equity holder in a certified public accounting firm.
Ethics Advisory Opinion 99-06
Attorney may not represent Client in the present action unless all parties to the proceeding consent after disclosure.
Ethics Advisory Opinion 99-05
A lawyer for a statutory employer may not notify the taxing authorities of the time and place of a hearing at which a claimant who has not filed a tax return is scheduled to testify to his earnings and his failure to file income tax returns.