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 90-17
A client may communicate directly with another represented party without the consent of that party's lawyer, at least so long as the client is not being used simply to circumvent prohibitions on direct contact by the lawyer with an adverse party.
Ethics Advisory Opinion 90-16
Under the Rules of Professional Conduct, it would appear to be permissible for an attorney to own an interest in a life insurance agency and refer clients thereto.
Ethics Advisory Opinion 90-15
The former assistant solicitor cannot defend a private client in the county where he served if he participated personally and substantially in a matter concerning the private client while an assistant solicitor, unless the solicitor's office for which he formerly worked consents after consultation.
Ethics Advisory Opinion 90-14
Rule 1.6(a) prohibits the Attorney from voluntarily revealing to third parties the identity of his clients or the amount of work which he does for them without first obtaining their consent to the disclosure after full explanation of the circumstances surrounding the disclosure.
Ethics Advisory Opinion 90-13
In a contingency fee case in which attorneys A & B enter a fee splitting arrangement, if Attorney B, who has been working on the case under no disqualification, subsequently becomes disqualified without fault of Attorney B, and is removed from the case by Court order, and Attorney A successfully completes the representation, Attorney B should be entitled to reasonable attorney's fees based on quantum meruit, but limited to the proportion of services rendered by Attorney B in comparison to Attorney A.
Ethics Advisory Opinion 90-12
Provided the corporation's activities are purely ministerial, the ownership and operation of the corporation is permitted under the Rules of Professional Conduct.
Ethics Advisory Opinion 90-10
The South Carolina Code of Judicial Conduct provides in the Compliance provisions that a part-time judge should not practice law in the court on which he serves.
Ethics Advisory Opinion 90-09
The Memorandum prepared by the lawyer offers specific legal advice to a customer, may create an attorney-client relationship between the customer and the lawyer.
Ethics Advisory Opinion 90-08
A private attorney who is a member of the board of directors of a public defender or legal services corporation may represent clients whose interest are adverse or potentially adverse to the clients of the agency, provided the attorney insures that in his or her role as board member he or she does not have access to confidential information concerning the corporation's client(s) or is involved in decisions concerning the specific handling of individual cases.
Ethics Advisory Opinion 90-07
Neither the Model Rules of Professional Conduct nor the Model Code of Professional Responsibility prevent a lawyer from appearing as both a witness and an advocate in his own case.