Legal Ethics Opinions

The SDCBA's Legal Ethics Committee issues advisory opinions regarding the ethical propriety of hypothetical attorney conduct.  An archive of the SDCBA's Legal Ethics Opinions can be found here.

Legal Ethics Opinions are advisory only and are not binding upon any member of the SDCBA, any other member of the State Bar of California, the State Bar of California or its Board of Governors, or any persons or tribunals charged with regulatory responsibilities. The SDCBA, its officers, directors, agents, and the Legal Ethics Committee members assume no responsibility or liability in rendering these opinions.

Note: Legal Ethics Opinions cite the applicable California Rules of Professional Conduct in effect at the time of the writing of the opinion and may be obsolete now. Please refer to the California Rules of Professional Conduct.

Legal Ethics Quarterly Archive

Legal Ethics Quarterly, written by members of the Bar’s Legal Ethics Committee, summarizes issues and holdings of ethics-related cases.

To easily search our legal opinion archives, click here. For the last issue, click here.

Ethics in Brief

Ethics in Brief (previously titled "Legal Ethics Corner") is produced by the SDCBA's Legal Ethics Committee as part of This Week at the Bar twice a month. Past issues of Legal Ethics Corner can be found here.

2011 Legal Ethics Rulings

The Legal Ethics Committee has published a list of the Top 10 California Legal Ethics Rulings of 2011.  To view the list, click here.

Legal Ethics Hotline

The Legal Ethics Hotline is a service for SDCBA members in their consideration of legal ethics issues. The Hotline is staffed by members of the SDCBA Legal Ethics Committee. Once you read the disclosure for use of the Hotline here, you can then call (619) 231-0781 x4145, to leave your name and phone number, and the on-duty attorney will contact you within the next few business hours.