ISBA Ethics Opinions by IRPC Rule 7.3

A for-profit lawyer-client “match” service may comply with the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct if (1) the matches are automated and completed without discretion on the part of the service as to what lawyer to match with a potential client; (2) the service does not endorse or vouch for the lawyer’s services, or hold itself out as such; (3) the service is not involved in any resulting attorney-client relationship that is formed after a “match”; and (4) any fees paid by the lawyer to the service are reasonable and unrelated to the services the lawyer provides to the client identified through the service. However, after a lawyer has initially decided that their participation in such a service complies with the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct, the lawyer should evaluate, as frequently as is reasonable and including when asked to decide to renew their contract with the service or when provided information about changes to the service, whether their participation will continue to comply with the Rules. A lawyer must end their involvement with the service if and when they learn it violates the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct.

Representation of a party in a grievance arbitration in Illinois may be considered the practice of law, however, a lawyer licensed in another state may serve as representative of a party at a grievance arbitration without being admitted to practice in Illinois so long as the representation is in accordance with Illinois Rules of professional Conduct RPC 5.5(b) and (c). With regard to advertising, nothing in the Rules specifically authorizes lawyers admitted in jurisdictions other than Illinois to advertise in Illinois, therefore, whether and how lawyers may communicate the availability of their services to prospective clients in this jurisdiction is governed by Rules 7.1 to 7.5.

A lawyer may participate in a networking group with other service professionals which refers clients to one another if: (a) the reciprocal referrals are not exclusive; (b) the lawyer requests prior consent from the client to give his or her name to someone in the networking group, although the better practice might be for the lawyer to give the name of the other “professional” to the client; (c) the client is informed of the existence of the referral agreement between the lawyer and the non-lawyer professional; and (d) the referral arrangement does not interfere with the lawyer’s professional judgment as to making the referral or providing substantive legal services.

A lawyer retained as counsel for a savings and loan association may not contact an applicant for a home loan to be issued by the savings and loan association if it is known that the home loan purchaser is represented by counsel. Further, such communication constitutes improper solicitation of professional employment for pecuniary gain.

A lawyer may not conduct in-person solicitation of prospective clients either personally or through a representative.

Lawyer, who represents clients transferred to him by another lawyer, owes no legal duty to the transferring lawyer or to the clients involved to inform the clients of the resumption of practice by the transferring lawyer who previously suspended his practice while temporarily physically incapacitated. Lawyer has an obligation to keep his clients reasonably informed about the status of their cases and must promptly comply with reasonable requests by the clients for such information, but this obligation does not create a legal or ethical duty on the part of lawyer to relay information regarding the referring attorney’s practice.

A lawyer who has been formally discharged by a client in favor of new counsel may not thereafter contact the former client (except through his new counsel) where the purpose is to further the lawyer's claim for fees and expenses; statements by the lawyer made for the purpose of soliciting the former client's case and which are false or misleading violate the Rules of Professional Conduct; such statements, however, are not subject to mandatory reporting if knowledge thereof is obtained as a result of a privileged communication.

A lawyer acting as a guardian ad litem has a duty to act in the best interests of the ward and to avoid any conflict of interest that may arise from representing the ward in subsequent litigation arising from his role as a guardian ad litem.

An attorney may be retained to render services for a client by a third party. The party must be authorized to retain the attorney and the attorney's judgment must not be directed or regulated by the third party. The third party must be paid on either an hourly or contingent fee basis by the client and the attorney must not share fees with a non-attorney third party.

Attorney may provide legal services and conduct title insurance business as agent so long as legal services are conducted in compliance with the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct.

Under facts presented, proposal of corporation to recommend its law firm to employees at reduced rates conforms to requirements of Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct.

An attorney may represent property manager/agent members of real estate agents' association for client/owners provided that the agents are authorized to employ counsel, there is no fee splitting with the association or the member agents, and the association does not engage in improper solicitation or the unauthorized practice of law.

Lawyer who is also an insurance and investment professional: may advertise insurance and investment business, but if advertising discloses status as a lawyer it must comply with rules governing lawyer advertising and solicitation; may accept legal employment from insurance and investment customers; and may sell insurance and investment products to legal clients with disclosure and consent; but may not agree with legal clients who are also insurance and investment customers that insurance or investment advice cannot be considered legal advice.

It is not professionally improper for a law firm and a financial planning business to share certain space and facilities, so long as client confidences are preserved and there is no improper solicitation or division of fees.

Practice of law and accounting in same office now permissible due to repeal of Code section that required physical separation of dual practices.

A lawyer may initiate contact with non-clients by mailing written communications to persons not known in a specific matter to require legal services, provided that such communications are clearly labeled as advertising materials.

It is not professionally improper for a lawyer to send letters to persons who are not his clients offering to conduct seminars upon legal subjects currently of concern to the addressees.