-
Opinion 20-08 |
Law Firms | Multijurisdictional Practice | Nonlawyer Assistants | Unauthorized Practice of Law
An out-of-state lawyer who is applying for admission in Illinois may work as a lawyer, from an office in Illinois, on cases in state and federal courts to which she is already admitted to practice, as long as those state and federal jurisdictions permit such practice. The lawyer also may work on Illinois legal matters under appropriate supervision, with disclosure that she is not admitted to practice in Illinois.
-
Opinion 20-01 |
Law Firms | Nonlawyer Assistants
An employing lawyer or law firm may allow a law school graduate awaiting the bar exam or admission to the bar to perform many of the services normally performed by licensed first year associates, other than appearing in a legal proceeding, provided that the graduate’s work is reviewed by a supervising lawyer who takes responsibility for the work product and that the graduate and employing lawyer or law firm do not make false or misleading statements to clients or others regarding the graduate’s status at the firm.
-
Opinion 19-04 |
Communication With Client | Law Firms | Nonlawyer Assistants | Outsourcing Legal and Legal Support Services | Temporary Lawyers
An Illinois lawyer may “outsource” legal and legal support services relating to a matter provided the lawyer reasonably believes that the other lawyers’ and nonlawyers’ services will contribute to the competent and ethical representation of the client and reasonable measures are taken to protect client information and to avoid conflicts of interest. Disclosure to, and informed consent by, the client will ordinarily be required. Informed client consent is always required if the lawyer delegates or transfers complete or substantial responsibility for a matter to an unaffiliated lawyer.
-
Opinion 16-05 |
Conflict of Interest | Government Representation | Nonlawyer Assistants
A law firm may continue to represent a city in municipal matters even though a paralegal employed by the firm is a member of the city council and the council has authority over the work and whether the firm’s bills get paid.
-
Opinion 13-08 |
Multijurisdictional Practice | Nonlawyer Assistants | Unauthorized Practice of Law
An out-of-state lawyer may practice immigration law in Illinois with the use of a properly supervised nonlawyer in Illinois who collects information to be used by the lawyer in filling out immigration forms.
-
Opinion 03-07 |
Confidentiality | Nonlawyer Assistants
The responsibilities of lawyers regarding nonlawyer assistants extends to interpreters who are employed or retained by, or associated with a lawyer for the purpose of communicating with hearing impaired clients.
-
Opinion 89-05 |
Nonlawyer Assistants
A profit-sharing plan in which non-attorney employees participate is proper provided shares are based upon overall firm profit and not tied to a particular case.
-
Opinion 88-08 |
Nonlawyer Assistants | Unauthorized Practice of Law
It is improper for a law firm's client to provide space within its own business office for the regular use of a firm's paralegal to take phone calls and discuss matters in the law firm's name; it is improper for a law firm to allow a "paraprofessional" employed by one of the firm's clients to accept phone calls at the client's place of business in the law firm's name.
-
Opinion 87-01 |
Law Firm Name and Letterhead | Nonlawyer Assistants
Names of lay employees may be included on firm letterhead provided the letterhead is not misleading.
-
Opinion 85-14 |
Conflict of Interest | Nonlawyer Assistants
There is no per se rule against two Assistant Public Defenders who share office space but maintain separate law practices representing defendants with conflicting interests provided each fully discloses the situation to the clients and obtains the clients' consents and provided further that each can represent his client with undivided allegiance.
It is ethically improper for these two Assistant Public Defenders to involve a common secretary if they represent defendants with conflicting interests.
-
Opinion 827 |
Advertising and Solicitation | Nonlawyer Assistants
An attorney may not, pursuant to an arrangement with an organization which refers work to the attorney, employ the clerical or paralegal services of that organization for compensation, nor may the attorney make voluntary periodic contributions to that organization.
-
Opinion 744 |
Multijurisdictional Practice | Nonlawyer Assistants
A non-resident attorney licensed to practice in Illinois may maintain Illinois office staffed by a paralegal providing proper supervision and responsibility is maintained.
-
Opinion 684 |
Nonlawyer Assistants | Unauthorized Practice of Law
It is not per se improper for a law firm to employ a layman to render collective bargaining services for firm clients. It would be professionally improper for a lawyer to render legal advice to the clients of his lay employer.
