Fall is a good time of year for reinforcing the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct for lawyers, new and seasoned.

Guidance on using the professional designation “of counsel.”

Don’t let ignorance or bad habits keep you from your responsibility—or your fee.

Do not leave behind the ISBA’s ethics Advisory Opinions from 2023.

When lawyers are obligated to give clients what they might not want.

A tale of two ABA ethics opinions.

Using your authority to accept a settlement wisely by keeping your client in the loop.

A review of the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission’s disciplinary data and cases from 2022.

The new Illinois Judicial Code of Conduct has plenty to say to attorneys, too.

Implicit and explicit throughout legal ethics are the lawyer’s nondelegable responsibilities.

Use discretion when deciding to represent a client. Sometimes, it’s not really your choice.

When going pro se, glean some wisdom from the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct.

A reminder of the foundational professional obligation that must be met in every litigation matter.

Guidance on practicing Illinois law out of state.

When to be as quiet as a mouse on Zoom.

Attorneys must possess and use good judgment. But what does good judgment even mean?

COVD-19? What COVID-19? The conflicts remain the same—material limitations.

Consider revisiting basic conflict-of-interest rules to sharpen your ethical vision.

Representing clients that can’t, by definition, communicate or make decisions.

Time for a "birds and bees" discussion about client development.

What are your ethical duties regarding an impaired lawyer?

Revisiting the ethical principles guiding Illinois Rule of Professional Conduct 7.1.

No written agreement is required in Illinois for limited scope transactional work. But as a recent New York case shows, it's best to put it in writing.

Nearly a third of Illinois ethics rules require lawyers to get a client's informed consent before proceeding. But what is "informed consent"?

Here's why the prohibition against in-person solicitation almost certainly didn't apply to lawyers who advertised their services in response to President Trump's immigration order.

Any fee is refundable if it wasn't earned or isn't reasonable. Calling an advance fee "nonrefundable" is usually asking for trouble.

Lead-generating services are proliferating - don't step onto ethical thin ice.

Evolving ethics standards make it more important than ever for lawyers to understand encryption.

There's nothing wrong with pitching yourself to a prospective client – as long as you follow key ethics rules.

Formally acknowledging the end of your representation can lead to a happier ending - and a new beginning.