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Ethics opinion

Bar and professional-conduct opinions on lawyers’ use of technology and AI, jurisdiction by jurisdiction.

11 stories

UKEthics opinion

Law Society tells solicitors to inform clients about AI use in new practice note

The Law Society of England and Wales on October 21, 2026, published a 58-page practice note on using AI in line with solicitors' professional obligations. It advises solicitors to give clients appropriate information about how they use AI, says they may ask clients to disclose AI-generated material, and stresses that solicitors remain accountable for all work whether or not AI was used.

Opinion (Law Gazette) → · Artificial Lawyer
N.Y.Ethics opinion

NYC Bar ethics committee says lawyers should not use AI to record calls with non-clients by default

The New York City Bar Association's Committee on Professional Ethics issued Formal Opinion 2026-2 on August 5, 2026, on AI tools that record, transcribe and summarize lawyers' conversations with people who are not clients. It concludes the default should be not to use them absent a good reason, that lawyers must disclose an intended recording and obtain every participant's permission, and that surreptitious recording is barred.

Opinion (New York City Bar Association) →
OHIOEthics opinion

Ohio Board of Professional Conduct issues nonbinding AI ethics guide for lawyers, judges and magistrates

The Ohio Board of Professional Conduct published Artificial Intelligence for Lawyers and Judicial Officers: Ohio Ethics Guide at the Supreme Court of Ohio's request, Court News Ohio reported on June 30, 2026. The nonbinding guide applies the Rules of Professional Conduct and the Code of Judicial Conduct to AI use, covering verification, confidentiality, billing, candor to tribunals and judges' independent decision-making.

Opinion (Ohio Board of Professional Conduct) → · Court News Ohio
N.Y.Ethics opinion

New York State Bar says virtual office may serve as lawyer's address for communications

The New York State Bar Association's Committee on Professional Ethics said on 3 September 2026 that a New York lawyer may list a virtual law office as the office address on websites, advertisements, letterhead and business cards. The committee said listing is not false if the arrangement ensures receipt of mail and service and availability for in-person meetings on reasonable notice.

Opinion (New York State Bar Association) →
WIS.Ethics opinion

Wisconsin bar says lawyers must report misconduct raising substantial fitness question

The State Bar of Wisconsin's Committee on Professional Ethics said on 3 September 2026 that lawyers must report another lawyer's or judge's misconduct when they know of a violation that raises a substantial question about honesty, trustworthiness or fitness. The committee said the duty is conditional, requires client consent if confidential information is disclosed, and must be made to the Office of Lawyer Regulation or Judicial Commission.

Opinion (State Bar of Wisconsin) → · vLex
N.Y.Ethics opinion

New York bar says public defender's personal conflict not imputed within government office

The New York State Bar Association's Committee on Professional Ethics said in Opinion 1300, dated 31 August 2026, that a public defender office that is a government office is governed by Rule 1.11, not Rule 1.10. The committee said a conflict under Rule 1.7(a)(2) based on a lawyer's personal interest in a relative heading a county agency would not be imputed to other lawyers in the office.

Opinion (New York State Bar Association) →

Rulings this week

All court orders

N.Y.Ethics opinion

New York bar says lawyer may bill for time explaining invoices after notice

The New York State Bar Association's Committee on Professional Ethics said on 31 August 2026 that a lawyer may charge a client for time spent explaining a sufficiently detailed bill. The committee said the time is billable as counseling under Rule 1.4 when the lawyer gives advance notice, but time spent addressing a good-faith billing dispute is overhead and not billable.

Opinion (New York State Bar Association) →