About Ethics Opinions
Ethics opinions are guidance by bar associations on ethical attorney conduct. They are not binding on courts but are frequently cited by them.
California State and Local Bar Ethics Opinions
Both the California bar and various local bar associations within California produce ethics opinions.
The best starting point for researching these opinions is the index to the California Compendium on Professional Responsibility:
- California Compendium on Professional Responsibility IndexLook up a topic alphabetically to find citations to state and local bar association opinions on that topic.
The full text of decisions from the California bar association are readily available online:
The full text of decisions from most local bar associations are also readily available online:
Los Angeles County Bar Association Ethics Opinions
Formal ethics opinions of the Los Angeles County Bar Association are available through a mixture of print, opinions posted by the Los Angeles County Bar Association, and opinions posted by the Loyola Law School library:
- Los Angeles County Bar Association Formal Ethics Opinions 1-350Call Number: Law Main Stacks KF308 .L55 1968Main volume: 1917 (Opinion no. 1)-1967 (Opinion no. 301)
Supplement: 1968 (Opinion no. 302)-1975 (Opinion no. 350) - Los Angeles County Bar Association Formal Ethics Opinions 351-449Call Number: Law 2nd Floor/California Collection KFC76.5.A2 A5 1975Missing opinions no. 387, 428, 434, 435, and 440, as well as the second page of opinion 393.
- Los Angeles County Bar Association Formal Ethics Opinions 450- PresentAlso includes selected earlier opinions dating back to 264.
Informal ethics opinions of the Los Angeles County Bar Association are available in print:
- Los Angeles County Bar Association Informal Ethics OpinionsCall Number: Law 2nd Floor/California Collection KFC76.5.A2 A491931-1981