Just two days before new rules on lawyer advertising in Virginia were scheduled to take effect, the Supreme Court of Virginia abruptly dropped the planned revision. In a Nov. 29 order, the court “vacated and set aside” its Sept. 18 ...

Tagged with: Ethics Legal Malpractice Supreme Court of Virginia News Virginia State Bar

The Virginia State Bar Legal Ethics Committee has withdrawn two 1990 legal ethics opinions out of concern they might lead lawyers astray in matters involving powers of attorney. The two opinions – LEO 1313 and 1339 – take the view ...

Tagged with: Bar Associations Ethics Virginia State Bar Wills & Trusts

A judge’s appearance in the back of a courtroom to support a close personal friend did not violate Virginia’s judicial canons, the Supreme Court of Virginia said today. In a unanimous opinion, the court dismissed a disciplinary complaint against 6th ...

Tagged with: Ethics

A judge’s appearance in the back of a courtroom to support a close personal friend did not violate Virginia’s judicial canons, the Supreme Court of Virginia said today. In a unanimous opinion, the court dismissed a disciplinary complaint against 6th ...

Tagged with: Ethics

An Eastern Shore lawyer is fighting to overturn a Virginia State Bar admonition for failing to withdraw from representing a divorcing husband after the wife divulged confidential information to his law partner. The case highlights the risk of not having a database for easy conflict checks, even for a small law office.

Tagged with: Domestic Relations Ethics Lawyer Discipline Virginia State Bar

Ethics experts and the lawyers they counsel have engaged in a long-running debate about how lawyers can compensate their non-lawyer colleagues. It’s been a contentious issue and a recent decision by the Wisconsin Supreme Court highlights the continuing controversy. The ...

Tagged with: Attorneys Fees Ethics

The Virginia State Bar has approved an advisory ethics opinion that says unless a plaintiff’s lawyer knows that a defense lawyer represents the insured and the insurance carrier, the plaintiff’s lawyer may talk to an insurance adjuster without the defense ...

Tagged with: Ethics Legal Ethics Opinion Rules of Professional Conduct Virginia State Bar

The Supreme Court of Virginia has rejected proposed reforms in lawyer advertising regulations, refusing to relax requirements for disclaimers on claims about case results and tightening limits on the use of words such as “expert” and “specialist.” With amended advertising rules ...

Tagged with: Ethics Legal Marketing Rules of Professional Conduct Supreme Court of Virginia News Virginia State Bar

The Virginia State Bar is proposing to give a green light to plaintiffs’ lawyers talking directly with insurance adjusters, but tort defense lawyers are signaling caution. The Virginia Association of Defense Lawyers warns about unintended consequences and oversimplification of the ...

Tagged with: Ethics Insurance Legal Ethics Opinion Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys Virginia State Bar

“Of counsel” has been showing up on law firm letterheads and websites for years, and the status can cover a variety of arrangements. A new advisory legal ethics opinion offers guidelines for one such arrangement, based on a hypothetical in ...

Tagged with: Ethics