"Most jurisdictions have some source of written guidance in the form of ethics opinions, often from a state or local bar ethics committee. . . . Today, your odds are very good of being able to find, available for free on the Internet, the ethics opinions of almost all jurisdictions. Also, some jurisdictions collect and publish their ethics opinions." Lucian T. Pera, In Search of an Ethics Guide, 16 Bus. L. Today 37, 38 (Nov.-Dec. 2006).
Jurisdictions vary on how accessible their ethics opinions are. Below are a selection of resources that contain state ethics opinions.
Check the jurisdiction's website for additional information on how to obtain their ethics opinions.
National Reporter on Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility - NJ Opinions
Available on library's Lexis computers.
Contains selected legal and judicial ethics opinions from New Jersey as provided by the National Reporter on Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility. 1997-2007.
Select State Ethics Opinions
Available on library's Lexis computers.
Select States only. Coverage varies. State ethics opinions typically found with the other state administrative materials.
Legal & Judicial Ethics & Disciplinary Opinions
Available on library's Westlaw computers.
Coverage varies by jurisdiction. Includes opinions released by state bar associations or committees on ethics in the following states: AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, and WI.
ABA/BNA Lawyers' Manual on Professional Conduct: Ethics Opinions ABA/BNA
8 vols., 1980-1985, 1986-1990, 1991-1996, 1996-2000, 2001-2005, 2006-2010, 2011-2015, 2016-2020.
Select ethics opinion summaries for ABA, various states, Pennsylvania Bar Association, Philadelphia Bar Association, and Allegheny Bar Association.
National Reporter on Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility University Publications of America
Library has 1983-2004. Selected ethics opinions from all 50 states.
Professional Responsibility in New Jersey New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education
Includes New Jersey Advisory Committee on Professional Ethics (opinion numbers 1 through 710); Committee on the Unauthorized Practice of Law (opinion numbers 1 through 43); Committee on Attorney Advertising (opinion numbers 1 through 39); Index to the opinions.