Ethics opinions are issued by the PBA Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility Committee.

The committee responds to requests from any PBA member concerning the impact of the provisions of the Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct upon the member’s prospective conduct. The committee does not address questions about a lawyer’s past conduct, disciplinary matters, matters in litigation or questions of law.

Ethics opinions of the committee are advisory only and are not binding on the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania or any other court. An ethics opinion carries only such weight as an appropriate reviewing authority may choose to give it.

Many “formal” opinions (written by the full committee on global ethics issues) are available to search by the public. These opinions can be found by using the search box above.

The PBA Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility Committee has issued PBA Formal Opinion 2020-300 in response to questions from Pennsylvania lawyers related to their ethical obligations when working remotely.

Additional Resources

Read The Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct.

Purchase the Pennsylvania Ethics Handbook from the Pennsylvania Bar Institute.

F2024-300 - FORMAL OPINION 2024-300 : THE IMPACT OF CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENTS ON CONDUCTING DISCOVERY OF THIRD-PARTY WITNESSES

F2024-200 - Joint Formal Opinion 2024-200 (May 22, 2024): ETHICAL ISSUES REGARDING THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

F2024-100 - Formal Opinion 2024-100: LAWYER’S ETHICAL OBLIGATIONS WHEN USING THIRD-PARTY VENDORS WHO HAVE ACCESS TO CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

F2023-100 - Formal Opinion 2023-100: JOINT REPRESENTATION OF A CORPORATION AND INDIVIDUAL DEFENDANTS IN A DERIVATIVE ACTION

F2022-500 - Formal Opinion 2022-500: ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR LAWYERS STORING INFORMATION RELATING TO THE REPRESENTATION OF A CLIENT ON A SMARTPHONE

F2022-400 - Formal Opinion 2022-400: ETHICAL OBLIGATIONS FOR LAWYERS USING EMAIL AND TRANSMITTING CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

Joint Formal Opinion 2022-300 - Joint Formal Opinion 2022-300: ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN THE HANDLING OF FLAT, EARNED UPON RECEIPT AND NON-REFUNDABLE FEES

F2022-200 - Formal Opinion 2022-200 (June 22, 2022): USE OF ATTORNEY IOLTA ACCOUNTS FOR REAL ESTATE SETTLEMENT TRANSACTIONS

F2022-100 - Formal Opinion 2022-100 (June 9, 2022) ATTORNEY'S OBLIGATIONS TO REQUEST COUNSEL FEES UNDER SECTION 440 OF THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION ACT

F2021-300 - Formal Opinion 2021-300 (March 25, 2021): ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR LAWYERS RETAINING ORIGINAL WILLS

F2021-200 - Formal Opinion 2021-200 (March 17, 2021): ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS RELATING TO USE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Joint Formal Opinion 2021-100 - JOINT FORMAL OPINION 2021-100: ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR LAWYERS PRACTICING LAW FROM PHYSICAL LOCATIONS WHERE THEY ARE NOT LICENSED

F2020-600 - Formal Opinion 2020-600 (December 22, 2020): ETHICAL ISSUES WITH COVID WAIVERS

F2020-500 - Formal Opinion 2020-500 (September 23, 2020): OBLIGATIONS OF SUCCESSOR COUNSEL ON CONTINGENT FEE MATTER WITH RESPECT TO PREDECESSOR'S CHARGING LIEN

F2020-400 - Formal Opinion 2020-400 (April 13, 2020): ENDORSEMENT OF D.C. BAR ASSOCIATION ETHICS OPINION 377: DUTIES WHEN A LAWYER IS IMPAIRED

F2020-300 - Formal Opinion F2020-300: ETHICAL OBLIGATIONS FOR LAWYERS WORKING REMOTELY

F2020-200 - Formal Opinion F2020-200: OBLIGATIONS OF SUCCESSOR CONTINGENT FEE COUNSEL TO ADVISE CLIENT OF POTENTIAL OBLIGATIONS TO PRIOR COUNSEL

F2020-100 - Formal Opinion F2020-100: Ethical Considerations Relating to Email Communication Involving Opposing Counsel and Clients