The Texas Center for Legal Ethics reached its 35th anniversary this year, and is celebrating by gifting one hour of free ethics CLE to all Texas attorneys, the organization said in a press release. The course consists of a one-hour video of a recent interview between the center’s Board Chair, Judge Audrey Moorehead, and former Chief … Continue Reading
In February 2025, the Professional Ethics Committee for the State Bar of Texas issued Opinion 705, addressing the ethical implications surrounding the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) by Texas attorneys. This opinion was requested by the Taskforce for Responsible AI in the Law (TRAIL), an initiative started by State Bar Immediate Past President Cindy … Continue Reading
The Professional Ethics Committee for the State Bar of Texas is accepting public comments on the following proposed ethics opinions: Proposed Opinion 2024-3 (Revised) (comment deadline 4/11/2025): May in-house counsel for a for-profit company owned by nonlawyers provide legal services to customers of the company if the company gives the customers the option of retaining … Continue Reading
The Professional Ethics Committee for the State Bar of Texas is accepting public comments on the following proposed ethics opinion: Proposed Opinion 2024-6 (comment deadline 1/18/2025): What ethical issues are raised under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct by a lawyer’s use of generative artificial intelligence in the practice of law? Go here to … Continue Reading
The Professional Ethics Committee for the State Bar of Texas is accepting public comments on the following proposed ethics opinion: Proposed Opinion 2024-5 (comment deadline 1/7/2025): May a Texas lawyer practicing in Texas join a District of Columbia law firm partnership that lawfully includes a nonlawyer partner? Go here to read the proposed opinion and … Continue Reading
The Professional Ethics Committee for the State Bar of Texas is accepting public comments on the following proposed ethics opinion: Proposed Opinion 2024-4 (comment deadline 1/07/2025): (1) If a lawyer engages a nonlawyer-owned company to provide a platform of support services, may the lawyer pay fees to the company based on a percentage of the revenues … Continue Reading
The Professional Ethics Committee for the State Bar of Texas is accepting public comments on the following proposed ethics opinions: Proposed Opinion 2024-2 (comment deadline 8/12/2024): (1) May a lawyer accept payment from a private company for providing pre-recorded educational presentations or livestreamed Q&A sessions on general legal topics, which the private company markets to … Continue Reading
The Professional Ethics Committee for the State Bar of Texas is accepting public comments on the following proposed ethics opinion: Proposed Opinion 2024-1 (comment deadline 7/20/2024): If a lawyer for a governmental entity attends a meeting between a representative of the governmental entity and an individual known to be represented by a lawyer regarding the … Continue Reading
The Professional Ethics Committee for the State Bar of Texas is accepting public comments on the following proposed ethics opinions: Proposed Opinion 2023-5 (comment deadline (1/26/24): Through an employment agreement between a law firm and its lawyers: May the law firm impose a minimum departure notice period for lawyers who wish to depart the law … Continue Reading
The Professional Ethics Committee for the State Bar of Texas is accepting public comments on the following proposed ethics opinion: Proposed Opinion 2023-4 (comment deadline 12/18/2023): Do the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct permit a lawyer to offer legal services under a subscription service fee model in which the client pays a monthly fee … Continue Reading
The Professional Ethics Committee for the State Bar of Texas is accepting public comments on the following proposed ethics opinion: Proposed Opinion 2023-3 (comment deadline 4/16/2023): Do the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct prohibit staff counsel employed by an insurance company from representing insured clients if the insurance company considers the results of performance … Continue Reading
The Professional Ethics Committee for the State Bar of Texas is accepting public comments on the following proposed ethics opinions: Proposed Opinion 2023-1 (comment deadline 4/14/2023): Under Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, may a lawyer-defendant in a legal malpractice case enter into a settlement agreement in which the lawyer-defendant assigns to a non-lawyer plaintiff … Continue Reading
Editor’s Note: State Bar of Texas President Laura Gibson sent the following message to members on Wednesday. It is the duty of the State Bar of Texas to improve and advance the quality of legal services to the public, and foster integrity and ethical conduct in the legal profession. The attorney grievance system is vital … Continue Reading
The Professional Ethics Committee for the State Bar of Texas is accepting public comments on the following proposed ethics opinion through July 12: Proposed Opinion 21-3 (Revised): Under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, may a lawyer employed at a nonprofit agency that provides pro bono or low-cost legal services obtain client consent during … Continue Reading
The Professional Ethics Committee for the State Bar of Texas is accepting public comments on the following proposed ethics opinion through April 2: Proposed Opinion 22-1: Is it a violation of the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct for a plaintiff’s personal injury lawyer to enter into an agreement to personally indemnify and hold harmless … Continue Reading
The Texas Center for Legal Ethics announced that former Chief Justice Ann Crawford McClure of the Eighth Court of Appeals in El Paso will receive the Chief Justice Jack Pope Professionalism Award. The TCLE presents the Pope Award to a judge or attorney who personifies the highest standards of professionalism and integrity in appellate law. … Continue Reading
The Professional Ethics Committee for the State Bar of Texas is accepting public comments on the following proposed ethics opinion through December 21. Proposed Opinion 21-4: (1) May a lawyer who practices in a private law firm that regularly represents a public entity accept a position with a hiring law firm that is routinely adverse … Continue Reading
The Professional Ethics Committee for the State Bar of Texas is accepting public comments on the following proposed ethics opinion through October 16: Proposed Opinion 21-3: Do the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct prohibit a lawyer who is employed by a nonprofit agency that provides legal services to clients from requesting that, as part … Continue Reading
Registration is now open for the 2021 State Bar of Texas Virtual Annual Meeting on June 17-18. For $185 you will have access to CLE programming from 20 State Bar sections and can earn up to 10 hours of CLE credit, including all of your ethics for the year. The CLE programming is available only … Continue Reading
The Texas Supreme Court has ordered a hearing to consider proposed disciplinary rules amendments approved by licensed Texas lawyers in the referendum that ended March 4. The hearing will take place from 9 a.m. to noon on May 4 via videoconference. It will be broadcast on the court’s YouTube channel. The amendments’ proposed effective date is … Continue Reading
The Professional Ethics Committee for the State Bar of Texas is accepting public comments on two proposed ethics opinions: Proposed Opinion 21-1: Under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, when may a lawyer represent a client adverse to a former prospective client of the lawyer or another lawyer in the lawyer’s firm? (Comment deadline: March … Continue Reading
The 2021 rules vote ends March 4, and the State Bar of Texas has resources to help Texas lawyers cast an informed ballot. Free CLE Course The TexasBarCLE Online Classroom is offering the free course “Rules Vote Forum: Proposed Disciplinary Rule Amendments,” which is accredited for 1 hour of MCLE ethics credit. This course is … Continue Reading
The Professional Ethics Committee for the State Bar of Texas is accepting public comments on the following proposed ethics opinion through March 22: Proposed Opinion 21-1: Under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, when may a lawyer represent a client adverse to a former prospective client of the lawyer or another lawyer in the lawyer’s … Continue Reading
Texas lawyers are being called upon to exercise their right of self-governance by voting on proposed amendments to the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct and Texas Rules of Disciplinary Procedure. Voting will take place from February 2 to March 4 by paper and electronic ballot. The remaining public forums for the 2021 rules vote … Continue Reading
