Ethics Advisory Opinions

June 2, 2006

Issue: May members of the County Attorney’s Office provide pro bono legal assistance to victims of domestic violence in seeking civil protective orders?

If so, is it thereafter permissible for the County Attorney’s Office to prosecute the subsequent violation of the protective order?

June 2, 2006

Issue: Is an unexecuted trust or will or an unfiled extraordinary writ prepared by a lawyer for a client part of the “client’s file” within the meaning of Rule 1.16 which must be delivered to the client at the termination of the representation.

Issued December 8, 2006
1. Issue: Under what circumstances may a Utah lawyer be personally involved in a lending transaction to finance a client’s cause of action or obtain funds for the payment of the lawyer’s legal fees and expenses?

Issued December 8, 2006

1. Issue: May a current or former client’s access to information in his client file in a criminal matter be restricted by his attorney?

Issued December 30, 2006

1 Issue: Do the Utah Rules of Professional Conduct1 preclude a lawyer from participating in an ad hoc legal advisory group to a private, nonprofit, public interest legal organization, if the persons served by the legal services organization have interests adverse to the interests of a client of the lawyer or the lawyer’s law firm?