The ABA and the bar associations of each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia publish ethics opinions in response to requests for advice from lawyers. The ethics opinions are advisory and not enforceable as law but can be cited to show how a bar association has interpreted a specific provision of the Model Rules or Model Code.
The ABA's Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility issues formal and informal ethics opinions. Formal opinions are issued on matters that are deemed of general interest to the bar; informal opinions are issued for specific inquiries relating to a particular set of facts. The library has print versions of many older formal opinions and informal opinions, and access to most formal and informal opinions are available through Westlaw and Lexis.
The full text of ethics opinions from state and local bar associations are not collected in any one place. The sources described below will assist you in locating state bar ethics opinions on a particular topic. Most state bar associations publish opinions in the state bar journal or newsletters, but some do not publish their ethics opinions at all. Some state bar associations publish a looseleaf reporter with their ethics opinions or make their opinions available through Lexis, Westlaw, or the web.