State Disciplinary Board Opinions

Prior to 1986, the State Disciplinary Board was responsible for issuing Formal Advisory Opinions.  In 1986, when the ultimate responsibility for issuing Formal Advisory Opinions was entrusted to the Supreme Court of Georgia, the Formal Advisory Opinion Board was asked to review all of the opinions issued by State Disciplinary Board.  As a result of that review, some of the pre-1986 opinions proved obsolete under the Standards, and were withdrawn for that reason.  Those opinions that in 1986 were determined to retain vitality are published in this "State Bar of Georgia Handbook."  The earlier State Disciplinary Board opinions are published with the caution that they were not issued by, nor with the authority of, the Supreme Court of Georgia.  Three of those earlier opinions posed issues of continuing importance, yet required rewriting in light of the Standards.

Advisory Opinion 5
Propriety of an attorney permitting the use of his or her letterhead stationery by a retainer client who is writing as a creditor or as a collection agency seeking to collect an account or debt from the recipient.

Advisory Opinion 16
Propriety of An Attorney Who is a County Commissioner in a Rural County Appointing His Own Firm as County Attorney.

Advisory Opinion 17
Duty of an Attorney Representing a Fugitive Upon Warrants for Probation Violation.

Advisory Opinion 19
Propriety of a member of the State Bar permitting a paralegal in his employ to correspond concerning "legal matters" on the law firm letterhead under his own signature.

Advisory Opinion 21
Guidelines for Attorneys Utilizing Paralegals.

Advisory Opinion 22
Ethical propriety of a lawyer communicating to other lawyers his or her availability to act as a consultant in particular areas of the law.

Advisory Opinion 23
Multi-State Law Firm Office Within the State of Georgia

Advisory Opinion 26
Ethical Propriety of Lawyer Sending Statutory Notice to Drawer of Bad Check

Advisory Opinion 27
Ethical Propriety of Revealing Confidences and Secrets Necessary to Defend Against Charges of Professional Misconduct

Advisory Opinion 29
Guidelines for Disputes with Attorneys' Fees Set by Worker's Compensation Board

Advisory Opinion 30
Ethical Propriety of Agreement by Which Attorney's Fees are Paid by Opposing Party

Advisory Opinion 31
Dual Occupations:  Ethical considerations applicable to a Lawyer who is engaged both in the practice of law and another profession or business.

Advisory Opinion 35
Attorney's Responsibilities with Respect to the Payment of Witness Fees

Advisory Opinion 36
Contingent Fees in Divorce Cases

Advisory Opinion 37
Attorney's Fees for Collecting PIP Benefits

Advisory Opinion 38
Law Clerks Preparing Appellate Briefs

Advisory Opinion 39
Propriety of Defendant's Tender of Lump Sum Settlement Offers to Plaintiffs in Federal Civil Rights Actions Wherein Statutory Attorney Fees are Provided for Successful Plaintiffs

Advisory Opinion 40
Misuse of Subpoenas

Advisory Opinion 41
Client Confidentiality

Advisory Opinion 42
Attorney's Disclosure of Client's Possible Intent to Commit Suicide

Advisory Opinion 45
Charging Interest on Clients' Overdue Bills

Advisory Opinion 46
Third Party Advancing or Reimbursing an Insured (Policyholder) for the Latter's Purchase of Optional PIP Coverage

Advisory Opinion 47
Contingency Fees to Collect Past Due Alimony and/or Child Support

Advisory Opinion 48
Expert Witness Consulting Services

Advisory Opinion 49
Lawyer's Use of a Lay Collection Agency to Collect Overdue Accounts for Legal Services