Ethics Counsel
Ethics Opinion No. 5
Adopted August 29, 1931
It is the opinion of the Board of Governors that:
(a) The knowing acceptance of the services of runners or touters in securing business for a member of The State Bar of Oklahoma, with or without an agreement, express or implied, to compensate such runners or touters, is a violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct which may result in disbarment.
(b) That a business association by a member of The State Bar of Oklahoma with a loan shark, that is with one whose conduct is contrary to the usury statutes of this state, is unbecoming a member of The State Bar and tends to bring the profession into disrepute. This observation is not intended to apply to the representation by the member of The State Bar of the loan shark in a particular case or cases or in a particular matter of employment.
It is the opinion of the Board of Governors that a business association with an habitual violator of the usury laws of the state is not to be countenanced any more than such association with any other habitual violator of the law.