Inquiry: May a law firm or lawyer contract with a client that an award of statutory awarded attorneys fees be added to the amount of damages award and that the contingency fee percentage will be taken from the aggregate of the two amounts? Opinion: A law firm or lawyer may contract with a client agreeing… Continue reading...

INQUIRY: May an attorney employed by a publicly funded organization, who is representing indigent clients sentenced to death, contribute personal funds to a client’s prison account, when no compensation from the client will ever be received by the attorney? OPINION: An attorney who is a full-time employee of a publicly funded criminal defense organization may… Continue reading...

March 31, 2009 This Opinion is provided in response to an inquiry containing three separate questions. The questions as presented are: 1. Does an insurance company/corporation supervising an insurance staff counsel program that requires a minimum number of jury trials before that program's lawyers would be eligible for increased compensation, be it in the form… Continue reading...

Issued: November 22, 2011 QUESTION: As part of a settlement agreement release, may the Plaintiff's lawyer or law firm ethically agree to hold the Defendant and its insurer harmless for any future action against the Defendant or its insurer that may be asserted by lien holders or any federal or state agency or program that… Continue reading...

2012 Inquiry: In an action for civil damages based on personal injury, and in light of 12 O.S. § 3009.1, affecting evidence admissible at trial related to medical bills, is it ethical for a plaintiff’s attorney to contact a client’s medical providers and offer to prepare on their behalf a medical lien for the client’s… Continue reading...

Issued July 3, 2013 QUESTION: If an attorney accepts payment from a client, whether as part of a retainer or not, for court costs or fines, and thereafter pays the court clerk with their personal credit card, and writes a trust account check either to themselves, or to the credit card company, to pay the… Continue reading...

Education of lay public INQUIRY Is the operation of a lawyer referral service by Bar Association ethical and is the advertising of such service by Bar Association in violation of Canon 27 and 28? 1. LAWYERS REFERRAL SERVICE--A Bar Association may sponsor a lawyers reference service providing it is properly organized and meets certain specified… Continue reading...

Education of lay public INQUIRY Is the operation of a lawyer referral service by Bar Association ethical and is the advertising of such service by Bar Association in violation of Canon 27 and 28? 1. LAWYERS REFERRAL SERVICE--A Bar Association may sponsor a lawyers reference service providing it is properly organized and meets certain specified… Continue reading...

Use of designation CPA and displaying certification of law and accounting Adopted February 22, 1974 INQUIRY The Board of Governors has referred to the Committee the following questions submitted by an attorney: 1. Is it proper for an attorney who is also a certified public accountant to display on the wall of his office evidence… Continue reading...