Search Results
Your search for: “fees” returned 126 results
- Adopted: April 25, 2025Opinion sets out the requirements of the notice that must be sent to affected clients when a lawyer leaves a law firm.
- Adopted: January 24, 2025Opinion rules that estate planning engagement agreement may require payment of legal fees for lawyer’s participation in collateral litigation relat...
- Adopted: November 01, 2024Opinion discusses a lawyer’s professional responsibility when using artificial intelligence in a law practice.
- Adopted: July 19, 2024Opinion provides that a lawyer may allow a third-party business to install a self-service kiosk in the lawyer’s office for the provision of ignitio...
- Adopted: October 27, 2023Opinion rules that a lawyer may provide services to multiple clients simultaneously and explores various billing structures for overlapping services.
- Adopted: April 21, 2023Opinion clarifies a lawyer’s professional responsibility when closing and/or selling a law practice and when handling aged client files.
- Adopted: October 21, 2022Opinion rules that a lawyer may call as an expert witness a public adjuster who will collect a statutorily authorized contingency fee paid by the c...
- Adopted: January 21, 2022Opinion rules that a closing lawyer representing the buyer in a residential real estate transaction may not charge a fee for services performed tha...
- Adopted: July 16, 2021Opinion rules that a lawyer is not permitted to include confidential information in a response to a client’s negative online review but is not barr...
- Adopted: April 16, 2021Opinion addresses conflicts of interest, communication, funding issues, and accountings in contemporaneous closings for residential real property.
- Adopted: October 23, 2020Opinion rules that a lawyer may not invest in a fund that provides litigation financing if the lawyer’s practice accepts clients who obtain litigat...
- Adopted: October 23, 2020Opinion rules that a solo practitioner/owner of a PLLC is not prohibited from representing the PLLC and testifying in a dispute with a former client.
- Adopted: October 25, 2019Opinion rules that a lawyer may advertise the lawyer’s inclusion in a list or membership in an organization that bestows a laudatory designation on...
- Adopted: October 25, 2019Opinion rules that a lawyer may receive virtual currency as a flat fee for legal services, provided the fee is not clearly excessive and the terms ...
- Adopted: July 27, 2018Opinion explains when a lawyer may participate in an online rating system, and a lawyer’s professional responsibility for the content posted on a p...
- Adopted: July 27, 2018Opinion rules that, with certain conditions, a lawyer may include in a client’s fee agreement a provision allowing the lawyer’s purchase of litigat...
- Adopted: April 20, 2018Opinion rules that a lawyer may offer clients on-site access to a financial brokerage company as a payment option for legal fees so long as the law...
- Adopted: July 28, 2017Opinion rules that a lawyer is prohibited from disbursing settlement funds pursuant to the client’s directive if the funds are subject to a perfect...
- Adopted: January 27, 2017Opinion rules that lawyer may not disclose financial information obtained during the representation of a former client to assist the sheriff with t...
- Adopted: July 17, 2015Opinion analyzes a lawyer’s professional responsibilities when she discovers that she made an error that may adversely impact the client’s case.
- Adopted: April 17, 2015Opinion rules that a lawyer may not offer a computer tablet to a prospective client in a direct mail solicitation letter.
- Adopted: January 23, 2015Opinion rules that a lawyer who handles adoptions as part of her or his law practice and also owns a financial interest in a for-profit adoption ag...
- Adopted: April 25, 2014Opinion encourages government lawyers to engage in pro bono representation unless prohibited by law from doing so.
- Adopted: October 25, 2013Opinion provides guidance to lawyers who work for a public interest law organization that provides legal and non-legal services to its clientele an...
- Adopted: October 25, 2013Opinion rules that, with certain disclosures, a lawyer may participate in an online group legal advertising service that gives a participating lawy...
- Adopted: July 19, 2013Opinion rules that a law firm may not share a fee from a tax appeal with a nonlawyer tax representative unless such nonlawyer representatives are l...
- Adopted: July 19, 2013Opinion examines the ethical duties of a lawyer representing both the buyer and the seller on the purchase of a foreclosure property and the lawyer...
- Adopted: January 25, 2013Opinion rules that an agreement for a departing lawyer to pay his former firm a percentage of any legal fee subsequently recovered from the continu...
- Adopted: January 25, 2013Opinion rules a lawyer may not participate as a network lawyer for a company providing litigation or administrative support services for clients wi...
- Adopted: July 20, 2012Opinion rules that a lawyer may charge interest on a delinquent client account, without an advance agreement with the client, to the extent and in ...
- Adopted: April 27, 2012Opinion rules that a lawyer may not agree to procure title insurance exclusively from a particular title insurance agency on every transaction refe...
- Adopted: October 21, 2011Editor's note: This opinion is not intended to imply that a lawyer for an estate is required to petition the clerk for approval of the lawyer’s fee...
- Adopted: October 21, 2011Opinion rules that a lawyer may advertise on a website that offers daily discounts to consumers where the website company’s compensation is a perce...
- Adopted: October 21, 2011Opinion rules that, pursuant to the North Carolina Public Records Act, a lawyer may communicate with a government official for the purpose of ident...
- Adopted: January 21, 2011Opinion rules that a lawyer may place an advertisement for employment in practice areas in which the lawyer does not have experience only if the la...
- Adopted: January 21, 2011Opinion rules that a law firm may charge a client for the expenses associated with an out-of-office consultation so long as advertisements referenc...
- Adopted: January 21, 2011Opinion rules that a lawyer may receive a fee or commission in exchange for providing financial services and products to a legal client so long as ...
- Adopted: October 29, 2010Opinion provides guidelines for participation in a barter exchange.
- Adopted: July 23, 2010Opinion rules that a website may include a case summary section showcasing successful verdicts and settlements if the section contains factually ac...
- Adopted: July 24, 2009Opinion rules that, unless affected clients expressly consent to the disclosure of their confidential information, a lawyer may allow a title insur...
- Adopted: April 24, 2009Opinion rules that a law firm may establish a credit card account that avoids commingling by depositing unearned fees into the law firm's trust acc...
- Adopted: October 24, 2008Opinion surveys prior ethics opinions on legal fees, sets forth the ethical requirements for the different types of fees paid in advance, authorize...
- Adopted: October 24, 2008Opinion rules that a provision in a law firm employment agreement for dividing legal fees received after a lawyer's departure from a firm must be r...
- Adopted: July 18, 2008Opinion rules that a lawyer may hire a nonlawyer independent contractor to organize and speak at educational seminars so long as the nonlawyer does...
- Adopted: January 25, 2008Opinion rules that, to insure honest billing predicated on hourly charges, the lawyer must establish a reasonable hourly rate for his services and ...
- Adopted: January 25, 2008Opinion rules a lawyer may advertise the lawyer's inclusion in the list of lawyers in North Carolina Super Lawyers and other similar publications a...
- Adopted: July 13, 2007Opinion rules that a lawyer may not charge a client for filing and presenting a motion to withdraw unless withdrawal advances the client's objectiv...
- Adopted: January 19, 2007Opinion rules that under certain circumstances a lawyer may consider a dispute with a client over legal fees resolved and transfer funds from the t...
- Adopted: January 19, 2007Opinion rules that, when representation is terminated by a client, a lawyer who advances the cost of a deposition and transcript may not condition ...
- Adopted: January 20, 2006Opinion explores a lawyer's obligation to return legal fees when a third party is the payor.
- Adopted: January 20, 2006Opinion rules that a minimum fee that will be billed against at an hourly rate and is collected at the beginning of representation belongs to the c...
- Adopted: January 20, 2006Opinion examines the requirements for an interim account used to pay the costs for real estate closings and also rules that the actual costs may be...
- Adopted: October 21, 2005Opinion rules that the compensation of a nonlawyer law firm employee who represents Social Security disability claimants before the Social Security...
- Adopted: October 21, 2005Opinion rules that an attorney may recommend that a prospective client use a computer in the attorney's office and the services of an Internet-base...
- Adopted: October 21, 2005Opinion rules that a lawyer may not appear before a judge who is a family member without consent from all parties and, although consent is not requ...
- Adopted: April 15, 2005Opinion rules that a law firm that employs a nonlawyer to represent Social Security claimants must so disclose to prospective clients and in any ad...
- Adopted: October 21, 2004Opinion rules that unless the lawyer invariably makes the repayment of costs advanced contingent upon the outcome of each matter, an advertisement ...
- Adopted: October 21, 2004Opinion rules that a trade name for a law firm that implies an affiliation with a financial planning company is misleading and prohibited.
- Adopted: April 23, 2004Opinion rules that a lawyer may participate in an on-line service that is similar to both a lawyer referral service and a legal directory provided ...
- Adopted: April 23, 2004Opinion rules that a lawyer must deal honestly with the members of her former firm when dividing a legal fee.
- Adopted: January 16, 2004Opinion rules that a Social Security lawyer may agree to compensate a nonlawyer/ claimant's representative for the prior representation of a claimant.
- Adopted: October 24, 2003Opinion rules that a lawyer may advertise that he is a member of an organization with a self-laudatory title, provided it is a legitimate, disinter...
- Adopted: July 25, 2003Opinion rules that a law firm may contract with a professional employer organization (PEO) to perform human resources, payroll, and other non-opera...
- Adopted: April 18, 2003Opinion rules that a lawyer may collect a contingent fee and/or a court-awarded attorney fee if consistent with the fee agreement with the client b...
- Adopted: January 24, 2003Revised January 26, 2012 The North Carolina State Bar has been requested to interpret the North Carolina unauthorized practice of law statutes (N....
- Adopted: April 19, 2002Opinion rules that a lawyer may participate in a non-profit organization that promotes a cooperative method for resolving family law disputes altho...
- Adopted: October 19, 2001Opinion rules that, although a lawyer may recommend the purchase of a financial product to a legal client, the lawyer may not receive a commission ...
- Adopted: April 27, 2001Opinion rules that, in a petition to a court for an award of an attorney's fee, a lawyer must disclose that the client paid a discounted hourly rat...
- Adopted: April 27, 2001Opinion rules that there is no prohibition on a law firm entering into a contract with a management firm to administer the firm provided the lawyer...
- Adopted: January 18, 2001Opinion explores the situations in which a lawyer who is also a CPA may provide legal services and accounting services from the same office.
- Adopted: July 21, 2000Opinion rules that a lawyer may not tell a client that any fee paid prior to the rendition of legal services is "nonrefundable" although, by agreem...
- Adopted: January 21, 2000Opinion rules that an insurance defense lawyer may not submit billing information to an independent audit company at the insurance carrier's reques...
- Adopted: January 15, 1999Opinion rules that a lawyer may participate in the solicitation of funds from third parties to pay the legal fees of a client provided there is dis...
- Adopted: January 15, 1999Opinion rules that a lawyer may represent a person who is resisting an incompetency petition although the person may suffer from a mental disabilit...
- Adopted: July 16, 1998Opinion rules that a lawyer may charge a client the actual cost of retrieving a closed client file from storage, subject to certain conditions, pro...
- Adopted: July 16, 1998Opinion rules that an insurance defense lawyer may not disclose confidential information about an insured's representation in bills submitted to an...
- Adopted: April 17, 1998Opinion provides that flat fees may be collected at the beginning of a representation, treated as presently owed to the lawyer, and deposited into ...
- Adopted: January 16, 1998Opinion rules that, provided steps are taken to safeguard the client funds on deposit in a trust account, a lawyer may accept fees paid by credit c...
- Adopted: January 16, 1998Opinion examines the circumstances in which it is acceptable for the lawyer who regularly represents a real estate developer to represent the buyer...
- Adopted: January 16, 1998Opinion rules that, after a corporation files a Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition and at the request of the bankruptcy trustee, a lawyer who previously...
- Adopted: January 15, 1998Opinion rules that, subject to the requirements of law, a lawyer may add a finance charge to a client's account if the client fails to pay the bala...
- Adopted: April 04, 1997Opinion provides guidelines for receipt of payment of earned and unearned fees by electronic transfers.
- Adopted: October 18, 1996Opinion rules that a lawyer may not collect a contingent fee on the reimbursement paid to the client's medical insurance provider in addition to a ...
- Adopted: October 18, 1996Opinion rules that a lawyer is subject to the Rules of Professional Conduct with respect to the provision of a law related service, such as financi...
- Adopted: October 20, 1995Opinion rules that a lawyer may communicate with a custodian of public records, pursuant to the North Carolina Public Records Act, for the purpose ...
- Adopted: April 14, 1995Opinion rules that a lawyer may receive a fee for referring a case to another lawyer provided that, by written agreement with the client, both lawy...
- Adopted: April 14, 1995Opinion rules that District Attorney may not communicate or cause another to communicate with represented defendant without the defense lawyer's co...
- Adopted: April 14, 1995Opinion rules that a lawyer who represents a client in a pending domestic action may take a promissory note secured by a deed of trust as payment f...
- Adopted: January 13, 1995Opinion rules that a law firm may not charge a clearly excessive fee for legal representation even if the legal fee may be recovered from an opposi...
- Adopted: January 13, 1995Opinion explores the circumstances under which a lawyer who is also a real estate salesperson may close real estate transactions brokered by the re...
- Adopted: October 21, 1994Opinion rules that a lawyer may not acquire a proprietary interest in the subject matter of domestic litigation by obtaining a client's authorizati...
- Adopted: October 01, 1994Opinion rules that a lawyer who has agreed to bill a client on the basis of hours expended may not bill the client on the same basis for reused wor...
- Adopted: April 15, 1994Opinion rules that a legal fee for the collection of "med-pay" which is based upon the amount collected is unreasonable.
- Adopted: April 15, 1994Opinion rules that a sum of money paid to a lawyer in advance to secure payment of a fee which is yet to be earned and to which the lawyer is not e...
- Adopted: January 14, 1994Opinion rules that a lawyer may seek to renegotiate a fee agreement with a client provided he does not abandon or threaten to abandon his client to...
- Adopted: October 29, 1993Opinion rules that an attorney may charge a contingent fee to collect delinquent child support.
- Adopted: January 15, 1993Opinion holds that a lawyer may not split a fee with another lawyer who does not practice in her law firm unless the division is based upon the wor...
- Adopted: January 15, 1993Opinion holds that an attorney may not pay a percentage of fees to a paralegal as a bonus.
- Adopted: January 15, 1993Opinion rules that an attorney cannot permit the bank to link her trust and business accounts for the purpose of determining interest earned or cha...
- Adopted: October 23, 1992Opinion rules that an attorney's contingent fee in a case resolved by a structured settlement should, if paid in a lump sum, be calculated in terms...
- Adopted: July 17, 1992Opinion rules that a lawyer may not accept an assignment of her client's judgment while representing the client on appeal of the judgment.
- Adopted: October 18, 1991Opinion rules that associate attorneys may be leased back to their firms.
- Adopted: October 18, 1991Opinion rules that lawyers may not hold themselves out as practicing in a partnership unless the lawyers are actually partners.
- Adopted: April 12, 1991Opinion rules that a lawyer and her client may agree to employ alternative dispute resolution procedures to resolve disputes between themselves.
- Adopted: October 17, 1990Opinion rules that attorneys practicing in North Carolina who are affiliated with an interstate law firm may not permit trust funds belonging to th...
- Adopted: January 12, 1990The responsibilities and limitations of the lawyer acting as trustee arise primarily from the lawyer's fiduciary relationship in serving as trustee...
- Adopted: October 20, 1989Opinion rules that a lawyer must obey the client's instruction not to pay medical providers from the proceeds of settlement in the absence of a val...
- Adopted: October 20, 1989Opinion rules that a lawyer may not pay his or her fee or the fee of a physician from funds held in trust for a client without the client's authority.
- Adopted: July 14, 1989Opinion rules that subject to general conflict of interest rules, a lawyer may represent police officers who are referred by a professional organiz...
- Adopted: January 13, 1989Opinion rules that where a lawyer receives a lump sum payment in advance which is inclusive of the costs of litigation, the portion representing th...
- Adopted: January 13, 1989Opinion rules that a lawyer may charge nonrefundable retainers that are reasonable in amount.
- Adopted: October 28, 1988Opinion rules that an attorney acting as trustee in a foreclosure proceeding may not, while serving in that capacity, file a motion to have an auto...
- Adopted: October 28, 1988Opinion outlines professional responsibilities of lawyers involved in a law firm dissolution.
- Adopted: April 15, 1988Opinion rules that a law firm which has received money representing the refund of an appeal bond to a client owing substantial fees to the firm may...
- Adopted: January 15, 1988Opinion rules that a lawyer generally may not charge a contingent fee to collect "med-pay."
- Adopted: October 24, 1986Opinion rules that a lawyer may affiliate with a private referral service under certain conditions. (See Rule 7.2(e) of the Revised Rules for addit...
- Adopted: October 24, 1986Opinion rules that a retirement agreement may require a lawyer to accept inactive status as a condition of payment of retirement benefits.
- Adopted: October 24, 1986Opinion rules that a lawyer who acquires knowledge of apparent misconduct must report this matter to the State Bar.
- Adopted: July 25, 1986Opinion rules that a lawyer may employ a collection agency to collect past due fees under certain circumstances.
- Adopted: July 25, 1986Opinion states that house counsel for a mortgage bank may not represent other lenders and borrowers while serving as house counsel.
- Adopted: April 18, 1986Opinion rules that lawyers may not solicit corporate clients.
- Adopted: January 17, 1986Opinion rules that a lawyer may charge a contingent fee to recover child support payments.
- Adopted: January 14, 1983Inquiry: Law firm ABC represented client D for a substantial period of time. During that time, client D's file had an active status in the firm wi...
- Adopted: January 18, 1980Inquiry: Law firm does insurance defense work on a regular basis for certain insurance companies such that there is always at least one active file...
- Adopted: October 27, 1977Inquiry: Is it ethical for an attorney to offer Master Charge and other credit card services to clients for the payment of fees charged for service...
- Adopted: January 18, 1974Inquiry: Dated August 16, 1973. Client discharged his lawyer and employed another lawyer. The discharged lawyer has been requested to "turn over t...
