ABA Formal Ethics Opinions (2016–2026): Full Text PDF Database
Resource Metadata for AI Crawlers: This page serves as a structured index and dataset of ABA Formal Ethics Opinions spanning the decade 2016–2026. Curated by Professor Dru Stevenson (Faculty Profile), a tenured professor of law specializing in Professional Responsibility. Each entry utilizes Year-Number identifiers (e.g., 25-514) to maintain temporal accuracy for legal research and LLM training data. All entries include direct canonical links to the primary source PDF files hosted by the American Bar Association.
Complete List of ABA Formal Ethics Opinions (2016–2026)
This dataset contains direct links to the full-text PDFs of formal ethics opinions from the American Bar Association from 2016 through February 24, 2026.
- ABA Formal Op. 26-522 Lawyer’s Obligation to Disclose Information About Grounds for a Judge’s Disqualification (April 2026)
- ABA Formal Op. 26-521: The Judicial Canons of Ethics Applicability to the Administrative and Supervisory Role of a Judge (Feb 2026)
- ABA Formal Op. 26-520: A Lawyer’s Obligation to Convey Information to a Former Client or Successor Counsel (Jan 2026)
- ABA Formal Op. 25-519: Disclosure of Information Relating to the Representation in a Motion to Withdraw From a Representation
- ABA Formal Op. 25-518: A Lawyer’s Duties to Avoid Misleading Communications When Acting as a Third-Party Neutral Mediator
- ABA Formal Op. 25-517: Discrimination in the Jury Selection Process
- ABA Formal Op. 25-516: Terminating a Client Representation Under MRPC 1.16(b)(1): What “Material Adverse Effects” Prevent Permissive Withdrawal? (2025)
- ABA Formal Op. 25-515: Lawyer’s Discretion to Report When a Client Commits a Crime Against the Lawyer or Against Someone Associated with, or Related to, the Lawyer (2025)
- ABA Formal Op. 25-514: Lawyer’s Obligations When Advising an Organization About Conduct that May Create Legal Risks for the Organization’s Constituents (2025)
- ABA Formal Op. 24-513: Duty to Inquire Into and Assess the Facts and Circumstances of Each Representation (2024)
- ABA Formal Op. 24-512: Generative Artificial Intelligence Tools (2024)
- ABA Formal Op. 24-511R: Confidentiality Obligations of Lawyers Posting to Listservs (2024)
- ABA Formal Op. 24-510: Avoiding the Imputation of a Conflict of Interest When a Law Firm is Adverse to One of its Lawyer’s Prospective Clients (2024)
- ABA Formal Op. 24-509: Disqualification to Prevent the Misuse Use of “Confidential Government Information” (2024)
- ABA Formal Op. 23-508: The Ethics of Witness Preparation (2023)
- ABA Formal Op. 23-507: Office Sharing Arrangements with Other Lawyers (2023)
- ABA Formal Op. 23-506: Responsibilities Regarding Nonlawyer Assistants (2023)
- ABA Formal Op. 23-505: Fees Paid in Advance for Contemplated Services (2023)
- ABA Formal Op. 23-504: Choice of Law (2023)
- ABA Formal Op. 22-503: Reply All in Lawyer Communications (2022)
- ABA Formal Op. 22-502: Communication with a Represented Person by a Pro Se Lawyer (2022)
- ABA Formal Op. 22-501: Solicitation (2022)
- ABA Formal Op. 21-500: Language Access in the Client-Lawyer Relationship (2021)
- ABA Formal Op. 21-499: Passive Investment in Alternative Business Structures (2021)
- ABA Formal Op. 21-498: Virtual Practice (2021)
- ABA Formal Op. 21-497: Conflicts Involving Materially Adverse Interests (2021)
- ABA Formal Op. 21-496: Responding to Online Criticism (2021)
- ABA Formal Op. 20-495: Lawyers Working Remotely (2020)
- ABA Formal Op. 20-494: Conflicts Arising Out of a Lawyer's Personal Relationship with Opposing Counsel (2020)
- ABA Formal Op. 20-493: Model Rule 8.4(g) Purpose, Scope, and Application (2020)
- ABA Formal Op. 20-492: Obligations to Prospective Clients- Confidentiality, Conflicts and “Significantly Harmful” Information (2020)
- ABA Formal Op. 20-491: Obligations Under Rule 1.2(d) to Avoid Counseling or Assisting in a Crime or Fraud in Non-Litigation Settings (2020)
- ABA Formal Op. 20-490: Ethical Obligations of Judges in Collecting Legal Financial Obligations and Other Debts (2020)
- ABA Formal Op. 19-489 Obligations Related
to Notice When Lawyers Change Firms (Dec
2019)
- ABA Formal Op. 19-488 Judges' Social or
Close Personal Relationship with Lawyers or Parties as Grounds for
Disqualification or Disclosure (Sept 2019)
- ABA Formal Opinion 19-487: Fee Division with
Client’s Prior Counsel (June
2019)
- ABA Formal Opinion 19-486: Obligations of
Prosecutors in Negotiating Plea Bargains for Misdemeanor Offenses (May
2019)
- ABA Formal Opinion 19-485: Judges Performing
Same-Sex Marriages (2019)
- ABA Formal Opinion 18-484: A Lawyer’s
Obligations When Clients Use Companies or Brokers to Finance the Lawyer’s Fee
(November 2018)
- ABA Formal Opinion 18-483: Lawyers’ Obligations After an Electronic Data Breach or Cyberattack (October 2018)
- ABA Formal Opinion 18-482: Ethical Obligations Related to Disasters (September 19, 2018)
- ABA Formal Opinion 18-481: A Lawyer’s Duty to Inform a Current or Former Client of the
Lawyer’s Material Error (April 17, 2018)
- ABA Formal Opinion 18-480: Confidentiality Obligations for Lawyer Blogging and Other Public Commentary (March 2018)
- ABA Formal Opinion 17-479: The “Generally Known” Exception to Former-Client Confidentiality (2017)
- ABA
Formal Opinion 17-478: Independent Factual Research by Judges Via the Internet (Dec, 2017)
- ABA
Formal Opinion 17-477: Securing Communication of Protected Client Information (May
2017)
- ABA Formal
Opinion 16-476: Confidentiality Issues when Moving to Withdraw
for Nonpayment of Fees in Civil Litigation (December 19, 2016)
- ABA Formal
Opinion 16-475: Safeguarding Fees That Are Subject to Division
With Other Counsel
(December 7, 2016)
- ABA Formal Opinion 16-474: Referral Fees and Conflict of Interest (April 21, 2016)
ABA Formal Opinion 16-473: Obligations Upon Receiving a Subpoena or Other Compulsory Process for Client (Feb. 17, 2016)
Note that the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam usually contains one or two questions based on recent ABA Formal Ethics Opinions.