Practice Tools

ISBA Ethics Opinions on Unauthorized Practice of Law

  • Nonlawyer's representation of parties to a FINRA arbitration : 13-03
  • Non Illinois licensed lawyer representing party in Illinois arbitration proceeding : 12-17
  • Non-Illinois lawyer partnering with Illinois lawyer in Illinois and advising clients on Illinois law : 12-09
  • Third party vendor lawyer promotion (advertising) and compensation : 06-02
  • Lawyer negotiating accident related medical claims in jurisdiction in which not licensed : 02-04
  • Corporation providing legal services : 97-03
  • Private practice in the name of a nonlawyer owned corporation : 96-04
  • Improper for nonlawyer to provide assistance or advice in completing corporate documents such as articles of incorporation : 95-07
  • Client referrals from nonlawyer in exchange for payments : 94-08
  • Drafting documents but delegating legal advice on those documents to nonlawyers : 94-01
  • Nonlawyer representatives in Illinois Department of Employment Hearings : 93-15
  • Lawyer hired by third party : 93-11
  • Representation of client after client advised by nonlawyer : 92-20
  • Participation in review of nonlawyer prepared financial and estate planning documents : 91-10
  • Lawyer preparing estate documents for members of not-for-profit organization : 90-35
  • Lawyer employed by business preparing Revocable Living Trusts : 90-20
  • Nonlawyer preparing revocable trust documents and/or initiating contact with potential clients for lawyer : 90-19
  • Financial institution preparing land trust or deed : 90-13
  • Collection agency employing nonlawyer, or utilizing law firm paralegal, to answer inquiries from the collection agency’s office in the name of a law firm : 88-08
  • Lawyer taking direction from client’s agent real estate broker : 87-02
  • Use of law firm letterhead by client with lawyer review and approval : 86-08
  • Law firm providing letterhead to client : 85-07
  • Use of lay intermediaries : 707
  • Law firm employing nonlawyer collective bargaining professional : 684

ISBA Advisory Opinions on Professional Conduct are prepared as an educational service to members of the ISBA. While the opinions express the ISBA interpretation of the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct and other relevant materials in response to a specific hypothesized fact situation, they do not have the weight of law and should not be relied upon as a substitute for individual legal advice. For more information, call the ISBA Legal Department at (217) 525-1760 or (800) 252-8908.