ISBA Ethics Opinions on Reporting Lawyer Misconduct

Opinion 16-02 | Court Obligations | Frivolous Arguments | Reporting Lawyer Misconduct
Withholding controlling legal authority from a tribunal as trial strategy
Opinion 11-01 | Arbitration and Mediation | Reporting Lawyer Misconduct
Reporting lawyer misconduct while serving as an arbitrator or mediator
Opinion 01-04 | Lawyer Referral Services | Reporting Lawyer Misconduct
Fee dispute
Opinion 98-05 | Reporting Lawyer Misconduct
Discovery abuses

A report to the ARDC is not mandatory under Rule 8.3 unless a lawyer has actual knowledge of a violation of Rules 8.4(a)(3) or (a)(4). A lawyer may report an abuse of the discovery process to the ARDC and may also file a Motion for Sanctions with the trial court.
Opinion 96-09 | Advertising and Solicitation | Communication With Represented Person | Reporting Lawyer Misconduct
Discharged lawyer contacting represented former client, duty to report
Opinion 94-23 | Reporting Lawyer Misconduct
Duty to report conduct of non-Illinois lawyer
Opinion 93-03 | Client Funds and Property | Reporting Lawyer Misconduct
Duty to report improper financial assistance to client
Opinion 93-20 | Reporting Lawyer Misconduct
Duty to report conflicts of interest
Opinion 92-12 | Confidentiality | Impaired Lawyer | Reporting Lawyer Misconduct
Duty to report age impaired incompetent lawyer
Opinion 91-07 | Reporting Lawyer Misconduct
Duty to report client’s prior attorney’s fraud
Opinion 91-29 | Reporting Lawyer Misconduct | Threatening Criminal Prosecution
Duty to report opposing lawyers threat against client to pursue criminal prosecution
Opinion 91-23 | Reporting Lawyer Misconduct
Duty to report information learned through privileged communication
Opinion 91-19 | Reporting Lawyer Misconduct
Publicity concerning report to disciplinary agency
Opinion 90-36 | Reporting Lawyer Misconduct
Duty to report threats of criminal prosecution
Opinion 90-28 | Reporting Lawyer Misconduct
Duty to report triggered by actual knowledge
Opinion 90-08 | Reporting Lawyer Misconduct
Duty to report information gained during the attorney-client relationship and which has already been reported by others
Opinion 89-07 | Reporting Lawyer Misconduct
Duty to report claims of ineffective assistance of counsel
Opinion 88-17 | Reporting Lawyer Misconduct
Duty to report conduct of disbarred lawyer

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.