The twice-monthly “Dear Ethics Lawyer” column is part of a training regimen of the Legal Ethics Project, authored by Mark Hinderks, former managing partner and counsel to an AmLaw 200 firm. Read More

December 2025

Q: Dear Ethics Lawyer, I represented a company let’s call Acme Rocket Cycle Co. while at a firm let’s call Wolf, Wolf and Coyote. I left the firm and took client Acme with me. Only I did any work for Acme while at the firm. May my old firm now represent their client Roadrunner, adverse to Acme, in a new matter that is not related to any matter I handled while at Wolf, Wolf and Coyote?

Continue Reading December 15 Issue – Conflict with Former Client of Departed Lawyer

Q: Dear Ethics Lawyer, With technology becoming more robust, I’ve gotten very comfortable with remote work, and clients do not seem to care where I am as long as I am responsive to them. We’ve recently purchased a vacation home in another state, and based on my experience, I’d like to spend substantial amounts of time working from that vacation home. I am not licensed to practice in that state, but I do not plan to open an office there or to seek or serve any clients in that state. All of the client relationships I currently serve are centered in states where I am licensed or I have appropriate local counsel. Is this plan viable?

Continue Reading December 1 Issue – Working Remotely in Another State