The material in this article is general legal information for educational use only. It should not be treated as legal, financial, or tax advice, and reading it does not form an attorney-client relationship. Legal rules vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Questions about a specific matter belong with a qualified professional. The author and publisher disclaim liability for actions taken in reliance on this content.
Key Facts
- National overview: The ABA says formal ethics opinions issued since 1983 are available for individual purchase via Lexis and Westlaw, and ABA members have access to a complimentary online library of opinions issued since 1984.
- National overview: ABA Formal Ethics Opinion 10-457 is titled “Lawyer Websites” and dated August 5, 2010.
- National overview: The ABA subject index links Formal Opinion 10-457 to confidentiality duties connected to lawyer websites that encourage inquiries or communication from prospective clients.
- National overview: ABA Formal Ethics Opinion 10-456 is titled “Disclosure of Information to Prosecutor When Lawyer’s Former Client Brings Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Claim” and dated July 14, 2010.
- National overview: The ABA subject index links Formal Opinion 10-456 to limits on a criminal defense lawyer’s voluntary disclosure of confidential information without court order when defending an ineffective assistance of counsel claim.
- National overview: The ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct were adopted in 1983 and serve as models for the ethics rules of most jurisdictions.
What this legal information covers and why ABA ethics opinions come up in searches
This legal information explains how the ABA organizes its formal ethics opinions archives and how readers can locate specific Formal Opinions 10-456 and 10-457. The key Sources for the opinion numbers, titles, issue dates, and subject-topic descriptions are the ABA issue-date archive and the ABA subject index.
- What this legal information covers and why ABA ethics opinions come up in searches
- What “ABA ethics opinions” are in practice
- How the ABA issue date archive helps locate an opinion
- How the ABA subject index adds topic context
- Issue date archive versus subject index in one quick comparison
- Accessing full text and buying or reading opinions through the ABA portal
- Formal Opinion 10 457 “Lawyer Websites” (August 5, 2010)
- Formal Opinion 10 456 “Disclosure to Prosecutor” in ineffective assistance litigation (July 14, 2010)
- Confidentiality themes show up across both 2010 examples
- Why jurisdiction context still matters when reading ABA guidance
- Sources
What “ABA ethics opinions” are in practice
The ABA’s materials organize “formal ethics opinions” into an archive system that readers can navigate using both issue-date and subject-area approaches. Because ABA guidance sits alongside the ABA’s Model Rules framework, these archives often serve as a starting point for understanding how professional responsibility issues get categorized across different jurisdictions.
How the ABA issue date archive helps locate an opinion
The ABA’s issue-date archive is built around formal opinion numbers paired with their issue dates. One practical use is confirming an opinion’s identifier and publication date before searching by topic.
How the ABA subject index adds topic context
The ABA’s subject index connects a Formal Opinion number to a topic-level description. This approach is useful when the starting question involves a subject category (such as lawyer websites or disclosures in criminal proceedings) rather than an opinion number.
Issue date archive versus subject index in one quick comparison
| Finding method | What it typically provides | Example from this archive |
|---|---|---|
| Issue-date archive | Opinion number plus date | “Formal Opinion 10-457” dated August 5, 2010 |
| Subject index | Topic-level description tied to the opinion number | “Lawyer websites” topic description linked to Formal Opinion 10-457 |
Accessing full text and buying or reading opinions through the ABA portal
The ABA’s Ethics Opinions portal describes access options. The portal states that formal opinions issued since 1983 are available for individual purchase via Lexis and Westlaw, and ABA members have access to a complimentary online library of formal opinions issued since 1984. Index pages therefore help with identification and topic navigation, while the portal explains access to the full materials.
Formal Opinion 10 457 “Lawyer Websites” (August 5, 2010)
The ABA’s issue-date archive lists Formal Opinion 10-457, titled “Lawyer Websites,” dated August 5, 2010. At the topic level, the ABA subject index links Formal Opinion 10-457 to confidentiality duties connected to a lawyer website that encourages inquiries or communication from prospective clients.
Formal Opinion 10 456 “Disclosure to Prosecutor” in ineffective assistance litigation (July 14, 2010)
The ABA’s issue-date archive lists Formal Opinion 10-456, titled “Disclosure of Information to Prosecutor When Lawyer’s Former Client Brings Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Claim,” dated July 14, 2010. At the topic level, the ABA subject index describes the opinion as addressing limits on a criminal defense lawyer’s voluntary disclosure of confidential information without court order when defending an ineffective assistance of counsel claim.
Confidentiality themes show up across both 2010 examples
Both of the 2010 Formal Opinions summarized above place confidentiality-related concerns at the center of the subject descriptions. Attorney-client privilege discussions often overlap with confidentiality and disclosure analysis, and the site also includes answers to questions about the attorney-client privilege as background for readers comparing how privilege and confidentiality concepts get used in legal analysis.
Why jurisdiction context still matters when reading ABA guidance
The ABA’s Model Rules overview states that the Model Rules were adopted in 1983 and serve as models for the ethics rules of most jurisdictions. That “model” role explains why ABA ethics opinions are often best read as categorized guidance alongside the specific professional conduct rules and disciplinary procedures used by a particular jurisdiction.
