Office of Legal Ethics Counsel & Advisory Committee

The Office of Legal Ethics Counsel serves a number of functions pursuant to Missouri Supreme Court Rule 5. One of the primary functions is that the Legal Ethics Counsel, on behalf of the Advisory Committee, may provide informal ethics opinions to members of the bar regarding the lawyer’s prospective conduct pursuant to Rule 5.30(c). Several ethics resources are provided by this office on the “For Lawyers” page. The Legal Ethics Counsel also serves as counsel and staff for the Advisory Committee of the Supreme Court of Missouri.

The Advisory Committee members are appointed by the Supreme Court of Missouri pursuant to Missouri Supreme Court Rule 5.01. The Advisory Committee consists of no fewer than nine lawyers and three nonlawyers. Members of the Advisory Committee serve without compensation but are reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses. The Advisory Committee acts in accordance with its responsibilities as provided by the Supreme Court of Missouri in Rules 4, 5, and 6.

The Advisory Committee has responsibilities under Missouri Supreme Court Rule 5 regarding disciplinary hearing panel proceedings prior to a matter being filed in the Supreme Court of Missouri. For more information, please see “For the Public” page.

Pursuant to Missouri Supreme Court Rule 5.30(a), the Advisory Committee may provide formal opinions. For more information, please see the “For Lawyers” page.

The Advisory Committee may review lawyer complaint files that have been closed after investigation by the Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel or a regional disciplinary committee, at the request of the complainant, pursuant to Missouri Supreme Court Rule 5.11.

The Advisory Committee may approve financial institutions to hold client trust accounts pursuant to Missouri Rule of Professional Conduct 4-1.145(a)(2) and maintains a list of IOLTA approved financial institutions.

The Advisory Committee may waive penalties and past due enrollment fees upon proof satisfactory that any delinquency was caused by reason of physical or mental incapacity to engage in the practice of law. Missouri Supreme Court Rule 6.01(h).

For more information regarding this office, please review the FAQs.