940157 | Office of Legal Ethics Counsel & Advisory Committee of the Supreme Court of Missouri

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Informal Opinion Number: 940157

Rules: 1.13;7.1

Client-Lawyer Relationship

Organization as Client

QUESTION: Does the title “general counsel” create any different obligations than the titles “legal counsel” or “corporate counsel´? ANSWER: No. Under the Rules of Professional Conduct, the attorney´s actual role rather would determine the attorney´s responsibilities regardless of the title. If individuals within the organization might be led to believe that the attorney has a role other than the actual role, perhaps the title used should be reconsidered.

Informal Opinions are ethics advisory opinions issued by the Office of Legal Ethics Counsel to members of the Bar about Rule 4 (Rules of Professional Conduct), Rule 5 (Complaints and Proceedings Thereon), and Rule 6 (Fees to Practice Law) pursuant to Missouri Supreme Court Rule 5.30(c). Written summaries of select Informal Opinions are published for informational purposes as determined by the Advisory Committee of the Supreme Court of Missouri pursuant to Rule 5.30(c). Informal opinion summaries are advisory in nature and are not binding. These opinions are published as an educational service and do not constitute legal advice.

To request an Informal Opinion, please visit: https://mo-legal-ethics.org/for lawyers/requesting-an-informal-advisory-opinion/.