CHICAGO, May 23, 2013 — A new American Bar Association ethics opinion discusses a lawyer’s obligations under the Model Rules of Professional Conduct in the context of efforts to deter and combat client-related money laundering and terrorist financing.

Formal Opinion 463 refers to the ABA’s 2010 Voluntary Good Practices Guidance for Lawyers to Detect and Combat Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing, which helps lawyers recognize and evaluate situations where providing legal services may assist in such crimes. By implementing the 2010 guidelines’ risk-based control measures where appropriate, lawyers can avoid aiding illegal activities consistent with Model Rule client-protection provisions, the opinion states.

The ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility periodically issues ethics opinions to guide lawyers, courts and the public in interpreting and applying ABA model ethics rules to specific issues of legal practice, client-lawyer relationships and judicial behavior.

Formal Opinion 463 and other ABA ethics opinions are available at the ABA Center for Professional Responsibility’s website, www.americanbar.org/cpr.

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