Page 26 - JanuaryFebruary26 Report

l e g a l co m m u n i t y
Supporting Ethical Practice
in the Legal Profession
As an Ohio attorney practicing for over 25 years, I have been
a member of the CBA Ethics and Professional Responsibility
Committee for most of my practice. The rich practice diversity
among the committee members allows me to see how the Rules of Professional Conduct
are applied to real life situations. And particularly for those attorneys who, like me,
concentrate on a single area of practice, this committee allows for insight into the applica-
tion of the Rules of Professional Conduct in practice areas very different from their own.
The most important benefit the Ethics Committee provides to the practice is the ethics
hotline. Staffed monthly with two to three committee members, the hotline invites local
attorneys to ask ethical questions or potential ethical issues raised by a particular context.
As a committee, we confidentially review and discuss every reported hotline call during
our monthly meetings. Thus, the ethics hotline is mutually beneficial to committee
members and the community. By taking hotline calls and participating in the discussions,
members continue to develop their understanding of the Rules of Professional Conduct,
and local attorneys gain access to our committee members’ shared wisdom and resources
to allow for a further understanding of their ethical obligations.
Our CBA Counsel helps the committee stay current on ethical developments and
proposed Rules of Professional Conduct changes, so we can anticipate their impact on
local practice and publicly comment when appropriate. I am continually impressed at
the dedication and commitment of our members to the committee and the profession.
If you have a question for the ethics hotline, you can find the contact information
on the CBA website and in the CBA Report. We will help you understand your obliga-
tions under the Rules of Professional Conduct, so you can better serve your clients and
the court. If you’re interested in joining the Ethics Committee, contact the CBA’s Assis-
tant Counsel, Megan Roach, for more information. Committee appointments typically
occur in the spring.
ETHICAL
QUANDARY?
The CBA is proud to offer ethical
guidance to Greater Cincinnati
attorneys through our Ethics
Committee's hotline.
January
Richard A. Magnus 513-731-2889
Theresa Bryans 614-906-5551
Tim Maloney 513-519-1891
February
Samuel M. Duran 513-357-9378 (O)
513-484-2594 (C)
Jon Sinclair 513-621-3200
The members of the CBA Ethics & Professional
Responsibility Committee listed above are
available to help you interpret your obligations
under the Ohio Rules of Professional
Conduct. Questions posed should be framed
hypothetically and should relate to your own
prospective conduct. The committee also
accepts requests for written opinions.
Lynne Longtin is employed as a Staff Attorney with the Cincinnati Insurance Company. She is a long-standing
member of the CBA Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility, and has previously served as chair of the
committee.
Bench Bar
Social
Hurley
Thursday, February 26
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Cincinnati Bar Center
225 E Sixth St., Cincinnati, OH 45202
Join us for an evening of networking between bench and bar. Our Bench
Bar social invites state and federal judges and attorneys to connect outside
of the courtroom and away from the pressures of practice. The event will
feature keynote remarks from local historian, Dan Hurley. Drinks and light
appetizers will be served. This event is open to CBA members only.
26 | january/february 2026 cba report