Advisory Opinion No. 146

The question is whether the outside legal activities by a legislative analyst/attorney in the Office of Council Services [OCS] who is spending approximately five hours per week completing cases from his previous practice would conflict with his official duties.

The Ethics Commission [Commission] inquired of the head of OCS if there were a policy regarding the outside practice of law by employees of OCS. He indicated that his office does have a rule that the outside practice of law is not permitted. Attorneys are allowed a reasonable amount of time to complete cases from their former practice but any continued practice is not permitted.

The Commission agrees with the rule and finds that no further determination is required by the Commission.

Dated: May 21, 1985

GILBERT A. GIMA
Chair, Ethics Commission