TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on Apr 2, 2025

The American Bar Association (ABA) Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility has released Formal Opinion 516, offering guidance for lawyers seeking to end a representation under Rule 1.16(b)(1). The opinion clarifies when a lawyer’s withdrawal would have a "material adverse effect" on the client’s interests, which would prevent withdrawal, including if it significantly harms the client’s progress, increases costs or hinders the client’s ability to achieve legal objectives. It also notes that lawyers may mitigate these effects and withdraw without violating the rule if the harm is minimized. The opinion concludes that lawyers should exercise care and thoughtfulness in deciding whether to accept an engagement and generally refrain from ending a relationship without good cause, but even careful lawyers may occasionally need to end representation.