These summaries were prepared by McGuireWoods LLP lawyer Thomas E. Spahn. They are based on the letter opinions issued by the Virginia State Bar. Any editorial comments reflect Mr. Spahn's current personal views, and not the opinions of the Virginia State Bar, McGuireWoods or its clients. 
 
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32-Lawyers Acting in Other Roles (Miscellaneous)

59-Disbarred and Suspended Lawyers

A lawyer represented a client until the lawyer's license was revoked. The former lawyer then worked as a counselor at a hospital. While the former lawyer was working at the hospital, the former client's spouse was admitted. The former lawyer did not act as the spouse's counselor at the hospital. When the former lawyer's license was reinstated, the lawyer was approached by the client to represent the client in a dispute with the spouse.Because the former lawyer was not acting in a legal capacity while at the hospital, there could be no attorney-client relationship established with the spouse who was a patient at the hospital. However, a lawyer's independent professional judgment might be affected by duties of another profession to keep confidences. Furthermore, violation of another profession's duties might amount to a violation of a lawyer's ethical duties.

Copyright 2000, Thomas E. Spahn