Opinion 71-23
FLORIDA BAR ETHICS OPINION
OPINION 71-23
June 21, 1971
Advisory ethics opinions are not binding.
A law firm may allow its client to choose the date and time for closing a transaction. However,
actual notice to the other party of the date and time should come from the law firm itself and not
from the client.
CPR:
Canon 3
Chairman Massey stated the opinion of the committee:
A Florida law firm represents a condominium developer. Contracts of
purchase and sale provide for the developer scheduling the date of closing at the
offices of the law firm. The attorneys have drafted under their letterhead a form of
notice advising of time, date and place of closing, which is given to the
condominium developer, who inserts the date and time in blanks and places it in
the mail to the purchaser. The Committee is asked whether this procedure violates
Canon 3, CPR (old Canon 47).
The Committee is of the opinion that the completion and mailing of the notice as
aforesaid does not involve the unauthorized practice of law. There is no literal violation of the
ethical considerations or disciplinary rules under Canon 3, CPR.
A majority of the Committee, however, are concerned with the appearance of the
proposed procedure, as it is unseemly for a law firm to delegate to anyone outside its office the
ability to make appointments for the lawyers, particularly when the letter notice of appointment
would appear to have been sent from the law firm, although in fact it had originated with the
developer. To use a form of notice appointment is proper, but the majority determine that so
there can be no misinterpretation of the action or the appointment date and time, the developer
should upon completion contact the law firm, which in turn could make the appointment with the
purchaser.