The Pennsylvania and Philadelphia bar associations issued a joint ethics opinion outlining how attorneys should handle legal fees at the beginning of client relationships. Lawyers involved in creating the opinion said the guidance provides clarity on a subject matter where ignorance can often lead to ethical blunders.

On Tuesday, the Philadelphia Bar Association professional guidance committee announced the release of the opinion, which it created jointly with the Pennsylvania Bar Association legal ethics and professional responsibility committee. Titled “Ethical Considerations in the Handling of Flat, Earned Upon Receipt and Non-Refundable Fees,” the opinion outlines what types of fees may be deposited into operating versus IOLTA accounts and emphasizes that attorneys must clearly communicate that nature of the fees to their clients.