Rule 34.7 Disciplinary board advisory opinions prohibited

Here's a plain English summary of this rule:

The disciplinary board that handles attorney conduct issues in Iowa cannot give advice ahead of time about whether something an attorney plans to do would break the rules. Attorneys can't call up the board and ask "would this be okay?" and expect an official answer they can rely on.

This means the board only steps in after a complaint has been filed and a real situation needs to be reviewed. It does not act as a helpline for attorneys who want a green light before taking action. If a lawyer wants guidance on how to handle a tricky situation, they need to look elsewhere, such as their own legal counsel or published ethics rules, rather than asking the board directly.

This rule exists to keep the board focused on its actual job: reviewing complaints and deciding on discipline when a lawyer may have broken the rules. It also protects the board from being asked to guess about hypothetical situations that have not actually happened yet.