Opinion ID: 2334156
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Bona Fide Office

Text: Respondent was charged with a violation of R. 1:21-1(a), which requires that an attorney maintain a bona fide office for the practice of law in the state of New Jersey. Respondent, who was also admitted to the practice of law in the state of New York, maintains an office in the lower level of her house. Professional office use is permitted in the zone in which the house is located. In the office portion of her home, respondent maintains two desks, an office chair, a conference table, word processing equipment, a photocopier, a typewriter, a telephone and a telephone answering machine, eight file cabinets, and a safe. She employs a part-time secretary, who works 20 hours a week. Although the presentment found that there had been ample evidence that respondent had failed to communicate with clients who telephoned her New Jersey office, it concluded that the record did not establish a violation of the rule requiring the maintenance of a bona fide office.