Advisory Opinion: 1827

Year Issued: 1998

RPC(s): RPC 1.1; 5.4(c)

Subject: Legal services agency limiting number of hours spent on pro bono representation

[The inquiry concerned a proposal by a legal services program to notify volunteer attorneys of the number of pro bono hours to use on the case, and to permit the volunteer to withdraw if all hours were used before the case was completed.] I have been instructed by the Rules of Professional Conduct Committee to respond to your ethics inquiry #1827 concerning the assignment of an average number of hours used to handle a particular pro bono matter.

The Committee has reviewed your inquiry and determined that the proposed arrangement would violate RPC 1.1 and 5.4(c).

Advisory Opinions are provided for the education of the Bar and reflect the opinion of the Committee on Professional Ethics (CPE) or its predecessors. Advisory Opinions are provided pursuant to the authorization granted by the Board of Governors, but are not individually approved by the Board and do not reflect the official position of the Bar association. Laws other than the Washington State Rules of Professional Conduct may apply to the inquiry. The Committee's answer does not include or opine about any other applicable law other than the meaning of the Rules of Professional Conduct.