Advisory Opinion: 1086

Year Issued: 1987

RPC(s): RPC 7.1(a); 7.5(d)

Subject: Letterhead; firm name; use of term "associates" by sole practitioner

The Committee considered your inquiry concerning the use of letterhead showing the name of a lawyer and the word "associates" by a sole practitioner who states that he believes that the use of such letterhead is proper because he associates regularly on certain cases with various lawyers who are not partners nor employees of him. The Committee was of the unanimous opinion that the use of such letterhead would be misleading to the public because they would be led to believe that the lawyer was a lawyer who had other lawyers employed by him working in his office, assisting him in the representation of clients when that is not the fact.

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.