Opinion 1105

The Committee was of the opinion that Rule 1.8 of the Rules of Professional Conduct would prohibit a lawyer or a law firm from guaranteeing a loan to a client in order to enable the client to forestall a deed of trust foreclosure and thereby better enabling the client to maintain litigation by avoiding the uncertainty of living arrangements engendered by the loss of the home.

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.