Opinion 1932

The inquirer wrote the committee regarding the propriety of an attorney’s payment of administrative charges to a for-profit attorney referral service. The service arranges attorney-client relationships, and imposes certain charges on the attorney for, in part, management of invoices for the attorney’s fees to client.

Unlike a lawyer’s relationship with a "not-for-profit" lawyer referral service, RPC 7.2(c) bars an attorney from entering an agreement with a "for-profit" lawyer referral service that provides for the lawyer’s payment of charges to the service. The Rules of Professional Conduct Committee believes that under Rule 5.4(a) and 7.2(c) a lawyer may not pay charges of a "for-profit" lawyer referral service for administrative or other charges associated with the service’s activities.

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.