Advisory Opinion: 2067

Year Issued: 2004

RPC(s): RPC 1.14

Subject: Request for religious exempt from requirements of RPC 1.14

The inquiring lawyer asks whether a lawyer with a sincerely held religious belief that prevents him from using an interest-bearing account may, with his client’s permission, place client funds in a non-interest bearing account that otherwise meets the requirements of RPC 1.14.

The committee opined that RPC 1.14 does not contain an exception for lawyers who have religious objections to the use of interest bearing accounts.

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.