Advisory Opinion: 1050

Year Issued: 1986

RPC(s): RPC 1.11

Subject: Conflict of interest; successive government and private employment

The Committee was of the opinion that, based upon the facts in your inquiry, there is no conflict of interest or breach of confidential information for a lawyer in your office to represent a plaintiff in a lawsuit against the State when another lawyer in your office had previously served on [a governor's commission on a related subject]. The Committee was further of the opinion that such conduct would not violate RPC 1.11 because of the narrow definition of "matter" in RPC 1.11(d).

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.