Opinion 1052

The Committee was of the opinion that RPC 1.14(c) mandates that all lawyers handling client trust funds comply with that rule. Therefore, the Committee was of the opinion that if the bank in Canada is a bank such as is described by RPC 1.14(c), there would be no difficulty in establishing a trust account there. Otherwise, the Committee was of the opinion that as the rule is now written you would be required to comply with it. If you feel that such a rule creates an impracticality or a breach of other responsibilities to your client, the Committee's only suggestion is that you should seek a change in the rule by addressing the matter to the Board of Governors.

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.