Opinion 1065

You have inquired whether you could designate an employee as a "law clerk," "legal assistant," "paralegal," or "legal intern" [to describe employee who graduated from law school but is not admitted to practice law]. The Committee was of the opinion that because the term "legal intern" is defined by Rule 9 of the Admission to Practice Rules, you could not designate your employee as such unless the employee complied with that rule. The Committee was further of the opinion that although the term "law clerk" does have a specific meaning in the Admission to Practice Rules, it is not an exclusive meaning, and that that term, as well as "paralegal" or "legal assistant" could be used to designate the employee providing that such designation was neither misleading nor deceptive. The Committee was further of the opinion that you could provide your employee with business cards to distribute to clients with his name and approved title, and that your stationery could list his name provided that his designation made it clear that he was not a lawyer.

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.