Opinion 1153

The Committee reviewed your inquiry regarding the donation of legal services to a public radio station by means of providing the station with certificates which would represent an hour of prepaid legal services. The Committee understood that the radio station would then offer these certificates as premiums to individuals who pledged funds to support the station. The Committee understood that these certificates would constitute a reward for contributing to the station, but whether to use the voucher was up to the donor. The Committee was of the opinion that nothing in the Rules of Professional Conduct prohibited such a practice so long as the message communicated by the station to the public did not violate RPC 7.1 which prohibits misleading and deceptive advertising, and that the station did not indicate directly or indirectly that it was recommending your services as 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.