Advisory Opinion: 1157

Year Issued: 1988

RPC(s): RPC 1.14

Subject: Trust account; authorizing nonlawyer assistant to use signature stamp on checks

The Committee was of the opinion that authorizing a member of your staff to use a signature stamp for signature on trust account checks, with your knowledge and direction, would not be specifically prohibited by the Rules of Professional Conduct, but that such a practice is very poor and might be so below the minimal standard of care so as to border on incompetence. The Committee felt that the potential for misuse of a signature stamp on trust account checks was great, and likened it to a lawyer signing trust account checks in blank and leaving them lying around.

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.