Opinion 1232

The Committee reviewed your inquiry concerning compliance with RPC 7.5(d) specifically whether an associate attorney employed by you as a sole practitioner must have separate stationery. Although the Committee is continuing to consider this issue for the purpose of proposing a formal opinion to the Board of Governors, I have been instructed to advise you that in the Committee`s opinion the recent amendment to the RPC 7.5 did not intend to prohibit sole practitioners from hiring associates and letting them use the law firm letterhead, but its purpose is to prohibit lawyers who are not partners or associates from misleading the public.

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.