Advisory Opinion: 1444

Year Issued: 1991

RPC(s): RPC 1.1; 1.6; 1.15

Subject: County bar lawyer referral service; disclosure of information by volunteer lawyers to referral service; limiting scope of representation; duties on withdrawal

The Committee reviewed your inquiry regarding the operation of a county bar lawyer referral service. The Committee is of the opinion that the lawyer referral service may refer fee generating cases to lawyers who volunteer for the program so long as that lawyer is competent to handle the matter as required by RPC 1.1. The Committee is further of the opinion that the volunteer lawyers may disclose information to the referral service except that confidences and secrets may only be disclosed in compliance with RPC 1.6. Finally, the Committee is of the opinion that the volunteer lawyer may enter into an agreement with the client limiting the objectives of the representation, including the time to be spent on the representation, but noted that RPC 1.15 requires that upon withdrawing from a representation, the lawyer must take those steps necessary to protect the client's interest.

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.