Advisory Opinion: 1497

Year Issued: 1992

RPC(s): RPC 1.11

Subject: Successive government and private employment; use of public information obtained while government employee

The Committee reviewed your inquiry regarding the use of information a lawyer learned about an expert witness while the lawyer was employed by a government agency. The Committee was of the opinion that nothing in the Rules of Professional Conduct would prohibit a lawyer from using such public information learned while employed by the government agency.

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.