Advisory Opinion: 1530

Year Issued: 1993

RPC(s): RPC 1.6

Subject: Client confidence of secret; disclosure to nonlawyer supervisor

The Committee reviewed your inquiry regarding disclosure of confidences or secrets by a staff attorney to a non-lawyer executive director of the agency by which she is employed. The Committee was of the opinion that unless the client had consented, sharing confidences or secrets with a non-attorney executive director would violate RPC 1.6, and any lawyer involved in such disclosures would potentially be subject to discipline.

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.