Advisory Opinion: 984

Year Issued: 1986

RPC(s):

Subject: Trust account for deposit of law firm employees' funds

The Committee reviewed your inquiry regarding the establishment of an in-house trust account to be used for the deposit of funds belonging to law firm employees. The Committee was of the opinion that if the account had no client funds in it, it did not present an ethical question. The Committee did question whether the deposit of funds belonging to any employee who is not a lawyer into such an account might create an attorney-client relationship, but did not attempt to answer that question.

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.