Opinion 987

[One lawyer in a two lawyer firm accepted a position with a legal services agency and his partner asked if the firm name could be used for a five month wind-down period to save costs.] The Committee was of the opinion that after you assume employment with [a legal services agency] your law firm cannot continue to use your name in the firm name because it would be misleading and would violate RPC 7.5(d) as it would imply that a partnership existed where none it fact did.

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.