Formal Ethics Opinions

Please refer to About WSBA Ethics Opinions and Washington State Court Rules of General Application in reading Formal Ethics Opinions.

#1. Prosecuting Attorney

#2. Withdrawn

#3. Prosecuting Attorney

#4. Contingent Fees

#5-9. Withdrawn

#10. Referral Fees

#11. Withdrawn

#12. Communicating With Opposing Counsel

#13-15. Withdrawn

#16. Confidential Information

#17. Withdrawn

#18. Unauthorized Practice

#19. Withdrawn

#20. Attorney As Candidate

#21. Attorney's Communication With 0pposite Party

#22. Attorney's Writing About His Pending Case

#23-25. Withdrawn

#26. Client Discussing Case With Judge

#27. Withdrawn

#32. Withdrawn

#33. Posting Bail for Others

#34-43. Withdrawn

#44. Veterans' Administration Attorney

#45. Claim Against Former Client

#46. Candidates for Judicial Office

#47-58. Withdrawn

#59. Prosecuting Attorney As Attorney

#60-65. Withdrawn

#66. Attorney Communicating Directly With the Opposing Party

#67-69. Withdrawn

#70. Revealing Address of Client by Attorney

#71. Use of Watermark in Legal Stationery

#72-73. Withdrawn

#74. Restrictions Upon the Private Practice of Prosecuting Attorneys (Retained in part)

#75. Contingent Fee for Collection of Past-Due

#76. Rights of Collection Agency

#77-79. Withdrawn

#80. Lawyer Acting for Collection Agency

#81. Prosecuting Attorney Maintaining Suit to Invalidate Bonds of School District

#82-83. Withdrawn

#84. Collection Agencies

#85-86. Withdrawn

#87. Letterhead Designating Attorney as City Attorney

#88-89. Withdrawn

#90. Creditor's Attorney as Attorney for Receiver

#91-95. Withdrawn

#96. Negotiations Conducted by Attorney with Adverse Party

#97. Withdrawn

#98. Use of Confidential Records

#99-101. Withdrawn

#102. Withdrawn [See RCW 42.17.130]

#103. Withdrawn

#104. Attorney Accepting Appointment as City Attorney for Two Separate Cities or Towns

#105-108. Withdrawn

#109. Acceptance of Employment by a Law Firm Which Previous Relations Would Prevent Any Partner from Accepting

#110. Lawyers as Witnesses

#111. Probate of Will

#112. Withdrawn

#113. Writing Letter to Newspaper

#114-115. Withdrawn

#116. Contingent Fees in Divorce Proceedings

#117-118. Withdrawn

#119. Real Estate Transaction

#120. Withdrawn

#121. Conflict of Interest in P.U.D. Case (Retained in part)

#122-127. Withdrawn

#128. Announcement — Specialized Service

#129-131. Withdrawn

#132. Judges, Prosecuting Attorneys Handling Civil Cases

#133-135. Withdrawn

#136. Claim Against Former Client

#137-139. Withdrawn

#140. Expenses of Litigation

#141. Attorney's Appearance on TV

#142-143. Withdrawn

#144. Lien on Support Money or Alimony Payments

#145. Divorce Action Against Former Client

#146-148. Withdrawn

#149. Lawyer Serving as Prosecuting Attorney and City Councilman Simultaneously

#150-156. Withdrawn

#157. The Use of Credit Cards for the Payment of Legal Services Is Permitted If Specified Guidelines Are Followed (Retained in part)

#158. Interest May be Charged by Attorneys On Delinquent Accounts

#159. Withdrawn

#160. Practice by a Part-Time District Court Judge or Commissioner

#161. Government Attorneys in Private Practice

#162-167. Withdrawn

#168. Obligations of Court-Appointed Criminal Defense Counsel When Learning That Client No Longer Indigent

#169-173. Withdrawn

#174. Trust Account Funds Held for One Client May Not Be Used for Advancing Costs on Behalf of Another Client

#175. The Confidentiality of Attorney-Client Communications Continues After the Client's Death

#176. Defense Counsel's Duty to Withdraw When There is a Conflict of Interest Between Two Clients of the Same Firm)

#177. Guaranteeing Trust Account Disbursals

#178. Misleading Firm Names Are Prohibited

#179. Fees in Industrial Insurance Appeal Cases

#180. Withdrawn. [See Loudon v. Mhyre]

#181. Asserting Possessory Lien Rights and Responding to Former Client's Request for Files

#182. Lawyer as Litigant and Witness

#183. Disclosure of Client Confidences or Secrets by a Legal Service Office to the Legal Service Corporation or Other Third Party

#184. A Lawyer in Good Standing May Not Employ a Disbarred Lawyer in Connection with the Practice of Law

#185. Ethical Duty of a Lawyer Who Guarantees Payment on Behalf of a Client to a Creditor from Proceeds of Settlement or Judgment

#186. Withdrawn

#187. Deposit of Escrow Funds by a Lawyer Acting as Agent

#188. Obligation of Defense Counsel in a Criminal Case to Disclose Information Regarding Defendant's Criminal History

#189. Withdrawn

#190. Compliance with RPC 1.10 Re: Apportionment of Fees and Notice Requirement to Former Client

#191. A Contingent Fee May Not be Based Upon the Larger of the Recovery Obtained at Trial/Arbitration or the Amount Offered in Settlement

#192. Sale of a Law Practice

#193. Disbursal Accounts

#194. Disclosure of Client Information to Treasury Department on IRS Form 8300

#195. Outside Auditing

#196. Use of a Suspended/Disbarred Attorney's Name in Firm's Name and/or Business Communications is Prohibited

#197. The Effect of the SEC's Sarbanes-Oxley Regulations on Washington Attorneys' Obligations Under the RPCs