Committee on Professional Ethics

The Committee on Professional Ethics (CPE) issues advisory opinions to address recurring or emerging ethics issues facing WSBA members. The advisory opinions cover a broad context and provide in-depth guidance on the Rules of Professional Conduct (RPC) as applied to a wide variety of practice areas. Advisory opinions issued by the committee are published online.

Bar members seeking an advisory opinion from the CPE should direct their request to the staff liaison or the chair. See contact information listed below. If the request is accepted by the committee, a lengthy review process generally follows before a final opinion or other recommendation is issued. Those seeking a more immediate response should contact the Bar's Ethics Line.

The committee also plays a key role in reviewing and suggesting amendments to the RPC.

The CPE Welcomes Applicants for Open Positions

Share Your Skills. Volunteer with WSBA. Apply Today!

Members of the CPE have a shared interest in legal ethics. Service on the CPE offers you the unique opportunity to work on a variety of legal ethical issues resulting in advisory opinions and/or changes to the ethics rules.

Final appoints are made by the Board Nominations Committee. The term is three years.

Learn More and View other WSBA Volunteer Opportunities! 

Recent Advisory Opinions

2021: Advisory Opinion 202101 regarding disclosure of civil commitment proceedings while representing criminal defendant.

2020: Advisory Opinion 202001 regarding multi-client representation in which a lawyer represents the personal representative in a wrongful-death claim and provides legal representation to the statutory beneficiaries. Advisory Opinion 202002 concerns a lawyer ghostwriting for pro se civil litigation clients.

2019: Advisory Opinion 201901 concerns the lawyer-mediator preparing pleadings for unrepresented parties in dissolution cases. Advisory Opinion 2223 is withdrawn. Advisory Opinion 201902 concerns a special assistant attorney general (SAAG) representing a government department in a claim against a third party. Advisory Opinion 201903 concerns an inactive lawyer having a trust account to receive client settlement checks after retiring from practice.

More advisory opinions can be found on the Ethics Advisory Opinions Database

Recent Amendments to Rules of Professional Conduct

On April 7, 2021, the Washington Supreme Court adopted an amendment to Cmt. 2 of RPC 1.11, effective May 4, 2021. A reference to the Court's decision in State v. Nickels (2020) was added to the comment.

On Jan. 8, 2021, the Washington Supreme Court adopted amendments to RPC 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5 and 5.5 regarding lawyer advertising, effective upon publication which was Jan. 26, 2021. See Washington Supreme Court Order 25700-A-1333

On Nov. 20, 2020, the Court adopted amendments to RPC 1.15A(h)(9) and to LLLTRPC 1.15A(h)(9) regarding LLLTs as authorized signatory on the trust account, effective Feb. 1, 2021. See Washington Supreme Court Order 25700-A-1308

See the Court's website for information on suggested amendments to the RPC published for comment.

Committee Meetings

All regular meetings are held 10 a.m.–3 p.m. at the WSBA offices, 1325 Fourth Ave., Suite 600, Seattle, unless otherwise noted.

2020 — Oct. 2*, Dec. 11*

2021 — Feb. 5*, April 9, June 4*, Aug. 27 (meetings in 2021 may be held virtually)

* Virtual meeting only. In-person meetings suspended per Proclamation 20.28 et. seq. of WA state Governor Inslee on the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Minutes

Past minutes available by public records request

Contact Us

To submit a request for a written advisory opinion from the committee or for further information, please contact the staff liaison or the committee chair.

• Committee Chair, Pam Anderson, pandapara@comcast.net
• Staff Liaison, Jeanne Marie Clavere, jeannec@wsba.org

Questions or comments regarding the committee's on-going work may be directed to WSBACPE@wsba.org.