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.
Recent Advisory Opinions
2025
Advisory Opinion 202501 regarding confidentiality and conflict issues in appointment of certified public guardians.
2024
Advisory Opinion 202402 regarding what factors a lawyer should consider when deciding whether and how to report anonymized client data to a funder of legal aid services.
Advisory Opinion 202401 regarding what documents RPC 1.16(d) requires a lawyer to surrender upon termination of representation.
2022
Advisory Opinion 201601 regarding updated opinion on remote and virtual law practice.
Advisory Opinion 202201 regarding whether a lawyer may “reply all” when responding to an email in which the initiating lawyer has cc’d their own client.
Advisory Opinion 202202 regarding new RPC 1.4 amendments requiring malpractice insurance disclosures.
More advisory opinions can be found on the Ethics Advisory Opinions Database
Recent Amendments to Rules of Professional Conduct
Effective Oct. 10, 2024, Amendment to RPC 1.2 Scope of Representation and Allocation of Authority Between Client and Lawyer. Washington Supreme Court Order 25700-A-1606.
See the Court's website for information on suggested amendments to the RPC published for comment.
Committee Meetings
Meetings are held 10 a.m.–3 p.m. by Zoom teleconference only.
Next meeting: April 4, 2025.
Call-in Lines: 253-215-8782 || Toll-free: 888-788-0099
Meeting ID: 862 6079 2807 || Passcode: 959842
Meeting Minutes
Past minutes available by public records request
Contact Us
To submit a request for a written advisory opinion from the committee, please contact the staff liaison or the committee chair. For meeting information, please contact the staff liaison.
Committee Chair: Monte Jewell, mjewell@jfsseattle.org
Staff Liaison: Jeanne Marie Clavere, jeannec@wsba.org
Support Professional Responsibility Counsel: Sandra Schilling, sandras@wsba.org
