Legalethics.com

Lawyers need to consider several aspects of duty of confidentiality for inquiries through a web site

Peterk — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 03:29:43 +0000

Lawyers must consider confidentiality and other ethical issues associated with inquiries they receive through a website. Informal opinion 2080 (2006).

Washington lawyers may not participate in a proposed online for-profit referral service

Peterk — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 03:11:52 +0000

Washington opinion 2106 (2006) addresses several ethical concerns raised by a lawyer’s propsed participation in an online for-profit referral service.

Washington Bar and SEC exchange views on effect of the SEC’s Sarbanes-Oxley regulations on Washington lawyers’ obligations under the Washington Rules of Professional Conduct

Peterk — Mon, 04 Aug 2003 04:00:00 +0000

An interesting exchange between the Washington State Bar and the SEC regarding the interplay between Sarbanes-Oxley Section 307 and the Washington Rules of Professional Conduce 1.6. The State’s Special Committee for the Evaluation of the Rules of Professional Conduct (”Ethics 2003 Committee”) letter is available online as is the SEC’s July 23rd response.

Lawyer may participate with a for-profit Internet entity that provides users access to list of lawyers willing to provide services for fixed fees or lower rates

Peterk — Thu, 11 Apr 2002 03:07:14 +0000

A Washington lawyer is not prohibited from entering into an agreement, such as that required by the for profit Internet entity that operates a Web site providing users of the site access to lawyers who are willing to provide legal services for fixed fees or lower hourly rates. Informal opinion 1947 (2001) Such an agreement does not entail fee sharing with a nonlawyer, and/or indirect payment of a referral fee to a for profit referral service.

Lawyers are responsible for ensuring that all communications made in a Web based directory concerning the lawyer and the lawyer’s services are truthful and are otherwise in compliance with the Rules of Profesional Conduct

Peterk — Mon, 18 Mar 2002 03:09:18 +0000

Washington lawyers may use out-of-state Internet lawyer referral services that operate in a similar fashion to Martindale-Hubbell legal directory. Informal opinion 1955 (2001) Lawyers are responsible for ensuring that all communications made in a Web based directory concerning the lawyer and the lawyer’s services are truthful and are otherwise in compliance with the Rules of Profesional Conduct.

Lawyers may use website to allow clients to produce estate planning documents via the Internet

Peterk — Wed, 07 Mar 2001 03:00:18 +0000

A proposed lawyer web site that allows clients to have estate planning documents produced via the Internet appears to comply with confidentiality provisions of Washington rule 1.6. Informal opinion 1916 (2000).

Proposal by Washington lawyer to participate as owners of Internet company raises ethical concerns

Peterk — Thu, 08 Feb 2001 03:02:51 +0000

Proposal by a Washington lawyer participate as owners in a company, in which other owners are presumably not lawyers, to market the firm’s legal services through a Web site raises fee sharing and otehr ethical concerns. Informal opinion 1930 (2000).

Proposal to open National Internet Law Office does not comply with Washington advertising rules

Peterk — Wed, 07 Apr 1999 02:57:06 +0000

Proposal to open National Internet Law Office does not comply with Washington state advertising rules relating to trade names and raises conflicts, fee splitting, and confidentiality concerns. Informal opinion 1831 (1998).

Washington State Rules of Professional Conduct

Peterk — Mon, 09 Nov 1998 03:30:20 +0000

Washington State Rules of Professional Conduct are available online. The Legal Information Institue offers another copy.

Washington State Ethics Opinions

Peterk — Mon, 09 Nov 1998 03:28:53 +0000

Washington State ethics advisory opinions are available online.