Ezel / Ethics Opinions / MOLEC

Did the office approve a fixed annual fee for unlimited low-income legal services in one practice area?

Short answer No. The office declined a general plan-design question and pointed to nonbinding ABA Opinion 87-355 on prepaid legal plans as a starting reference.
Bar
MOLEC
Issued
1993

Apply this to your situation

This page answers the general question as of 1993. Ask about yours and see what the current Missouri Rules of Professional Conduct say for your facts, with citations.

How much weight this carries: Under Missouri Supreme Court Rule 5.30, formal opinions are binding; informal opinions are advisory. Source.
About this page: The plain-English summary, reader guidance, and Q&A below were written by Ezel based on the official ethics opinion. The original opinion (linked on this page) is the authoritative source for any reliance.

Plain-English summary

A lawyer asked how to structure a low fixed annual fee under which indigent or low-income clients would receive unlimited services in a limited legal area.

The office said it could not answer general questions. It identified ABA Opinion 87-355 on Prepaid Legal Plans as a possible starting place but expressly said that ABA opinion did not bind the office.

Currency note

This 1993 opinion predates Missouri's 2007 amendments to its Rules of Professional Conduct. An official reference note identifies July 1, 2007 amendments to Rules 4-1.9 and 4-1.10. Subsequent rule amendments or later opinions may have changed the analysis. Treat this page as historical context and verify current rules before relying on it.

Common questions

Q: Did the office approve the proposed plan?

A: No. It declined to answer the general question.

Q: What source did it identify for further study?

A: ABA Opinion 87-355 on Prepaid Legal Plans, described as nonbinding.

Background and rules framework

The opinion addressed a general prepaid legal-services proposal and cited ABA Opinion 87-355 without adopting its analysis.

Citations and references

Other opinions cited:

  • ABA Opinion 87-355, Prepaid Legal Plans (nonbinding reference)

See also

Source

Original opinion text

Reproduced from the official source for research purposes. The linked source is authoritative.

QUESTION: How can attorney go about setting up a plan in which indigents or low income persons would pay a low fixed annual fee and receive unlimited legal services in a limited legal area? ANSWER: This office cannot answer general questions. However, ABA Opinion 87–355 on Prepaid Legal Plans may provide a starting place, although the ABA opinion is not binding on this office.

What do the rules say today, for your facts?

This opinion is from 1993. Ezel checks the current Missouri Rules of Professional Conduct against your situation and cites the rules it relies on.

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