Can a South Carolina lawyer handle only the closing-table portion of a real estate closing for another firm, leaving the pre- and post-closing work to that firm?

Plain-English summary

A lawyer asked whether he could perform closings for Law Firm A in a limited capacity: explaining the closing documents and obtaining signatures, but with no involvement in pre-closing or post-closing activities, receiving a closing package at the table that did not include the lender's closing instructions or a title abstract. The lawyer asked whether this limited role was permissible and whether, in it, he would still be responsible for the lender's instructions, proper disbursement of funds, and proper recording, including a variant in which Law Firm A was acting as agent for an unfamiliar Law Firm B.

The committee concluded that the lawyer does not violate the rules "per se" by taking on the limited representation, but should take precautions under Rules 5.5(a), 1.1, and 1.2(c). Citing the line of cases beginning with State v. Buyers Service, the committee noted the South Carolina Supreme Court has held that each phase of a real estate transaction is the practice of law and must be supervised by a licensed South Carolina attorney. Because the lawyer would not participate in pre- and post-closing duties such as title work and recording, he could unwittingly assist a nonlawyer in the unauthorized practice of law, in violation of Rule 5.5(a). The committee pointed to disciplinary cases (Arsi, Pstrak, Boyce, Wilkes) where attorneys who attended "witness only" closings were held responsible for the entire transaction even where they had relied, in good faith, on others to handle other phases.

The committee advised the lawyer to obtain assurance, preferably in writing, that a South Carolina attorney with Law Firm A had adequately supervised the title work, document review, recording, and disbursal for each transaction, and to verify proper recordation and disbursal afterward; if Law Firm A would not permit that involvement, the lawyer was advised to decline. The lawyer must also evaluate whether the arrangement allows competent representation under Rule 1.1, and, if proceeding, comply with Rule 1.2(c) by ensuring the limitation is reasonable and obtaining the client's informed consent (as defined in Rule 1.0(f)) in writing, including disclosure that the representation is limited to explaining and executing documents. The committee cautioned that, while the scope of tasks may be limited, the cases make clear the lawyer cannot limit professional responsibility to only those tasks. The committee answered questions 2 through 4 in the affirmative, and noted the second fact scenario, adding an unfamiliar Law Firm B, would not change the answer but further increases the risks.

In practice

Under this opinion, on the facts presented, a lawyer may undertake a limited closing-table role only if the limitation is reasonable and the client gives informed consent under Rule 1.2(c) and Rule 1.0(f). The committee found the lawyer remains ethically responsible for ensuring compliance with the lender's instructions, proper disbursement, and proper recording (questions 2 through 4 answered in the affirmative), and that the arrangement raises the risk of assisting the unauthorized practice of law under Rule 5.5(a) and of failing to provide competent representation under Rule 1.1. The committee advised obtaining written assurance that a South Carolina attorney supervised the other phases, verifying recordation and disbursal afterward, and declining the representation if such involvement is not permitted.

Common questions

Q: Can a South Carolina lawyer perform only the closing-table portion of a real estate closing?

A: The committee concluded a lawyer is not barred "per se" from a limited representation, but it carries elevated risk and the lawyer should comply with Rules 5.5(a), 1.1, and 1.2(c) or decline.

Q: If I only explain and witness documents, am I still responsible for disbursement and recording?

A: Yes. The committee answered questions on the lender's instructions, disbursement, and recording in the affirmative, citing cases holding the closing attorney responsible for the whole transaction even where others handled other phases.

Q: What does the limited representation require of me before the closing?

A: Per Rule 1.2(c) and Rule 1.0(f), the limitation must be reasonable and the client must give informed consent, which the committee advised obtaining in writing, disclosing that the representation is limited to explaining and executing documents.

Q: What if the firm will not let me confirm that an attorney handled the other phases?

A: The committee advised obtaining written assurance that a South Carolina attorney supervised the title work, recording, and disbursal; if the firm does not permit that involvement, the committee advised declining the representation.

Background and rules framework

The opinion applies South Carolina's versions of Model Rule 1.0 (terminology; the Rule 1.0(f) definition of informed consent), Rule 1.1 (competence), Rule 1.2 (scope of representation, including the Rule 1.2(c) authority to limit the representation with informed consent), and Rule 5.5 (unauthorized practice of law). It reads those rules against the South Carolina Supreme Court's holdings that every phase of a real estate transaction is the practice of law requiring attorney supervision, and against disciplinary decisions holding closing attorneys responsible for the entire transaction.

Citations and references

Rules of Professional Conduct:

• MR 1.0(f) / SC Rule 1.0(f) (definition of informed consent)
• MR 1.1 / SC Rule 1.1 (competence)
• MR 1.2 / SC Rule 1.2(a), 1.2(c) (scope of representation; limiting the representation with informed consent)
• MR 5.5(a) / SC Rule 5.5(a) (assisting the unauthorized practice of law)

Cases:

• State v. Buyers Service Co., 292 S.C. 426, 357 S.E.2d 15 (1987), each phase of a closing is the practice of law requiring attorney supervision
• In re Lester, 353 S.C. 246, 578 S.E.2d 7 (2003)
• Ex parte Watson, 356 S.C. 432, 589 S.E.2d 760 (2003)
• Doe v. McMaster, 355 S.C. 306, 585 S.E.2d 773 (2003)
• In re Arsi, 357 S.C. 8, 591 S.E.2d 627 (2004), attorney responsible for proper closing and disbursement
• In re Pstrak, 357 S.C. 1, 591 S.E.2d 623 (2003), public reprimand for assisting unauthorized practice in a witness-only closing
• In re Boyce, 364 S.C. 353, 613 S.E.2d 538 (2001), public reprimand for unsupervised witness-only closing
• In re Wilkes, 359 S.C. 540, 598 S.E.2d 272 (2004), failure to supervise nonlawyer assistant

Other opinions cited:

• SC Ethics Advisory Opinion 99-11 (limiting the objectives of a representation)

See also

• SC Bar Ethics Op. 05-16: Conducting a real estate closing by mail
• SC Bar Ethics Op. 04-01: A lender's closing attorney also representing the buyer

Source

• Landing page: https://www.scbar.org/for-lawyers/quicklinks/legal-resources/ethics-advisory-opinions/ethics-advisory-opinion-05-18/

Original opinion text

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

UPON THE REQUEST OF A MEMBER OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA BAR, THE ETHICS ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAS RENDERED THIS OPINION ON THE ETHICAL PROPRIETY OF THE INQUIRER’S CONTEMPLATED CONDUCT. THIS COMMITTEE HAS NO DISCIPLINARY AUTHORITY. LAWYER DISCIPLINE IS ADMINISTERED SOLELY BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA SUPREME COURT THROUGH ITS COMMISSION ON LAWYER CONDUCT.

Ethics Advisory Opinion 05-18

RULES 1.0(f), 1.1, 1.2(a), and 5.5(a)

Facts
Attorney is licensed to practice in South Carolina, and both Law Firm A and Law Firm B are located in South Carolina with South Carolina licensed attorneys. Attorney has been asked to perform real estate closings for Law Firm A. Law Firm A will not make it possible for Attorney to participate in pre-closing or post-closing activities. Law Firm A wants Attorney to merely explain the closing documents and obtain appropriate signatures on those documents. Attorney will typically receive a closing package at the closing table, and the package will not include the lender's closing instructions or a title abstract.

Questions
1. May Attorney act in this limited capacity within the South Carolina Rules of Professional Responsibility?
2. If Attorney performs the closings as requested by Law Firm A, is he/she ethically responsible for ensuring compliance with the lender's closing instructions?
3. If Attorney performs the closings as requested by Law Firm A, is he/she ethically responsible for ensuring that funds from the closing are properly disbursed?
4. If Attorney performs the closings as requested by Law Firm A, is he/she ethically responsible for ensuring that the closing documents are properly recorded?

Facts & Questions II
In accordance with the facts stated above, Attorney has been asked to perform closings for Law Firm A in which Law Firm A is acting as Law Firm B’s “agent.” Law Firm B is to handle all pre-closing and post-closing activities. Attorney is totally unfamiliar with Law Firm B and its personnel. Are any of the answers to the questions above altered as a result of this arrangement?

Summary
An attorney may limit representation in a real estate closing to certain portions or phases of the transaction without violating the South Carolina Rules of Professional Conduct, if the limitation is reasonable under the circumstances and the clients give informed consent. However, the arrangement presents elevated risks of ethical violations, and attorneys are advised to take additional precautions to avoid violating, in particular, Rules 5.5(a), 1.1, and 1.2(c), or in the alternative should avoid undertaking the representation.

Discussion
Attorney does not violate the South Carolina Rules of Professional Conduct, per se, by taking on the limited representation proposed.

However, Attorney should take precautions to ensure compliance with SCRPC 5.5(a), 1.1 and 1.2(c). Rule 5.5(a) of SCACR 407 provides:

A lawyer shall not practice law in a jurisdiction in violation of the regulation of the legal profession in that jurisdiction or assist another in doing so.

In a line of cases beginning with State v. Buyers Service, 292 S.C. 426, 357 S.E.2d 15 (1987), the South Carolina Supreme Court has held that each phase of a real estate transaction, including the preparation of legal instruments and title abstracts, the closing, and recording of instruments, is the practice of law and therefore must be supervised by a licensed South Carolina attorney. See also, In the Matter of Lester, 353 S.C. 246, 578 S.E.2d 7 (2003); Ex Parte Watson, 356 S.C. 432, 589 S.E.2d 760 (2003); Doe v. McMaster, 355 S.C. 306, 585 S.E.2d 773 (2003).

Because Attorney either does not participate in, or is not permitted to participate in, “pre-closing” and “post-closing” duties, such as preparation of the title abstract and recordation of documents, Attorney may unwittingly assist a person who is not a member of the Bar in the unauthorized practice of law, in violation of 5.5(a). While the Committee does not make determinations as to what constitutes the unauthorized practice of law, in a handful of cases the South Carolina Supreme Court has disciplined attorneys involved in representations similar to the one proposed for violation of former Rule 5.5(b), which contained, in effect, the equivalent prohibition.

In theMatter of Arsi, 357 S.C. 8, 591 S.E.2d 627 (2004), for example, involved an attorney that was disbarred for, among other things, participating in real estate transactions which were not properly supervised by a South Carolina attorney. The attorney in that case reviewed a title abstract and closing documents prepared by a company and attended the closings as attorney for the borrowers. The attorney contended he “was under the mistaken impression” that another attorney would be handling the disbursement of funds and recordation of closing documents, but later learned disbursements were being made by a company without attorney supervision. The Court stated it was the attorney’s “responsibility to see that the transaction was properly closed and that the proceeds from the transaction were disbursed in accordance with the settlement statement,” and further that it was his responsibility to assist the clients in removing impediments to the closing when difficulties arose.

In a related case, In the Matter of Pstrak, 357 S.C. 1, 591 S.E.2d 623 (2003), attorney received a public reprimand for assisting a nonlawyer in the unauthorized practice of law when he attended a closing in place of another attorney, under the “good faith impression” that the other attorney had or would examine the title abstract and closing documents and supervise disbursal of funds, when in fact such was not the case. The Court admonished that “when he served as the closing attorney in connection with the transaction it was his responsibility to see that an attorney had been involved in all other aspects of the transaction requiring attorney participation . . . that it was his responsibility to either see to the proper disbursement of the funds or see that an attorney approved by the client was going to handle or oversee the recordation of documents and proper disbursement of funds.” See also, In the Matter of Boyce, 364 S.C. 353, 613 S.E.2d 538 (2001) (public reprimand for attorney who participated in “witness only closing” without ensuring all phases of the transaction were properly supervised by a licensed attorney).

Even assuming Attorney has ensured that Law Firm A performs pre-closing and post-closing duties, Attorney must still take measures to ensure that he or she does not assist the nonlawyer staff of Law Firm A in the unauthorized practice of law. If the licensed attorneys of Law Firm A do not adequately supervise activities performed by nonlawyer staff, such as preparation of title abstract and recordation of documents, Attorney may assist in the unauthorized practice of law by participating in the closing. Because Attorney does not participate in supervision of nonlawyer staff, the proposed arrangement subjects Attorney to increased risk of violation of 5.5(a). See, e.g., In re Wilkes, 359 S.C. 540, 598 S.E.2d 272 (2004) (attorney disciplined for, among other things, failure to properly supervise nonlawyer assistant in preparation of deed).

Attorney is advised to obtain assurance from an attorney with Law Firm A, preferably in writing, that a South Carolina attorney with Law Firm A has adequately supervised specific pre- and post-closing activities of Law Firm A for each transaction in which Lawyer is involved. In particular, Attorney should obtain assurance that an attorney with Law Firm A has (or will) adequately searched the title (or reviewed and approved the title abstract), reviewed the deed, powers of attorney, and mortgage exhibits, if applicable, for accuracy, and will supervise timely recordation and disbursal of funds. Lawyer is advised to obtain verification after the closing of proper recordation and disbursal. If Law Firm A does not permit Attorney’s involvement in these activities, Attorney is advised to decline the representation.

Attorney must also evaluate whether the arrangement will allow him or her to provide competent representation under RPC 1.1. Rule 1.1 provides:
A lawyer shall provide competent representation to a client. Competent representation requires the legal knowledge, skill, thoroughness and preparation reasonably necessary for the representation.

Again, because Attorney does not participate in pre-closing or post-closing activities, risks of errors, such as undiscovered or undisclosed title defects, erroneous closing documents, recording and disbursal mistakes, also increase. In the Arsi, Pstrak, and Boyce cases cited above, the Court indicated that the attorneys’ conduct violated Rule 1.1 and held the attorneys responsible even for portions of the transaction in which they were not involved. Attorney is advised to carefully evaluate Law Firm A to determine whether the firm’s attorneys have the relevant knowledge and experience and whether the work on which Attorney will rely will be performed with the requisite care and competence.

Regardless, if Attorney wishes to undertake the limited representation proposed, Attorney should comply with Rule 1.2(c), which states: “A lawyer may limit the objectives of the representation if the limitation is reasonable under the circumstances and the client gives informed consent.” See also, S.C. Bar Ethics Adv. Op. # 99-11.

Attorney should first evaluate whether the limitation is reasonable under the circumstances of the particular transaction. This may include evaluation of factors such as, among other things, convenience to the client and whether Attorney and Law Firm A have the ability to work together to competently represent the client.

Secondly, prior to the closing, Attorney should obtain the clients’ informed consent. Rule 1.0(f) defines informed consent as “the agreement by a person to a proposed course of conduct after the lawyer has communicated reasonably adequate information and explanation about the material risks of and reasonably available alternatives to the proposed course of conduct.” Official Comment [6] clarifies that, ordinarily, informed consent requires “communication that includes a disclosure of the facts and circumstances giving rise to the situation, any explanation reasonably necessary to inform the client or other person of the material advantages and disadvantages of the proposed course of conduct and a discussion of the client’s or other person’s options and alternatives.”

Prior to the closing, attorney should disclose in writing to all clients that his or her representation will be limited to explanation and execution of closing documents, and that he or she performs work on a per-closing basis and is not regularly employed with Law Firm A. Attorney should further explain the risks involved in the proposed limited representation, the material advantages and disadvantages, and the reasonably available alternatives.

In addition, Comment [7] states that “obtaining informed consent will usually require an affirmative response by the client or other person,” and “in general, a lawyer may not assume consent from a client’s or other person’s silence,” although “consent may be inferred from the conduct of a client . . . who has reasonably adequate information about the matter.” Therefore, Attorney is advised to obtain the clients’ consent by signature. Attorney should also provide client with a contact person at Law Firm A and should inform client how to contact Attorney if necessary.

In light of the cases discussed above, Attorney is cautioned that, while it is possible ethically to limit the scope of actions or tasks performed for the clients, it appears Attorney cannot limit his or her professional liability or responsibility to only those tasks. Rather, in those cases the Court has made clear it would hold Attorney responsible even for issues arising outside Attorney’s limited scope of representation. The arrangement presents elevated risks of ethical violations, and attorneys are advised to take additional precautions to avoid violating the Rules of Professional Conduct, or in the alternative should avoid the arrangement altogether.

Based on the foregoing discussion, the Committee answers questions 2-4 in the affirmative and encourages Attorney to consider the foregoing discussion prior to undertaking the limited representation proposed. Fact scenario II would not alter the Committee’s answer, although the involvement of yet another law firm in the closing process further increases the risks of ethical violations.