Can a lawyer advertise and run living trust workshops when the advertisement's information is misleading?
Apply this to your situation
This page answers the general question as of 1991. Ask about yours and see what the current Washington Rules of Professional Conduct say for your facts, with citations.
Plain-English summary
The inquiry concerned advertising living trust workshops at which the lawyer would provide information about living trusts. The committee was of the opinion that the information provided in the advertisement, as presented, is misleading, and therefore advertising and conducting such workshops would be misleading and in violation of RPC 7.1.
Currency note
This opinion was issued in 1991, before the Washington State Bar Association's adoption of the 2006 revisions to the Washington Rules of Professional Conduct. Subsequent rule amendments or later opinions may have changed the analysis. Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance. Verify against current rules before relying on any specific rule, deadline, or requirement mentioned here.
Common questions
Q: Can a lawyer advertise living trust workshops?
A: Under this 1991 opinion, not where the advertisement's information is misleading; the committee was of the opinion that advertising and conducting such workshops on the information presented would violate RPC 7.1.
Q: Was it the workshops themselves or the advertising that was the problem?
A: Both, as the committee framed it: because the information presented was misleading, both advertising and conducting the workshops would be misleading.
Background and rules framework
At the time of this opinion, Washington's RPC 7.1 prohibited false or misleading communications about a lawyer's services, the subject the Model Rules place in Rule 7.1. The committee found the information in the proposed living-trust advertisement misleading and extended that conclusion to the workshops conducted on it.
Citations and references
Rules of Professional Conduct:
- ABA Model Rule 7.1 (false or misleading communications)
- Washington RPC 7.1
See also
- WA Ethics Op. 1412: Advertising Verdicts Obtained
- WA Ethics Op. 1371: 'Save Up to 1/3 on Attorney's Fees' Advertising
Source
- Landing page: https://ao.wsba.org/print.aspx?ID=496
Original opinion text
Reproduced from the official source for research purposes. The linked source is authoritative.
The Committee reviewed your inquiry concerning advertising living trust workshops at which you would provide information regarding living trusts. The Committee was of the opinion the information provided in the advertisement as presented by you is misleading and therefore advertising and conducting such workshops would be misleading and in violation of RPC 7.1.
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