WSBA 1997

Can a lawyer participate in a group legal marketing program (Lawstar) that gives subscribers free or reduced-fee legal services?

Short answer: The committee reviewed the inquiry about the Lawstar program and determined that its previous Opinion 1681, addressing such group legal marketing programs under RPC 7.2(c), continues to be valid.

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This page answers the general question as of 1997. Ezel answers yours: whether it's allowed on your facts, under the current rules of professional conduct in your state, with citations.

Disclaimer: Advisory only. Not binding precedent.

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

The inquiry concerned participation in "Lawstar," a group legal marketing program that gives subscribers free or reduced-fee legal services, raising a solicitation question under RPC 7.2(c). The committee reviewed the inquiry and determined that its previous Opinion 1681 continues to be valid.

Currency note

This opinion was issued in 1997, before the Washington State Bar Association's adoption of the 2006 revisions to the 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 Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance.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. Washington's cited rule corresponds to ABA Model Rule 7.2 (advertising and payment for recommending a lawyer's services).

Common questions

Q: Does the committee permit participation in the Lawstar group legal marketing program?

A: The committee did not issue a fresh analysis; it determined that its previous Opinion 1681, which addressed such group legal marketing programs, continues to be valid.

Q: Which earlier opinion governs this question?

A: WSBA Informal Opinion 1681. Opinion 1775 reaffirms it as the controlling guidance for the Lawstar program.

Background and rules framework

The opinion applied RPC 7.2(c) (a lawyer may not give anything of value to a person for recommending the lawyer's services), corresponding to ABA Model Rule 7.2. Rather than restate the analysis, the committee reaffirmed its earlier Opinion 1681 as still valid for the Lawstar group legal marketing program.

Citations and references

Rules of Professional Conduct:

ABA Model Rule 7.2 (advertising; payment for recommending services); Washington RPC 7.2(c)

Other opinions cited:

WSBA Informal Opinion 1681: group legal marketing programs; reaffirmed as valid.

Source

Landing page: https://ao.wsba.org/print.aspx?ID=839

Original opinion text

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

Advisory Opinion: 1775
Year Issued: 1997
RPC(s): RPC 7.2(c); Informal Opinion 1681
Subject: Solicitation; participation in group legal marketing program that gives subscribers free or reduced fee legal services

The Committee reviewed your inquiry concerning "Lawstar" and determined that its previous opinion #1681 continues to be valid.

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