Washington State Ethics Opinions: Attorneys

Updated April 24, 2009.
Prepared by Cheryl Nyberg. Updated by Lori Fossum.

This guide identifies print and online sources, free and commercial, for ethics rules and opinions governing the conduct of attorneys.

According to the Washington State Bar Association, Ethics Page for the Public:

"A lawyer's ethical conduct is governed by rules adopted by the Supreme Court, the Rules of Professional Conduct (RPC). The Office of Disciplinary Counsel is the department of the Bar Association charged with investigating and prosecuting instances of ethical misconduct by Washington lawyers. "

Links to LexisNexis and Westlaw are for subscribers only.

Rules

Rules of Professional Conduct (RPC).

Rules for Enforcement of Lawyer Conduct (ELC). Replaced the Rules for Lawyer Discipline (RLD), effective Oct. 1, 2002.

Rules of the WSBA Professional Conduct Committee.

Westlaw: WA-RULES

LexisNexis: WA - Washington State and Federal Court Rules

Orland & Tegland, Rules Practice, 6th ed. (Washington Practice Series vols. 2 & 3) and 7th ed. (Washington Practice Series vols. 4A & 4B)
KFW80.W3 at Reference Area & Westlaw: WAPRAC-RP
Includes citations to court decisions and WSBA formal and informal ethics opinions.

Washington Court Rules: State, annual. Includes RPC and ELC.
KFW529.A198 at Reference Area & Reference Office

Washington Court Rules Annotated, annual. Includes text of rules and annotations.
KFW529.A196 at Reference Area

Washington Rules of Court Annotated, annual. Includes text of rules and annotations.
KFW529.A196 at Reference Area

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Formal Ethics Opinions

These opinions are issued by RPC Committee and approved by the Board of Governors. They address matters of wide concern and interest.

Formal ethics opinions are first published in the Washington State Bar News and then compiled in Resources.

Washington State Bar News, 1947-date. Monthly.
KF332.W3W354 at Reference Area (recent issues) & Classified Stacks (older issues)
WSBA

Resources, 1987-date. Annual. Includes a subject index
KFW76.5.A2A134 at Reference Area & Reference Office (current edition) & Classified Stacks (older issues)

WSBA Ethics Opinions. Includes formal and informal opinions.

WSBA, Formal Ethics Opinions

LexisNexis: WA Executive Ethics Board Opinions and State Bar Association Formal Opinions, 1950-

LexisNexis: National Reporter on Legal Ethics & Prof. Responsibility - WA Opinions, 1996-

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Informal Ethics Opinions

These opinions are Issued by RPC Committee but are not approved by the Board of Governors. They address "less sweeping topics . . . and are posted as a means of general education and information."

Selected opinions are published in the Washington State Bar News and Resources.

WSBA Ethics Opinions. Includes formal and informal opinions.

WSBA, Published Informal Opinions

WSBA, Unpublished Informal Ethics Opinions

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Disciplinary & Nondisciplinary Notices

Disbarment, reprimand, and suspension notices are published in the Washington State Bar News, under the heading: Departments: Disciplinary Notices.

WSBA Discipline Notice Search. A searchable database, 1997-

WSBA Business Law Section, Conflicts of Interest in Business Law Deskbook.

Washington Lawyer Discipline Manual. Includes rule changes through Jan. 2, 2008, Office of Disciplinary Counsel.
KFW76.5.A2 W35(2008) at Reference Area

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More Information

See links and information for more information about the WSBA's ethics and professional responsibility program.