Wash. R. Limi. Lic. Leg. Tech. Pro. Cond. LLLT RPC 3.1

As amended through November 7, 2024

Rule LLLT RPC 3.1 - ADVISING AND ASSISTING CLIENTS IN PROCEEDINGS BEFORE A TRIBUNAL

(a) In a matter reasonably related to a pending or potential proceeding before a tribunal, an LLLT shall not engage, counsel a client to engage, or assist a client, in conduct involving:

(1) an abuse of legal procedure, including asserting or controverting a position that is frivolous or lacks a good faith basis in law and fact;

(2) delay of a proceeding without reasonable and substantial purpose;

(3) submission of a false statement of fact or law to a tribunal or offering evidence known to be false;

(4) obstruction of another party's access to evidence or the unlawful alteration, destruction, or concealment of a document or other material having potential evidentiary value;

(5) falsification of evidence or assisting or inducing false testimony of a witness;

(6) knowingly disobeying an obligation under the rules of a tribunal except for an open refusal based on an assertion that no valid obligation exists; or

(7) making frivolous discovery requests or failing to reasonably comply with legally proper discovery requests of an opposing party.

(b) An LLLT shall not seek to influence a judge, juror, prospective juror, or other official by means prohibited by law, communicate ex parte with such an individual unless authorized to do so by law or court order, or engage in conduct intended to disrupt a tribunal. An LLLT shall not counsel or assist a client or another person to do such an act.

Wash. R. Limi. Lic. Leg. Tech. Pro. Cond. LLLT RPC 3.1

Comment

[1] This Rule is substantially different from Lawyer RPC 3.1 because the role of the LLLT as an advocate is limited. In many instances, an LLLT will be providing assistance to a client who is a party to a court proceeding. In providing such assistance, an LLLT may be authorized within the scope of a specific practice area to accompany and assist a pro se client in certain proceedings. Assistance may include responding to factual and procedural questions from a tribunal. As a member of the legal profession, an LLLT is ethically bound to avoid conduct that undermines the integrity of the adjudicative process or threatens the fair and orderly administration of justice. Although less comprehensive than Title 3 of the Lawyer RPC, the core Title 3 principles incorporated into Rule 3.1 address the issues likely to be encountered by an LLLT, with supplemental guidance available in Title 3 of the Lawyer RPC and commentary thereto.

[2] Certain provisions of Title 3 of the Lawyer RPC, such as Lawyer as Witness in Rule 3.7 and the Special Responsibilities of a Prosecutor in Rule 3.8, do not apply to LLLTs. In these instances, the corresponding LLLT RPC has been reserved. Rules 3.6 and 3.9 represent ethical issues that would rarely if ever arise in the context of an LLLT's limited-scope representation. Accordingly, these provisions have been reserved as well, though guidance is available in the corresponding Lawyer RPC in the event that such an ethical dilemma does arise in a LLLT representation.