Wash. R. Prof'l. Cond. 1.0B

As amended through November 30, 2022

Rule 1.0B - Additional Washington Terminology [Effective January 1, 2023]

(a) "APR" denotes the Washington Supreme Court's Admission and Practice Rules.

(b) "Legal practitioner" denotes a lawyer or a limited license legal technician licensed under APR 28.

(c) "Limited License Legal Technician" or "LLLT" denotes a person qualified by education, training, and work experience who is authorized to engage in the limited practice of law in approved practice areas of law as specified by APR 28 and related regulations. The LLLT does not represent the client in court proceedings or negotiations, but provides limited legal assistance as set forth in APR 28 to a pro se client.

(d) "Limited Practice Officer" or "LPO" denotes a person licensed in accordance with the procedures set forth in APR 12 and who has maintained their certification in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Limited Practice Board.

(e) "Representation" or "represent," when used in connection with the provision of legal assistance by an LLLT, denotes limited legal assistance as set forth in APR 28 to a pro se client.

Wash. R. Prof'l. Cond. 1.0B

Adopted effective 4/14/2015; amended effective 1/1/2023.

Washington Comments (1-3)

[1] This rules addresses the evolution of the practice of law in Washington to include the limited licensure of legal professionals that permits persons other than lawyers to provide legal assistance that would otherwise constitute the unauthorized practice of law.

[2] These Rules apply to a lawyer's ethical duties, including specific duties that encompass a lawyer's dealings with legal practitioners practicing under a limited license and their clients. LLLTs are bound by corresponding duties that are set forth in the LLLT RPC.

[3] LLLTs are authorized to engage in the limited practice of law in explicitly defined areas. Unlike a lawyer, an LLLT may perform only limited services for a client. See APR 28(F), (H). A lawyer who interacts with an LLLT about the subject matter of that LLLT's representation or who interacts with an otherwise pro se client represented by an LLLT should be aware of the scope of the LLLT's license and the ethical obligations imposed on an LLLT by the LLLT RPC.

See APR 28(F)-(H); Appendix APR 28 Regulation 2; LLLT RPC 1.2, 1.5, 4.2, 4.3. See also, RPC 5.10.

[Comments adopted effective April 14, 2015.]