Must a lawyer admitted in both California and Washington add Washington's specialty disclaimer when listed as a certified specialist in a California directory or on a California business card?

Plain-English summary

A lawyer admitted in both California and Washington asked about multi-state practice. The lawyer's name appeared in a listing of certified specialists in a California directory of lawyers.

The committee was of the opinion that listing in such a law list or legal directory does not require the disclosure provided by RPC 7.4(b). It said the same of the lawyer's business card, which showed only the California address and made no reference to the Washington license to practice law: that card did not require the disclosures of Washington's rule.

Currency note

This opinion was issued in 1993, 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 Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance.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.

Common questions

Q: Does a Washington lawyer's listing as a certified specialist in a California directory need the Washington specialty disclaimer?

A: The committee said no; listing in such a law list or legal directory does not require the disclosure provided by RPC 7.4(b).

Q: Does a business card showing only the California address need a Washington disclosure?

A: The committee said a card showing only the California address and making no reference to the Washington license does not require the disclosures of Washington's rule.

Background and rules framework

The opinion applied RPC 7.4(b) (corresponding to ABA Model Rule 7.4), which governs how a lawyer may communicate fields of practice and certification as a specialist. The committee read the California directory listing and the California-only business card as communications that did not invoke the Washington disclosure requirement, because they did not present Washington-directed claims of specialization.

Citations and references

Rules of Professional Conduct:

• ABA Model Rule 7.4 (communication of fields of practice and specialization); Washington RPC 7.4(b)

See also

• WA Ethics Op. 1515: Out-of-State Partner Letterhead
• WA Ethics Op. 1500: Advertising as an Adoption Attorney Specialist

Source

• Landing page: https://ao.wsba.org/print.aspx?ID=600

Original opinion text

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

Advisory Opinion: 1519
Year Issued: 1993
RPC(s): RPC 7.4
Subject: Multi-state practice; advertising specialty as permitted in other state

The Committee reviewed your inquiry concerning the issues of multi-state practice where you are admitted to practice law in both California and Washington. Your name appears in a listing of certified specialists in a directory of lawyers in California. The Committee was of the opinion that listing in such law list or legal directory does not require the disclosure provided by RPC 7.4(b). Similarly, your business card which shows only your California address and makes no reference to your Washington license to practice law does not require the disclosures required by Washington's rule.