Can a lawyer offer a service that just helps pro se divorce litigants fill out their court forms?
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This page answers the general question as of 1995. Ezel answers yours: whether it's allowed on your facts, under the current rules of professional conduct in your state, with citations.
Plain-English summary
A lawyer asked about the ethical implications of a proposal to assist pro se divorce clients in filling out their divorce forms. The committee was of the opinion that providing this service is the practice of law, and that the proposal is fraught with violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct.
Currency note
This opinion was issued in 1995, 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 Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance.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 later adopted rules and forms governing limited-scope representation, which are not reflected in this 1995 opinion.
Common questions
Q: Is helping pro se litigants fill out divorce forms the practice of law?
A: The committee said yes; providing this service is the practice of law.
Q: Did the committee approve the proposed service?
A: No. The committee said the proposal is fraught with violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct.
Background and rules framework
The committee treated the proposed form-completion service as the practice of law, which brings the full set of Rules of Professional Conduct into play rather than allowing the lawyer to provide the service as a limited, non-representation task. The published opinion states the conclusion without enumerating specific rule numbers.
Citations and references
The opinion as published does not cite specific Rule of Professional Conduct numbers; it states that the proposed service is the practice of law and is fraught with rule violations.
See also
- WA Ethics Op. 1436: 'Scrivener Service' Helping Pro Se Parties With Pleadings
- WA Ethics Op. 1116: Collection-Agency-Prepared Documents and Lawyer Review
Source
- Landing page: https://ao.wsba.org/print.aspx?ID=703
Original opinion text
Reproduced from the official source for research purposes. The linked source is authoritative.
Advisory Opinion: 1620
Year Issued: 1995
RPC(s):
Subject: Assisting pro se dissolution litigants in completing forms
The Committee discussed your inquiry regarding the ethical implications in your proposal to assist pro se divorce clients in filling out their divorce forms. The Committee is of the opinion that providing this service is the practice of law and the proposal is fraught with violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct.
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