Ethics Question of the Week: Can I participate in an Ask A Lawyer Day event?

Q. Can I participate in a one day non-profit organization sponsored “ask a lawyer” type event?

A. Illinois Rule of Professional Conduct 6.5 allows lawyers to for participate in certain programs under the auspices of a nonprofit organization or court.  Comment [1] to that rule elaborates further by stating that when participating in a program such as a “legal advice hotline” or “pro se counseling program,” “a client-lawyer relationship is established, but there is no expectation that the lawyer’s representation of the client will continue beyond the limited consultation.”  For more information about these events, consult Rule 6.5.

ISBA members can browse past ISBA Ethics Opinions, access our Ethics Hotline, and other resources on the ISBA Ethics Page.

Disclaimer.  These questions are representative of calls received on the ISBA’s ethics hotline.  The information provided below is meant as an educational tool to highlight potentially applicable Illinois RPC or other ethics resources that might help the lawyer answer the question posed.  The information provided isn’t legal advice.  Because every situation is different, often complex, and the law is constantly evolving, you shouldn’t rely upon this general information without conducting your own research.