Ethics Question of the Week: Can I serve on legal aid staff after selling private practice?

Q. I just sold my private practice, but now a friend wants me to serve on the staff of a legal aid clinic actively representing clients in our area. Can I?

A. RPC 1.17 allows lawyers to sell their practices subject to a number of conditions, including that the seller cease the private practice of law in the geographic area of the prior practice. However, Comment [3] to the Rule specifically allows the seller to continue practicing for a public agency, an entity that provides legal services to the poor, or in-house counsel to a business.

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.