Summary

• Jurisdiction: Washington

Chapter Details

A. State Materials

1. Washington Constitution

WASH. CONST. art. 1, §22 (rights of the accused)

2. Rules

a. Rules of professional Conduct

RPC 6.1 (pro bono publico service)

RPC 6.2 (accepting appointments)

RPC 6.3 (membership in legal services organizations)

RPC 6.4 (law reform activities affecting client interests)

RPC 6.5 (nonprofit and court-annexed limited service programs)

b. Other Rules

CrR 3.1 (right to and assignment of lawyer)

RAP 15.2(b) (determination of indigency, rights of indigent)

RAP 16.25 (appointment of counsel on personal restraint petition in capital cases)

3. Statutes

RCW 4.88.330 (indigent party—state payment of review costs)

RCW 10.101.020 (determination of indigency)

RCW 10.73.150 (right to counsel)

B. Federal Materials

1. U.S. Constitution

U.S. CONST. amend. VI ("In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right ... to have the assistance of counsel for his defence.")

2. Rules

FED. R. CRIM. P. 44 (right to and assignment of counsel)

3. Statutes

28 U.S.C. §1915(d) (proceedings in forma pauperis)
18 U.S.C. §3005 (counsel and witnesses in capital cases)

C. Key Differences between washington RPC and aba MRPC

1. Language added to MRPC

RPC 6.1(a), (b), opening & closing paragraphs

2. Revisions to ABA Comments

RPC 6.1 cmts. [1], [2], [3], [5], [8]
RPC 6.2 cmt. [1]
RPC 6.5 cmts. [1], [3]

3. Additional Washington Comments

RPC 6.1 Wash. cmts. [13]-[16]
RPC 6.5 Wash. cmts. [6]-[7]

Summary of Contents

I.	RPC 6.1: Pro Bono Service
II.	RPC 6.2: Accepting Appointments
III.	RPC 6.3: Membership in Legal Services Organizations
IV.	RPC 6.4: Law Reform Activities Affecting Client Interests
V.	RPC 6.5: Nonprofit and Court-Annexed Limited Legal Service Programs

ANALYSIS & COMMENTARY

Title 6 of the Rules of Professional Conduct (RPC) regulates public service by attorneys in Washington state. Topics covered include pro bono service (RPC 6.1), lawyer appointments (RPC 6.2), membership in legal services organizations (LSOs) (RPC 6.3), law reform activities (RPC 6.4), and participation in limited legal service programs (RPC 6.5). Several of these rules cross-reference RPC 1.7 on conflicts of interest, a topic covered in detail in Chapter 7 of this book.