CT · rules
Conn. R. Prof'l Conduct 6.5
Nonprofit and Court-Annexed Limited Legal Services Programs
(a) A lawyer who, under the auspices of a program sponsored by a nonprofit organization or
court, provides short-term limited legal services
to a client without expectation by either the lawyer
or the client that the lawyer will provide continuing
representation in the matter:
(1) is subject to Rules 1.7 and 1.9 (a) only if
the lawyer knows that the representation of the
client involves a conflict of interest; and
(2) is subject to Rule 1.10 only if the lawyer
knows that another lawyer associated with the
lawyer in a law firm is disqualified by Rule 1.7 or
1.9 (a) with respect to the matter.
(b) A lawyer who provides short-term limited
legal services pursuant to this Rule must secure
the client’s informed consent to the limited scope
of the representation. See Rule 1.2 (c). If a short-term limited representation would not be reasonable under the circumstances, the lawyer may
offer advice to the client but must also advise the
client of the need for further assistance of counsel.
Except as provided in this Rule, the Rules of Professional Conduct, including Rules 1.6 and 1.9
(c), are applicable to the limited representation.
(c) Except as provided in subsection (a) (2),
Rule 1.10 is inapplicable to a representation governed by this Rule.
History
(Adopted June 26, 2006, to take effect Jan. 1, 2007.) COMMENTARY: Legal services organizations, courts and various nonprofit organizations have established programs through which lawyers provide short-term limited legal ser - vices—such as advice or the completion of legal forms—that will assist persons to address their legal problems without further representation by a lawyer. In these programs, such as legal advice hotlines, advice only clinics or self-represented party counseling programs, 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. Such programs are normally operated under cir- cumstances in which it is not feasible for a lawyer to systemati- cally screen for conflicts of interest as is generally required before undertaking a representation. See, e.g., Rules 1.7, 1.9 and 1.10. Because a lawyer who is representing a client in the cir - cumstances addressed by this Rule ordinarily is not able to check systematically for conflicts of interest, subsection (a) requires compliance with Rules 1.7 or 1.9 (a) only if the lawyer knows that the representation presents a conflict of interest for the lawyer, and with Rule 1.10 only if the lawyer knows that another lawyer in the lawyer’s firm is disqualified by Rules 1.7 or 1.9 (a) in the matter. Because the limited nature of the services significantly reduces the risk of conflicts of interest with other matters being handled by the lawyer’s firm, subsection (b) provides that Rule 1.10 is inapplicable to a representation governed by this Rule except as provided by subsection (a) (2). Subsection (a) (2) requires the participating lawyer to comply with Rule 1.10 when the lawyer knows that the lawyer’s firm is disqualified by Rules 1.7 or 1.9 (a). By virtue of subsection (b), however, a lawyer’s participation in a short-term limited legal services program will not preclude the lawyer’s firm from undertaking or continuing the representation of a client with interests adverse to a client being represented under the program’s auspices. Nor will the personal disqualification of a lawyer participating in the pro- gram be imputed to other lawyers participating in the program. If, after commencing a short-term limited representation in accordance with this Rule, a lawyer undertakes to represent the client in the matter on an ongoing basis, Rules 1.7, 1.9 (a) and 1.10 become applicable.
Provenance
- Source
- jud.ct.gov
- Retrieved
- 2026-09-15
- Edition
- 2026-09-15
- Content hash
9c3b3b3a22dc02f01f18c5187fd7cc1790f39f2b73ea43c210923021450bae98
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