MRPC Rule 6.6

Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct 84 Updated with MSC order(s)

(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) Except as provided in paragraph (a)(2), Rule 1.10 is inapplicable to a representation

governed by this rule.

Legal services organizations, courts, and various nonprofit organizations have established

programs through which lawyers provide short-term limited legal services, such as advice or the

completion of legal forms, that will help persons address their legal problems without further

representation by a lawyer. In these programs, such as legal-advice hotlines, advice-only clinics,

or pro se counseling programs, a client-lawyer relationship may or may not be established as a

matter of law, but regardless there is no expectation that the lawyer’s representation of the client

will continue beyond the limited consultation. Such programs are normally operated under

circumstances in which it is not feasible for a lawyer to systematically screen for conflicts of

interest as is generally required before undertaking a representation. See, e.g., Rules 1.7, 1.9,

and 1.10.

A lawyer who provides short-term limited legal services pursuant to this rule must secure the

client’s consent to the scope of the representation. See Rule 1.2. 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 Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct, including Rules 1.6 and

1.9(c), are applicable to the limited representation.

Because a lawyer who is representing a client in the circumstances addressed by this rule

ordinarily is not able to check systematically for conflicts of interest, paragraph (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, paragraph (b) provides that Rule 1.10 is

inapplicable to a representation governed by this rule except as provided by paragraph (a)(2).

Paragraph (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 paragraph (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 program be imputed to other lawyers

participating in the program.

Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct 85 Updated with MSC order(s)

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.

RULES 7.1–7.5. INFORMATION ABOUT LEGAL SERVICES.