Informal Opinion Number: 980200

QUESTION: Attorney is licensed and in good standing in Missouri. Attorney would like to form a partnership with an attorney who is licensed in a neighboring state, but not yet licensed in Missouri. The partnership would have an office in Missouri and in the neighboring state. The letterhead would indicate which state or states each attorney is licensed in. The other attorney hopes to soon be licensed in Missouri and they plan to be cautious not to do anything that constitutes the unauthorized practice of law. Is this proposed arrangement acceptable?
ANSWER: The arrangement Attorney has proposed would not violate Missouri Supreme Court Rule 4.

Informal Opinions are ethics advisory opinions issued by the Office of Legal Ethics Counsel to members of the Bar about Rule 4 (Rules of Professional Conduct), Rule 5 (Complaints and Proceedings Thereon), and Rule 6 (Fees to Practice Law) pursuant to Missouri Supreme Court Rule 5.30(c). Written summaries of select Informal Opinions are published for informational purposes as determined by the Advisory Committee of the Supreme Court of Missouri pursuant to Rule 5.30(c). Informal opinion summaries are advisory in nature and are not binding. These opinions are published as an educational service and do not constitute legal advice.

To request an Informal Opinion, please visit: https://mo-legal-ethics.org/for lawyers/requesting-an-informal-advisory-opinion/.

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