Under Rule 5.7, if law-related services are provided by an entity controlled by the lawyer, what must be assured to the recipient?

Under Rule 5.7, if law-related services are provided by an entity controlled by the lawyer, what must be assured to the recipient?

• A. The recipient knows the services are not legal services and that client-lawyer protections do not exist.
• B. The recipient receives a written contract.
• C. The recipient is charged standard legal fees.
• D. The recipient must sign a waiver.

Answer: (A)

Law-related services provided through an entity controlled by the lawyer must be clearly disclosed as not being legal services, and the recipient must be informed that client-lawyer protections do not apply to those services. This ensures there's no mistaken belief that the non-legal offerings are part of protected legal representation, and it gives the recipient a real choice about relying on those services or seeking separate legal help. The emphasis is on informing the client about what is and isn’t protected, so they understand the nature of the engagement and the scope of protections. A written contract, standard fees, or a waiver aren’t required by this rule; the essential requirement is that the recipient knows these are not legal services and that client-lawyer protections do not apply.

Law-related services provided through an entity controlled by the lawyer must be clearly disclosed as not being legal services, and the recipient must be informed that client-lawyer protections do not apply to those services. This ensures there's no mistaken belief that the non-legal offerings are part of protected legal representation, and it gives the recipient a real choice about relying on those services or seeking separate legal help. The emphasis is on informing the client about what is and isn’t protected, so they understand the nature of the engagement and the scope of protections. A written contract, standard fees, or a waiver aren’t required by this rule; the essential requirement is that the recipient knows these are not legal services and that client-lawyer protections do not apply.