State of Washington

Ethics Advisory Committee

Question

May a full-time district court commissioner, who is an active member of the Washington State Bar Association, and who does not hear small claims cases be the supervising attorney for Admission to Practice Rule (APR) 9 law students who act as settlement negotiators in mandatory settlement negotiations for small claims cases.

Answer

It is not proper under the Code of Judicial Conduct Preamble 1 and Canon 5 (F) for a full-time district court commissioner to be the supervising attorney for APR 9 law students who act as negotiators in mandatory settlement negotiations for small claims cases as such would constitute the practice of law.

Opinion 88-14

10/10/1988