ETHICS OPINION 201-1922

ETHICS OPINION 201

NUMBER 201 1922

Question. In the opinion of the Committee, is there any professional impropriety on the part of a lawyer entering into the formation of a partnership with a certified public accountant for the practice of public accounting and tax report service?

Answer. A majority of the Committee is of the opinion that the implication of the arrangement and of the question is that the partnership furnishes the legal services of the lawyer to its customers; they consider that such exploitation of professional services for the profit of or by those who are not entitled to practice law (in whatever guise cloaked) is not professionally proper, because it admits to the emoluments of the office those who are not entitled to its privileges or bound by its discipline or amenable to summary correction, and affords an opportunity to the layman to give legal advice.