Maine rule change helps out law school clinics

Law clinics may be under attack in Maryland and Louisiana, but the Maine Supreme Court has extended a helping hand to law school clinics by adopting a new Rule 1.10(e) that relaxes the usual imputation rules when a lawyer from outside the law school is associated with a law school clinic.  The new provision, which took effect on March 1, 2010, states as follows:

(e) If a lawyer or law student affiliated both with a law school legal clinic and with one or more lawyers outside the clinic is required to decline representation of any client solely by virtue of this Rule 1.10, this rule imposes no disqualification on any other lawyer or law student who would otherwise be disqualified solely by reason of an affiliation with that individual, provided that the originally disqualified individual is screened from all participation in the matter at and outside the clinic.  [Emphasis added.] 

To see the court's order and an Advisory Committee Note, click here and scroll down to Amendments to the Maine Rules of Professional Conduct (Rules 1.10(e) and 8.4) (Eff. March 1, 2010).