What is a key consideration for lawyers under MRPC Rule 5.7 when providing non-legal services?

When providing non-legal services, a significant consideration for lawyers under MRPC Rule 5.7 is the necessity of communicating the nature of those services to clients. This rule emphasizes that lawyers must be transparent about the differences between their legal and non-legal services to avoid any confusion regarding the nature of the client's relationship with the lawyer and the applicable ethical standards.

By effectively communicating this information, lawyers help ensure that clients understand the nature and limitations of the services they are receiving, which is crucial for maintaining transparency and trust. It assists clients in making informed decisions about whether to engage the lawyer’s non-legal services while understanding that those services may not be governed by the same ethical rules that apply to legal services.

This communication is vital because it ensures that clients are aware of the distinctions in service delivery, what protections they may or may not have, and helps to prevent any potential misunderstandings about the scope of representation and the applicability of legal and ethical standards.