Limited Legal Services in New York

New York
Effective April 1, 2009, under Rule 1.2 (c) Scope of Representation and Allocation of Authority Between Client and Lawyer, a lawyer may limit the scope of representation if the limitation is reasonable under the circumstances, the client gives informed consent, and where necessary notice is provided to the tribunal and/or opposing counsel.
Under Rule 6.5 (d) Participation in Limited Legal Pro Bono Service Programs, a lawyer providing short-term limited legal services must secure the client’s informed consent to the limited scope of representation.

Under Rule 6.5 (a) a lawyer, who, under the auspices of a program sponsored by a court, government agency, bar association, or not-for-profit legal services organization, provides short-term legal services to a client without expectation by either the lawyer or the client that the lawyer will provide continuing representation in the matter: (1) shall comply with Rules 1.7, 1.8, and 1.9 (conflict of interest rules and duties to former clients), concerning restrictions on representations where there are or may be conflicts of interest only if the lawyer has actual knowledge at the time of commencement of representation that the representation of the client involves a conflict of interest; and (2) shall comply with Rule 1.10 (competence) only if the lawyer has actual knowledge at the time of commencement of representation that another lawyer associated with the lawyer in a law firm is affected by Rules 1.7, 1.8, and 1.9.