A lawyer may serve as a director, officer or member of a legal services organization, other than the law firm with which the lawyer practices, notwithstanding that the organization serves persons having interests adverse to a client of the lawyer if

(a) the organization complies with RPC 5.4 concerning the professional independence of its legal staff, and

(b) when the interests of a client of the lawyer could be affected, participation is consistent with the lawyer's obligations under RPC 1.7 and the lawyer takes no part in any decision by the organization that could have a material adverse effect on the interest of a client or class of clients of the organization or upon the independence of professional judgment of a lawyer representing such a client.

Comment to RPC 6.3

The Court has adopted the recommendation of the Debevoise Committee rather than the ABA version of this rule. This follows more closely the earlier Kutak Commission version of RPC 6.3. This rule recognizes the need for private lawyers to serve in legal services organizations, so long as no conflicts of interest are involved and so long as the professional independence of the legal staff is preserved. See also RPC 6.4.

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