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http://www.wsba.org/media/publications/barnews/ethics/apr-97-ethics.htm
Communicating With Your Client by Barrie Althoff, Chief WSBA Disciplinary Counsel. Opinions expressed herein are the author's and are not official or unofficial WSBA positions. Communicating with your client enables you to learn your client's objectives, to instill confidence in the client that you can meet those objectives, and to satisfy your professional responsibilities. Failing to communicate with your client will likely lead to a dissatisfied client who will not pay your bill and who may seek disciplinary action against you. Rule 1.4 of the Rules of Professional Conduct (RPCs) requires you to (1) keep your client reasonably informed about the status of a matter, (2) promptly comply with reasonable requests for information, and, (3) explain a matter to your client to the extent reasonably necessary to permit your client to make informed decisions regarding the representation. This article looks at these and some related duties. RPC 1.4 provides that a lawyer shall keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter and promptly comply with reasonable requests for information, and a lawyer shall explain a matter to the extent reasonably necessary to permit the client to make informed decisions regarding the representation. Your first duty under RPC 1.4 is to keep your client reasonably informed about the status of a matter. This is a positive duty — that is, you are obligated to keep your client informed, regardless of whether the client requests it or not. You are not permitted merely to await a client's request for information about the status.

Full Article: http://www.wsba.org/media/publications/barnews/ethics/apr-97-ethics.htm

2006 Ethics-Governance.com