California Rule of Professional Conduct 5.4 protects the independence, integrity, and public trust central to the legal profession. The rule restricts fee sharing with nonlawyers and prohibits certain business relationships that could undermine a lawyer’s duty to act solely in the client’s interest. These limits are not outdated; rather, they are well-designed protections to prevent improper influence, conflicts of interest, and commercial pressures from distorting legal judgment.
Check out the full article in the February 2026 Advocate Magazine.