Under Rule 1.8, which practice is allowed to provide financial assistance to a client in litigation?

• A. Advancing court costs with repayment contingent on outcome.
• B. Providing funds for living expenses during trial irrespective of outcome.
• C. Lending money for unrelated personal expenses.
• D. Gifting to influence the opponent.

Answer: (A)

Rule 1.8 restricts financial help to a client in a way that keeps the focus on litigation costs, not personal needs or influence. The only permissible form here is advancing court costs and other litigation expenses, with the repayment tied to the case’s outcome. This arrangement supports the client’s ability to pursue the matter without imposing personal financial burdens, while avoiding creating improper influence—because the support is limited to costs and the repayment depends on how the case turns out.

Funding living expenses during the trial, or lending money for unrelated personal costs, or gifting to sway the opponent, go beyond what the rule allows and would constitute improper financial assistance. There is also a separate provision that allows paying court costs on behalf of an indigent client, but that, too, is limited to costs and not personal financial support.