Under Rule 5.4 Professional Independence of a Lawyer, which practice is prohibited?

• A. Forming a partnership with a nonlawyer if activities consist of practice of law.
• B. Paying a nonlawyer to influence a case.
• C. Forming a nonexclusive partnership with a nonlawyer.
• D. Allowing a nonlawyer to own any interest in the firm.

Answer: (A)

Rule 5.4 protects a lawyer’s professional independence by preventing nonlawyers from sharing in the practice of law or directing a lawyer’s professional judgment. The prohibited scenario is forming a partnership with a nonlawyer when the partnership’s activities include practicing law, because the nonlawyer could influence decisions or control aspects of the legal work, compromising the lawyer’s independent judgment and the client’s interests.

So, forming a partnership with a nonlawyer if activities involve practicing law is the violation. The other options raise related ethics concerns (for example, improper influence or ownership issues) but the clear prohibition tied to independence in the practice of law is the partnership with a nonlawyer in which legal services are performed.