(a) Permitted. In accordance with Rule 1.2(c) of the Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct, an attorney may provide limited-scope representation to a person involved in a court proceeding.
Rule 87.Limited-Scope Representation.
Last verified July 6, 2026
In one sentenceRule 87 lets an attorney formally limit the scope of representation in a court proceeding under the professional conduct rules, requiring a filed and served notice describing the limits, allowing the attorney's role to end automatically by filing a notice of completion, and confining any obligation to serve that attorney to matters within the stated scope.
Full Text of Rule 87
(b) Notice. If specifically so stated in a notice of limited-scope representation filed and served prior to or simultaneously with the initiation of a proceeding, an attorney’s role may be limited as set forth in the notice.
(c) Termination. The attorney's role terminates without the necessity of leave of court upon the attorney's filing a notice of completion of limited-scope representation with a certification of service on the client.
(d) Service. Service on an attorney providing limited- scope representation is required only for matters within the scope of the representation as set forth in the notice.
Amendment History
[Adopted eff. 3-26-2012.]
Committee Comments
Note from the reporter of decisions: The order amending Rule 1.1, Rule 1.2(c), Rule 4.2, and Rule 4.3, Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct, and amending Rule 11, Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure, and adopting Rule 87, Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure, is published in that volume of Alabama Reporter that contains Alabama cases from So. 3d.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 87 builds a procedural framework around limited-scope representation, where an attorney agrees to handle only part of a client's matter rather than the whole case. It works together with the professional conduct rules that allow this kind of arrangement in the first place. To use it, the attorney must file and serve a notice of limited-scope representation before or at the same time the proceeding begins, and that notice spells out exactly what the attorney will and will not handle.
Because the arrangement is bounded, the rule also addresses how it ends and how service works while it lasts. The attorney's representation terminates automatically, without asking the court for permission, once the attorney files a notice of completion along with proof that the client was served with it. And while the limited representation is active, other parties only need to serve that attorney with documents that fall within the scope described in the notice; anything outside that scope goes to the client directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is limited-scope representation under Rule 87?
It is an arrangement, permitted under the Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct, where an attorney agrees to represent a person for only part of a court proceeding rather than the entire matter.
How does an attorney establish a limited-scope representation under this rule?
The attorney files and serves a notice of limited-scope representation before or at the same time the proceeding starts, stating specifically what the representation covers.
Does the attorney need the court’s permission to stop representing the client once the limited task is finished?
No. Rule 87 lets the representation terminate automatically once the attorney files a notice of completion along with certification that the client was served with it, without needing leave of court.
Who has to be served with documents when an attorney is providing limited-scope representation?
The attorney needs to be served only with matters that fall within the scope described in the notice of limited-scope representation; other matters are served on the client directly.
Does Rule 87 create the right to limited-scope representation, or does it just set procedure?
It sets the procedure. The underlying permission for an attorney to offer limited-scope representation comes from the Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct, and Rule 87 supplies the notice, termination, and service mechanics needed to make that arrangement work in a court proceeding.
Source & verification. The rule text, amendment history, and Committee Comments are reproduced verbatim from the
official Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure (Ala. R. Civ. P. 87). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of Alabama (Ala. Const. amend. 328, § 6.11). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 6, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: limited-scope representation Alabamaunbundled legal servicesnotice of limited-scope representationattorney withdrawal limited scopeAla. R. Civ. P. 87