Rule 4.2.Process — Limited presentation

Not every litigant can afford, or needs, a lawyer for an entire case. Rule 4.2 supports limited-scope representation: an attorney can help with a discrete piece of a case, consistent with RPC 1.2, without becoming counsel of record for the whole proceeding. That distinction matters because a full entry of appearance under Rule 4(a)(3) carries obligations, including the right to receive every paper served in the case under Rule 5(b).

Under Rule 4.2, providing limited help does not by itself trigger those obligations. Opposing counsel is not required to serve documents on an attorney who is assisting behind the scenes rather than appearing in court on the client’s behalf. That changes the moment the attorney appears at a hearing or other proceeding before a judge, magistrate, or other judicial officer for the client — at that point the appearance becomes a full one under RCW 4.28.210 and Rule 4(a)(3), with the attendant service obligations, unless the attorney has filed and served a limited notice of appearance under Rule 70.1 before or at the same time as the appearance.

The rule backs this up with a reminder that an attorney who violates it may be subject to the sanctions available under Rule 11(a). In practice, Rule 4.2 and Rule 70.1 work together: Rule 4.2 defines when limited help does and does not amount to appearing, and Rule 70.1 gives the attorney the paperwork to keep an in-person appearance limited rather than full.