Q: Dear Ethics Lawyer, I have a litigation practice centered on representing clients in a very low income area. Some of the clients have at least modest means, but are unable to fund the costs and expenses of litigation, and for those who have good cases I usually take matters on a contingent fee basis, advancing the costs and expenses of litigation, contingent (along with my fee) on the outcome. There are other clients whose needs are a bit more challenging, because an injury or housing displacement has disrupted their ability to handle normal living expenses. For these clients, in addition to advancing the costs and expense of litigation, I’d like to provide them with some financial assistance that would enable them to feed and house their family during the course of the litigation. Ethically, can I do this?

Also, I have a related set of questions. I volunteer at and serve on the Board of a neighborhood legal clinic run by a public interest organization, where we represent indigent clients in litigation matters on a pro bono basis. Are we able to advance or pay the costs and expenses of litigation in this context? Could we also advance or provide living expenses to these clients?