律師服務網路媒合平台之倫理問題—以法易通事件為中心

Abstract

「法易通股份有限公司」是律師服務的媒合平台，民眾遇到法律問題，可以在法易通的網站搜尋適合的律師進行諮詢，亦可撥打行動電話，透過電腦系統運作，與律師即時通話。參與法易通平台的律師和法易通以拆帳的方式分享消費者支付的費用，律師公會全國聯合會認為，律師容許法易通就其諮詢服務費中抽成，違反律師倫理規範第12條「律師不得以支付介紹人報酬之方式招攬業務」，因此函請各地方律師公會轉知其律師會員，加入法易通者，應儘速退出。 本文探討的問題為律師參與法易通平台是否違反上述條文。由於法易通的服務已於2009年下線，本文透過與其創辦人鄭鵬基董事長進行訪談，補足其他二手資料不全之處。此外，目前我國律師倫理在此一領域發展尚淺，故本文援引美國相關學說與實務意見，做為學理分析之基礎。 法易通事件的意義，在於它是運用新興科技的便利性及減少成本的經濟性，來提供律師服務的首例。本文認為，此類媒合平台並無明顯對民眾造成傷害之虞，縱有風險，也應採最小限制手段，不能一律禁止。目前律師倫理規範第12條之「介紹人」一詞或可限縮解釋為傳統之仲介人，媒合平台因性質不同，應不適用該條規定。建議全聯會針對律師使用媒合平台等新興科技工具推展業務之方式，以及新興科技工具業者之經營條件，訂出明確規則，使民眾得以享受新興科技的益處，律師亦得避免涉入違反倫理之爭議。

Lifelaw Company provided legal matching services that help people find suitable lawyers. When consumers encounter legal issues, they can find lawyers on Lifelaw Company’s website or by its cell phone service. Lawyers and Lifelaw Company shared fees paid by consumers on a percentage basis. The National Bar Association considered the fee-spiting agreement violated Article 12 of the Rules of Professional Conduct which prohibits lawyers from paying “matchmakers” and commanded lawyers to withdraw at once. This Article discusses whether it is ethical for lawyers to participate in Lifelaw Company’s service. This Article combines an interview with the founder of Lifelaw Company with other secondary resources as factual basis for further theoretical analysis. Since related discussions are relatively little in Taiwan, this Article also introduces theories and ethical opinions in U.S. as reference. Lifelaw Company marked the first case in which new technologies were used to promote lawyers’ service. This Article concludes that matching services are less likely to cause harm to consumers and therefore they should not be banned without any exception. Even if there are certain risks, minimal restraints should be applied. “Matchmakers” in Article 12 of the Rules of Professional Conduct should be construed as traditional lawyer referral service and new matching services such as Lifelaw Company does not fall into that category due to its distinct characteristics. This Article suggests that the National Bar Association should formulate explicit rules on lawyers’ use of matching service and other new technologies and related conditions, so that consumers can enjoy the benefits of new forms of marketing tools and lawyers can refrain from violating their professional obligations.