§ 1-650.  Low-income parties.

(a) The disqualification under G.S. 1-649(a) applies to a collaborative lawyer representing a party with or without fee.

(b) After a collaborative law process concludes, another lawyer in a law firm with which a collaborative lawyer disqualified under G.S. 1-649(a) is associated may represent a party without fee in the collaborative matter or a matter related to the collaborative matter if all of the following apply:

(1) The party has an annual income that qualifies the party for free legal representation under the criteria established by the law firm for free legal representation.

(2) The collaborative law participation agreement so provides.

(3) The collaborative lawyer is isolated from any participation in the collaborative matter or a matter related to the collaborative matter through procedures within the law firm which are reasonably calculated to isolate the collaborative lawyer from such participation. (2020-65, s. 1.)