What is the primary concern of Rule 5.4?

The primary concern of Rule 5.4 is to prohibit sharing legal fees with non-lawyers. This rule is grounded in the ethical principle that the legal profession must be maintained as an independent and self-regulating profession. Allowing non-lawyers to receive fees from lawyers could undermine the integrity of the legal profession, create conflicts of interest, and potentially compromise client confidentiality and loyalty.

By maintaining a clear boundary that prevents fee-sharing, Rule 5.4 ensures that lawyers retain full control over their professional judgment and that clients' interests are prioritized above profit-sharing arrangements with non-legal entities. In essence, it aims to preserve the fundamental ethical principles that govern the legal profession—particularly independence, competence, and the protection of clients' rights.

The other options do not address the central tenet of Rule 5.4 as directly as the correct choice does. They touch on aspects of legal service structure and employment but do not encapsulate the crucial issue of fee-sharing between lawyers and non-lawyers.