January 1984  Questions Presented    1. An attorney inquires
whether his belonging to a barter association would comport with
the Code of Professional Responsibility. In payment for his
services he would receive "trade dollars" or "units" that could
then be used to obtain goods or services from other members of
the association. Members pay a join-up fee, annual dues, and a
percentage on all "purchases" to the association. The
organization promises that if it is not successful in bringing
the new member a certain level of "units" during the first year,
the membership fee and dues will be refunded.   2. If an
attorney may properly belong to a barter association, can he pay
court costs himself and receive barter units in payment for
those costs?   Bartering in a one-on-one situation has been
practiced throughout history and has been and remains ethically
permissible for attorneys. The new form of barter associations,
however, presents a number of ethical problems. The barter
association promises to provide its a