(1) Only the following persons may appear in a representative capacity before the department or presiding officer:

(a) Attorneys entitled to practice before the supreme court of the state of Washington.

(b) Attorneys entitled to practice before the highest court of record of another state, United States territory, or the District of Columbia, if attorneys are permitted to appear in a representative capacity before administrative agencies of that state, United States territory, or the District of Columbia, and if not otherwise prohibited by the laws of this state.

(c) A bona fide officer, partner, or full-time employee of an individual firm, association, partnership, or corporation who appears for such individual firm, association, partnership, or corporation.

(2) The presiding officer may allow other forms of representation if he or she deems the representation satisfactory.

(3) All attorneys appearing in proceedings before the department or its presiding officer, whether on their own behalf or in a representative capacity, must comply with the Washington rules of professional conduct.

(4) Department employees who are entitled to practice law in any court of record including, but not limited to, financial legal examiners and financial legal examiner supervisors, do not appear in proceedings before the department or presiding officer as legal representatives and are not "attorneys" for the purpose of this chapter. Department employees may appear as lay representatives of the department upon approval of the attorney general.

(5) The presiding officer may disqualify an attorney appearing in a representative capacity to prevent a violation of the Washington rules of professional conduct.