May a Connecticut lawyer give a former or current client a low-cost thank-you gift after a client referral?
Apply this to your situation
This page answers the general question as of 2018. Ask about yours and see what the current Connecticut Rules of Professional Conduct say for your facts, with citations.
Plain-English summary
Rule 7.2(c) prohibits giving something of value for recommending a lawyer's services, apart from permitted advertising costs. The Committee had previously prohibited reducing or reimbursing a referring client's legal fees because that arrangement compensated the referral and could affect the lawyer's independent judgment.
The proposed gift was different: a ceramic coffee cup with the firm's name and logo, or a similar low-cost item, given after the referral as thanks. The Committee concludes that this nominal gift does not implicate the risks Rule 7.2(c) addresses and does not amount to a prohibited thing of value.
The opinion also treats the logo item as closer to advertising, whose reasonable cost Rule 7.2(c) permits, than to payment for a referral.
In practice
Under this opinion, a low-cost token given after a referral is permissible when it functions as courtesy rather than compensation or an inducement for future referrals. Fee reductions or reimbursements tied to referrals remain outside that holding.
Common questions
Q: May the lawyer give a firm-logo coffee mug after a referral?
A: Yes. The Committee treats the low-cost item as nominal and closer to advertising than referral compensation.
Q: Does the answer depend on the gift being given after the referral?
A: Yes to the facts described. The opinion characterizes the gift as a post-referral token of thanks rather than an inducement.
Q: May the lawyer reduce the referring client's legal fee instead?
A: No under the cited prior opinion. A fee reduction or reimbursement compensates the referral and violates the prohibition.
Q: Why does Rule 5.4(c) matter?
A: The cited rule prevents a person who recommends the lawyer from directing or regulating the lawyer's professional judgment.
Background and rules framework
Rule 7.2(c) bars value given for a recommendation while permitting reasonable advertising costs. Rule 5.4(c) protects the lawyer's professional judgment from control by a person who recommends, employs, or pays the lawyer.
Citations and references
Connecticut Rules of Professional Conduct:
- Rules 7.2(c) and 5.4(c)
Other opinions cited:
- Connecticut Informal Opinion 92-24, fee reduction or reimbursement for a referral
See also
- LSBA Op. 07-RPCC-015: Client gifts for referrals
- OSB Ethics Op. 2005-73: Referral thank-you gifts
- Arizona Ethics Op. 04-02: Gifts connected to referrals
Source
- Landing page: Connecticut Bar Association Informal Ethics Opinions
- Original PDF: Informal Opinion 18-05
What do the rules say today, for your facts?
This opinion is from 2018. Ezel checks the current Connecticut Rules of Professional Conduct against your situation and cites the rules it relies on.
Opens in Ezel Pro.
- Checks the law as it stands today, not only this page
- Cites every source it relies on, so you can verify it
- Chat, drafting and research in one workspace