Could a lawyer offer a free estate-planning seminar and limit a free consultation to attendees?

Short answer The opinion allowed the free seminar without solicitation, but said the advertised free consultation could not be limited to attendees.

Bar

MOLEC

Issued

1994

Apply this to your situation

This page answers the general question as of 1994. Ask about yours and see what the current Missouri Rules of Professional Conduct say for your facts, with citations.

How much weight this carries: Under Missouri Supreme Court Rule 5.30, formal opinions are binding; informal opinions are advisory. Source.

About this page: The plain-English summary, reader guidance, and Q&A below were written by Ezel based on the official ethics opinion. The original opinion (linked on this page) is the authoritative source for any reliance.

Plain-English summary

A lawyer proposed a free estate-planning information seminar, with a fee schedule and a free one-hour consultation only for attendees.

The opinion allowed the seminar but prohibited solicitation during it under Rule 4-7.3(b). It allowed advertising a free one-hour consultation, but said the lawyer could not limit that offer to seminar attendees.

Currency note

This 1994 opinion predates Missouri's 2007 amendments to its Rules of Professional Conduct. An official reference note identifies July 1, 2007 amendments to Rules 4-1.9 and 4-1.10. Subsequent rule amendments or later opinions may have changed the analysis. Treat this page as historical context and verify current rules before relying on it.

Common questions

Q: Could the lawyer hold the seminar?

A: Yes, but the opinion said the lawyer could not solicit during it.

Q: Could a free consultation be advertised?

A: Yes, but the opinion said the offer could not be limited to seminar attendees.

Q: Which rule governed seminar solicitation?

A: Missouri Rule 4-7.3(b).

Background and rules framework

The opinion applied Missouri Rule 4-7.3(b) to solicitation during a free seminar and addressed the proposed attendee-only consultation offer.

Citations and references

Rules of Professional Conduct:

Missouri Rule 4-7.3(b)

Source

Landing page: https://mo-legal-ethics.org/informal-opinion/940136/

Original opinion text

Reproduced from the official source for research purposes. The linked source is authoritative.

QUESTION: Attorney proposes to offer a free seminar to provide information about estate planning. Attorney will describe the fee schedule and offer a free one hour consultation only to those who attend the seminar. ANSWER: Attorney may offer a free seminar but Attorney may not solicit during the seminar. Such solicitation would violate Rule 4–7.3(b). Attorney may advertise a free one hour consultation but may not limit it to those who attend the seminar.

What do the rules say today, for your facts?

This opinion is from 1994. Ezel checks the current Missouri Rules of Professional Conduct against your situation and cites the rules it relies on.

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