Can a law firm distribute a brochure about its services to insurance companies, real estate agencies, banks, and other potential referral sources?
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This page answers the general question as of 1986. Ezel answers yours: whether it's allowed on your facts, under the current rules of professional conduct in your state, with citations.
Plain-English summary
The inquiry concerned a proposed brochure about the law firm that the firm wanted to distribute to insurance companies, real estate agencies, banks, and other persons who might in general find the firm's services useful. The question was whether distributing such a brochure was permitted.
The committee was of the opinion that the proposed brochure, distributed to that general business audience, is permitted by RPC 7.3.
Currency note
This opinion was issued in 1986, before the 2006 revisions to the Washington Rules of Professional Conduct. Subsequent rule amendments or later opinions may have changed the analysis. Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance. Verify against current rules before relying on any specific rule, deadline, or requirement mentioned here.
Common questions
Q: Can a firm send a brochure to banks, insurers, and realtors?
A: Under this 1986 opinion, yes. The committee concluded the proposed brochure, distributed to that general business audience, was permitted by RPC 7.3.
Q: Did the committee impose conditions on the brochure?
A: The opinion as recorded states only that the proposed brochure is permitted by RPC 7.3; it does not set out additional conditions.
Background and rules framework
RPC 7.3 (Washington's version of ABA Model Rule 7.3) governed written communications about a lawyer's services directed to prospective clients and referral sources at the time of this opinion. The committee applied RPC 7.3 to a firm brochure aimed at a general business audience of potential referral sources.
Citations and references
Rules of Professional Conduct:
- ABA Model Rule 7.3 (solicitation of clients)
- Washington RPC 7.3
See also
- ABA Formal Op. 501: Solicitation Under Rule 7.3
- CA COPRAC Op. 2016-196: Attorney Blogging as Advertising
Source
- Landing page: https://ao.wsba.org/print.aspx?ID=129
Original opinion text
Reproduced from the official source for research purposes. The linked source is authoritative.
The Committee was of the opinion that your proposed brochure regarding your law firm, to be distributed to insurance companies, real estate agencies, banks, and other persons who might in general find your services to be useful, is permitted by RPC 7.3.
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