Informal Opinion Number: 20040013

QUESTION: May Attorney participate in an advertising program where television ads tell people that, if they have been injured, they can call a toll free number? Participating attorneys are then given the names and phone numbers of people from their areas who call. Each attorney has the exclusive right to receive the names of people who call from the attorney’s geographical area.
ANSWER: Based on the provided information, Attorney may participate in this type of joint advertising. The advertisements, themselves, must comply with the Missouri Rules of Professional Conduct.

Informal Opinions are ethics advisory opinions issued by the Office of Legal Ethics Counsel to members of the Bar about Rule 4 (Rules of Professional Conduct), Rule 5 (Complaints and Proceedings Thereon), and Rule 6 (Fees to Practice Law) pursuant to Missouri Supreme Court Rule 5.30(c). Written summaries of select Informal Opinions are published for informational purposes as determined by the Advisory Committee of the Supreme Court of Missouri pursuant to Rule 5.30(c). Informal opinion summaries are advisory in nature and are not binding. These opinions are published as an educational service and do not constitute legal advice.

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