2026-08 | Office of Legal Ethics Counsel & Advisory Committee of the Supreme Court of Missouri

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Informal Opinion Number: 2026-08

Adoption Date: August 3, 2026

Rules: 6.03, 6.05, 4–7.1

Information about Legal Services; Fees to Practice Law

Communication Concerning a Lawyer’s Services; Election to Become Inactive; Unauthorized Practice by Stricken and Inactive Lawyers

Subject: Inactive Status; Retirement (see also Inactive Status or Of Counsel)

Summary: use of identification as “retired (inactive) lawyer” socially

Question: Lawyer is retired and wishes to create a business card to use for social interactions, more as a calling or visiting card. Lawyer’s license is on inactive status. On that card, it states that Lawyer is a “Retired (Inactive) Attorney.” The card contains Lawyer’s residential address, personal phone number, personal email, and has the symbol of the Scales of Justice. Lawyer asks whether this would be appropriate under the Missouri Rules of Professional Conduct.

Answer: If Lawyer has retired and placed Lawyer’s license on inactive status, per Rule 6.03, Lawyer is prohibited from engaging in the unauthorized practice of law per Rule 6.05. Rule 4 dash–7.1 – Communications Concerning a Lawyers Services – prohibits a lawyer from making false or misleading statements about a lawyer’s services. Since Lawyer clarified that Lawyer is a “Retired (Inactive) Attorney” on this card, it is the informal advisory opinion of this office that this is not false or misleading under Rule 4 dash–7.1 and is appropriate for social interactions.

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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