930165 | Office of Legal Ethics Counsel & Advisory Committee of the Supreme Court of Missouri



Informal Opinion Number: 930165

Rules: 5.4;7.2;7.3

Law Firms and Associations

Professional Independence of a Lawyer

QUESTION: Attorney would hire a marketing firm to market the attorney´s services, generally, and specifically directed to a certain occupation. The marketing firm would be paid a set fee per month and would be paid an additional per call fee on calls received each month related to the marketing efforts. The per call fee would be paid regardless of whether Attorney receives any legal business from the call. ANSWER: This proposal would not violate the Rules of Professional Conduct as long as there is no direct personal or telephone solicitation.

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.

Request an Informal Opinion.