990028 | Office of Legal Ethics Counsel & Advisory Committee of the Supreme Court of Missouri

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Informal Opinion Number: 990028

Rules: 4–7.3

Information About Legal Services

Direct Contact with Prospective Clients

Subject: Advertising and Solicitation

Summary: sending newsletter to clients, past clients, and others

QUESTION: Attorney´s firm plans to send a newsletter about the law office, services of the law office and legal issues. It would be sent periodically to existing clients, past clients, family of law office staff and friends of the law office staff. It is not intended for direct solicitation. It would not be sent to anyone known to have a possible claim who then would need an attorney. Would the firm be required to include the disclaimer required by Rule 4 dash–7.3 on the newsletter?

ANSWER: Attorney may send the newsletter to past clients, family of law office staff and friends of law office staff, without including the disclaimer, as long as they are not known to need legal services of the kind Attorney provides. Attorney may send the newsletter to existing clients, without the disclaimer, although they are known to need legal services of the kind Attorney provides.

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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