Communications About Legal Services

Advertising, solicitation, and referrals

Rule 7.1 forbids false or misleading communications, including truthful statements that create unjustified expectations. Rule 7.3 bars live person-to-person solicitation for pecuniary gain except of lawyers, people with close or prior relationships, and routine business users; written solicitation is allowed if truthful. Rule 7.2 forbids paying for recommendations except advertising costs, referral-service charges, buying a practice, disclosed nonexclusive reciprocal referrals, and nominal gifts, and it restricts claims of certification. The study guide summarizes the Supreme Court's advertising cases.