Advisory Opinion: 1884

Year Issued: 1999

RPC(s): RPC 7.1; 7.2; 7.3(b)

Subject: Advertising; solicitation; lawyer mailing letters to parties listed on court docket

The inquiry concerns the ethical considerations of the inquiring lawyer mailing letters advertising his services to individuals whose names appear on a municipal court docket. The committee opined that RPC 7.3(b) permits a lawyer to communicate in writing with prospective clients unless the prospective client has made it known to the lawyer that he does not wish to receive such communications from the lawyer. Such communications must conform to RPC 7.1 and 7.2.

Although you did not directly ask the committee about the legality of using court lists, the committee wishes to caution you that it takes no position on whether those docket listings may be used for the purposes you propose.

Advisory Opinions are provided for the education of the Bar and reflect the opinion of the Committee on Professional Ethics (CPE) or its predecessors. Advisory Opinions are provided pursuant to the authorization granted by the Board of Governors, but are not individually approved by the Board and do not reflect the official position of the Bar association. Laws other than the Washington State Rules of Professional Conduct may apply to the inquiry. The Committee's answer does not include or opine about any other applicable law other than the meaning of the Rules of Professional Conduct.