Advisory Opinion: 1890

Year Issued: 1999

RPC(s): RPC 7.3(a)

Subject: Unsolicited direct contact with potential client

The inquiring lawyer asks if it is appropriate, under the Rules of Professional Conduct for a lawyer, who is a legal service provider under a pre-paid legal service plan, to use the results of a questionnaire/survey of an individual who may participate in the plan as a beneficiary to contact the individual participant and discuss the answers given to the questionnaire/survey with that individual.

It is the opinion of the committee that the use of information contained on the web site to make an unsolicited call to a potential client to discuss his or her answers to a questionnaire about legal issues and the need for legal services violates RPC 7.3(a).

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.