Advisory Opinion: 847

Year Issued: 1985

RPC(s): DR 2-104

Subject: Direct mail advertising; providing free seminars to solicit clients

The Committee is of the opinion that direct mail advertising is not prohibited provided that it is not misleading or deceptive. The Committee was split, however, by a vote of 6 to 4, on whether your proposed offer to provide a free seminar to members of the retirement community might be misleading or deceptive. The majority was of the opinion that you could make such an offer, provided that your future contact with the seminar participants complied with the requirements of DR 2-104. The minority was of the opinion that the offer was in fact designed to obtain business from the seminar participants and therefore would violate DR 2-104.

[Editor's Note: The Code of Professional Responsibility was superseded by the Rules of Professional Conduct after this opinion was issued.]

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.