What is the rule about direct solicitation of clients?

• A. Direct solicitation is mandatory
• B. Directly soliciting potential clients is generally prohibited; information about practice areas may be provided in a non-solicitous way
• C. It is allowed when funds are ample
• D. It is allowed only for referrals

Answer: (B)

Direct solicitation of potential clients is generally prohibited. The idea is to prevent pressure or manipulation of people who may be vulnerable or in distress and to keep the attorney‑client relationship from being born out of a pushy or opportunistic encounter. What you can do is provide information about your practice in a way that doesn’t urge a specific person to hire you. So, broad advertising, general descriptions of the areas you handle, and accessible contact details are allowed, as long as they aren’t tailored to a particular individual or situation to solicit employment.

In short, you can share information about your services in a non-solicitous manner, but you cannot engage in direct, targeted attempts to recruit a specific prospective client.