Which activity is permissible non-solicitous advertising about practice areas?

• A. Cold calling potential clients about representation
• B. Providing information about practice areas on a website or brochure without inviting immediate representation
• C. Paying for client referrals
• D. Sending unsolicited emails offering services

Answer: (C)

Advertising about practice areas is allowed only when it doesn’t amount to soliciting clients or inviting immediate representation. The permissible approach is to share information about your areas of practice on a website or in a brochure in a neutral, factual way. This helps the public understand what services you offer without pressuring them to hire you right away or creating a direct request for action.

Why this fits: providing information without a call to contact or hire immediately maintains a clear boundary between informing the public and attempting to secure clients. It supports transparency about expertise without turning the relationship into a sales pitch.

Why the other approaches aren’t appropriate: cold calling potential clients is direct solicitation and aimed at obtaining representation, which is generally not allowed. sending unsolicited emails offering services likewise constitutes solicitation. paying for client referrals creates an incentive for someone to steer clients to you, which undermines professional independence and is typically prohibited.