Rule SCR 3.130(4.5) - Solicitation of clients(1) No lawyer shall directly or through another person by in person, live telephone, or real-time electronic means, solicit professional employment when a significant motive for the lawyer's doing so is the lawyer's pecuniary gain, unless: (a) the person contacted is a lawyer; (b) the person contacted has an immediate family relationship, or prior attorney-client relationship with the lawyer; or(c) the lawyer is advocating a public interest issue and is not significantly motivated by the lawyer's pecuniary gain. This Rule shall not prohibit response to inquiries initiated by persons who may become prospective clients at the time of any other incidental contact not designed or intended by the lawyer to solicit employment.
(2) No lawyer shall solicit professional employment by written, recorded, or electronic communication or by in-person, live telephone, or real-time electronic contact even when not otherwise prohibited by paragraph (1) if: (a) the target of the solicitation has made known to the lawyer a desire not to be solicited by the lawyer; or (b) the solicitation involves coercion, duress or harassment.(3) Every written, recorded or electronic communication from a lawyer soliciting professional employment from anyone known to be in need of legal services in a particular matter shall include the words "Advertising Material" on the outside of the envelope, if any, or in the subject line if sent as an email, and at the beginning and ending of any recorded or electronic communication, unless the recipient of the communication is a person specified in paragraphs (1)(a) or (1)(b).(4) Except as provided in paragraph (1), no communication shall be sent to those individuals and related targets of solicitation who have been involved in a disaster as defined in 3.130 (7.60) until 30 days have elapsed from the occurrence of the disaster. (5) Notwithstanding the prohibitions in paragraph (1), a lawyer may participate with a prepaid or group legal service plan operated by an organization not owned or directed by the lawyer which uses in-person or telephone contact to solicit memberships or subscriptions for the plan from persons who are not known to need legal services in a particular manner covered by the plan.(6) This Rule shall not prohibit response to inquiries initiated by persons who may become prospective clients at the time of any other incidental contact not designed or intended by the lawyer to solicit employment.Ky. R. Sup. Ct. SCR 3.130(4.5)
Amended by Order 2020-03, eff. 3/1/2020; adopted by Order 2015-20, eff. 1/1/2016.