Committee on Professional Ethics
Topic: Purchase of mailing list names for use in connection with offer to receive email educational newsletter.
Digest of the Committee:
“It is ethically permissible for an attorney or law firm to purchase a list of names to whom emails from the firm will be sent offering each recipient the opportunity to join the law firm’s email newsletter distribution system, which offers information about current legal topics and invitations to attend educational seminars provided by the firm, provided there is no solicitation for utilization of the firm’s legal services.”
Conclusion of the Committee:
“It is ethically permissible for an attorney or law firm to purchase a list of names to whom emails from the firm will be sent, offering each recipient the opportunity to join the law firm’s email newsletter distribution, which offers information about current legal topics and invitations to attend educational seminars provided by the firm, provided there is no solicitation for utilization of the firm’s legal services.”
Rules: New York Rules of Professional Conduct 7.1, 7.1 (comments 1, 7 and 9); 7.2, 7.2 (comment 1); 7.3
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