Rule 16-703. Solicitation of clients.

A. Definitions. “Solicitation” or “solicit” denotes a communication initiated by or on behalf of a lawyer or law firm that is directed to a specific person the lawyer knows or reasonably should know needs legal services in a particular matter and that offers to provide, or reasonably can be understood as offering to provide, legal services for that matter. B. In-person, live, or real-time contact. A lawyer shall not solicit professional employment by live person-to-person contact when a significant motive for the lawyer’s doing so is the lawyer’s or law firm’s pecuniary gain, unless the contact is with a (1) lawyer; (2) person who has a family, close personal or prior professional relationship with the lawyer; or (3) person who is known by the lawyer to be experienced with the use or retention of related legal services. C. Restrictions on all contacts. A lawyer shall not solicit professional employment even when not otherwise prohibited by Paragraph B, if (1) the target of the solicitation has made known to the lawyer a desire not to be solicited by the lawyer; or (2) the solicitation involves coercion, duress, or harassment. D. Exceptions. This rule does not prohibit communications authorized by law or ordered by a court or other tribunal. Notwithstanding the prohibitions in this rule, a lawyer may participate with a prepaid or group legal service plan operated by an organization not owned or directed by the lawyer that uses live person-to-person contact to enroll members or sell subscriptions for the plan from persons who are not known to need legal services in a particular matter covered by the plan.