I know that this really has nothing to do with technology, but I could not pass on commenting on this. Susan Cartier Liebel of Build a Solo Practice LLC posted a few days ago about a proposed North Carolina ethics opinion that (and no I am not making this up) prohibits an attorney from giving a client,a non-client, a fellow attorney or an allied professional more than one business card or one firm brochure. As quoted by Susan, the examples state:

Inquiry:

If a client, non-client, fellow attorney, or allied professional requests one or more business cards or firm brochures from the estate-planning attorney, may the estate-planning attorney oblige the request?

Opinion:

The attorney may give a third party one of his business cards or one brochure in response to a request. The attorney may not give the third party multiple cards or brochures because of the risk of in-person solicitation by the third party on the attorney’s behalf.

Inquiry:

Along with a thank-you letter from the attorney to a client for the client’s having allowed the attorney to provide services to that client, may the attorney include a business card and/or firm brochure with the suggestion that the client, if so willing, pass it along to someone who the client thinks might need similar services?

Opinion:

No, because of the risk of in-person solicitation by the third party on the attorney’s behalf.