Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam Practice Question
An attorney learns that travelers from a recent bus crash are being treated at a local hospital. The attorney obtains a phone number of a crash victim from a nurse. The attorney calls that individual to propose representation. The two have never communicated in any form, and the person has not expressed interest in legal counsel. Which statement best describes professional guidelines for this arrangement?
The call is acceptable because the lawyer is not meeting the person face-to-face
The call is acceptable if the bus crash details were reported by news outlets
The call is permitted if the hospital staff volunteered the phone number
The call violates guidelines since it is a direct real-time approach of a person who has not asked for legal services
One answer aligns with limitations on real-time communication when a person has not initiated contact. Reaching out to a distressed individual who did not welcome legal advice can create concerns about pressure or undue influence. The other statements incorrectly suggest that indirect contact information or the absence of face-to-face discussion removes the concern about uninvited communication.
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