The rule addressing the impropriety of paying a third party for referrals is found in which rule?

• A. Rule 7.2 and related standards on referrals
• B. Rule 7.1
• C. Rule 4.2
• D. Rule 5.3

Answer: (D)

Paying a third party for referrals focuses on suppressing improper incentives in who recommends a lawyer. The rule that addresses this directly forbids giving anything of value to a person for recommending the lawyer’s services, which includes third-party referral arrangements. That rule is Rule 7.2 (and the related standards on referrals). It exists to keep referrals from being bought and to protect client choice and the integrity of professional judgment.

Other rules cover different issues: Rule 7.1 governs advertising and general communications about services, not the specific prohibition on referral payments; Rule 4.2 restricts communications with represented parties; Rule 5.3 governs the supervision of nonlawyer assistants. None of these directly address paying for referrals, which is why the prohibition sits under the referral/advertising provisions of Rule 7.2.