Under Rule 7.2, which advertising practice is permissible?

• A. Paying the reasonable costs of advertisements or communications permitted by this Rule.
• B. Paying a referral fee to any recipient regardless of rules.
• C. Paying for a law practice in violation of Rule 1.17.
• D. Paying for client settlements.

Answer: (A)

Under Rule 7.2, lawyers may advertise their services and may cover the reasonable costs of those advertisements or communications. The important point is that paying for the creation and dissemination of permissible advertisements is allowed, as long as the content is truthful and not misleading. This keeps advertising possible without giving anything extra to influence who hires the lawyer.

The other options go beyond what is permitted: paying a referral fee to anyone for sending business is prohibited because it treats a referral as value given for employment. Paying for a law practice violates Rule 1.17, which bars acquiring a practice for value. Paying for client settlements would be improper because it involves buying settlement outcomes or compensating clients to influence their decisions.