Donut Fridays

The South Carolina Bar Ethics Advisory Committee has issued an opinion (here) approving a law firm's weekly delivery of a box of donuts to banks and real estate agencies that refer clients to the firm. The boxes also contain beverage "koozies" bearing the firm's name and a coupon for $50.00 off a consultation or real estate closing. The Advisory Committee found that Rule 7.2(c) of the South Carolina Rules of Professional Conduct governed the situation. Like Illinois Rule 7.2(b), the South Carolina rule prohibits a lawyer from giving "anything of value to a person for recommending the lawyer's services." According to the South Carolina opinion, as long as the weekly donut boxes were delivered regardless of whether the recipient had referred clients to the firm that week, Rule 7.2 was not violated. A violation would occur, however, if delivery of the donut box was contingent on referrals to the firm.

For large sections of suburban Chicago such a transparent advertising ploy offering “koozies,” discount coupons, and donuts simply would not work. In those communities the box would need to contain "koozies," discount coupons, and kale.