Disaster and Risk Management
Florida Bar members are strongly cautioned against engaging in solicitation of hurricane victims. Solicitation, whether by the lawyer personally or by someone else on his or her behalf, is prohibited. Read the Rule 4-7.4 from the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar. Solicitation includes any direct contact face-to-face, by telephone, by fax or telegraph. It includes passing out business cards or other law firm information. Lawyers cannot mail solicitations within 30 days of the disaster. Any direct mail solicitations must comply and be filed with The Florida Bar for review. Fees from solicitation, as any form of advertising that does not comply with the rules, are subject to forfeiture in cases involving solicitation or other violation of the advertising rules.
Lawyers with questions concerning whether their own future conduct violates bar rules may call the Ethics Hotline toll free at (800) 235-8619. Volunteer lawyers who are offering their services to accident victims at no charge do not violate the anti-solicitation rule.
Disaster Recovery for Law Firms 
Disaster Resources from ABA
Law Office Disaster Response Plan
New Law Practice/ New Office Checklist 
Strategies for Surviving a Law Firm Disaster
What lawyers should do after a hurricane
Would you be prepared in the event of a disaster?
Risk Management Self-Audit Available
Annual Law Office Check-Up
Your Law Firm's Risk Management Effort-- Florida Bar News article, May 1, 2010.
[Revised: 06-03-2011]
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