Holiday cards for law firms
We'd mail law firm holiday cards to clients and referral sources in the first two weeks of December, with a thank-you and no legal advice. ABA Model Rule 7.3 defines a solicitation as an offer of services for a particular matter to someone who needs them, so we don't read a plain greeting as one. A card that mentions your services should still carry your firm's name and contact details.
Who to send law firm holiday cards to
- Clients with an open matter.
- Former clients whose matters closed, going back as far as you keep contact records.
- Lawyers, accountants and financial advisors who referred a client to you this year.
Leave off anyone who asked you not to contact them. Check the list against your conflicts records too, so a card doesn't reach an opposing party from an old matter.
Sample messages for legal clients
- "Thank you for trusting our firm this year. We wish you and your family a peaceful holiday season and a happy New Year." (118 characters)
- "It was a privilege to work with you this year. Thank you for your confidence in us, and best wishes for the year ahead." (119 characters)
- "Thank you for every client you sent our way this year. We wish you a restful holiday season and a good start to the New Year." (125 characters)
Keep case updates, deadlines and legal tips out of the card. Send those in a letter to the client.
What the ABA Model Rules say about cards to clients
Model Rule 7.3(a) defines a solicitation as a communication to a specific person the lawyer knows or reasonably should know needs legal services in a particular matter, which offers to provide legal services for that matter. A holiday card to people you already work with offers nothing for a particular matter, so we don't read it as a solicitation.
If the card talks about your services, Rule 7.2(d) requires it to include the name and contact information of at least one lawyer or law firm responsible for its content. Rule 7.1 forbids false or misleading statements about a lawyer or the lawyer's services, so leave out results and claims you can't back up.
These are the ABA's Model Rules. Each state adopts its own rules of professional conduct, and they can differ from the Model Rules, so check your state bar's version before you mail. This is a summary, not legal advice.
Client confidentiality and postcards
Rule 1.6 says a lawyer shall not reveal information relating to the representation of a client unless the client gives informed consent or an exception in the rule applies. Rule 1.6(c) requires reasonable efforts to prevent its unauthorized disclosure. A postcard has no envelope, so your firm's name on it is visible to anyone who handles the mail. We'd look at each client before a postcard goes out. For family law, criminal defense, bankruptcy or immigration clients, we'd leave them off a postcard list or send a sealed card.
Mailing to clients and referral sources? We print each card with "Dear" and your client's first name, your note and your name, and mail it First-Class for $2.99 a card, postage included (as of November 2026). Your firm's name prints on the front and the back, and you can add a line under your signature with a phone number. You see a proof of every card before you pay, and we delete the list 45 days after a paid order.
Make your cardsQuestions
Can lawyers send holiday cards to clients?
As we read ABA Model Rule 7.3, yes. The rule defines a solicitation as a communication to a person the lawyer knows or reasonably should know needs legal services in a particular matter, offering services for that matter, and a plain greeting offers none. Check your state's version of the rules, since states can differ.
Does a law firm holiday card need contact information?
If the card talks about your services, Model Rule 7.2(d) requires the name and contact information of at least one lawyer or firm responsible for it. We'd put the firm name and a phone number on every card.
Should a law firm send holiday postcards to every client?
Not to every client. A postcard shows your firm's name to anyone who handles the mail, so we'd send clients in sensitive matters a sealed card or leave them off.
When should a law firm mail holiday cards?
We'd mail them in the first two weeks of December. A Happy New Year card mailed in late December also works.
Sources
The pages we read for this guide.
- American Bar Association, "Rule 7.3 Solicitation of Clients"
- American Bar Association, "Rule 7.2: Communications Concerning a Lawyer's Services: Specific Rules"
- American Bar Association, "Rule 7.1: Communications Concerning a Lawyer's Services"
- American Bar Association, "Rule 1.6: Confidentiality of Information"