c15f Legalethics.com » Advertising

Lawyers may use .org suffix in domain name.

24 Apr 2013

For-profit Arizona law firms may use the .org domain name suffix as long as the website is otherwise not false or misleading. See Arizona Ethics Op. 11-04 (December 2011).



South Carolina Opinion Permits Use of Groupon to Market Legal Services

3 Jan 2012

The use of “daily deal” websites to sell vouchers to be redeemed for discounted legal services does not violate the Rule 5.4(a) prohibition on sharing of legal fees, but the attorney is cautioned that the use of such websites must be in compliance with Rules 7.1 and 7.2 and could lead to violations of several other rules if logistical issues are not appropriately addressed. See Ethics Opinion 11-05.



New York Lawyers May Use Groupon to Market Legal Services

3 Jan 2012

A lawyer may market legal services on a “deal of the day” or “group coupon” website
provided that the advertising is not misleading or deceptive and makes clear that no lawyer-client
relationship will be formed until the lawyer can check for conflicts and competence to provide the
services.See Opinion 897 (Dec 13, 2011).



Kentucky Proposes Fee, Regulation of Social Networking Posts

1 Dec 2010

The article with links to the proposal are here. To avoid getting any Kentucky readers in trouble, please don’t blog about this! :-)



Law firm executive committee responsible for content on firm website (Louisiana)

15 Oct 2010
A recent decision of the Louisiana Supreme Court held that a law firm’s executive committee is legally responsible for misstatements on a law firm’s website.


South Carolina Issues Opinion that Impacts Linked In, Plaxo, Avvo and related services

26 Oct 2009

The South Carolina bar association addressed a hypothetical webside that listed attorneys without their involvement, and allows “clients” and others to “rate” the attorney.  The bar association held that a lawyer could claim his listing in this service, but that all comments made about him were subject to the advertising rules.  “[A]ll content in a claimed listing must conform to” the advertising rules, so held the opinion. It also basically says a laywer can’t solicit improper endorsements, and so on.

Frankly, this one baffles me.  I can understand why you can’t ask someone to say something about you that you can’t yourself say, because of Rule 8.4, but am I really under an obligation to make sure non-clients comply with the lawyer advertising rules?  Stay tuned, but in the meanwhile, you South Carolina lawyers better go read your various listings, I suppose including Face book!

It’s online here.  I’ll gladly email you a copy if you email hricik_d@law.mercer.edu



Florida Bar’s Proposal on Lawyer Websites Rejected

30 May 2009

The Florida Supreme Court rejected the state bar’s proposed rule amendments on lawyer web site advertising. See In re Amendments to the Rules Regulating the Florida Bar - Rule 4-7.6, Computer Accessed Communications (Feb 27, 2009).



Mercer Law School to Host e-Discovery and Ethics Conference

8 Oct 2008

On November 7, the Law School will host the 9th annual Georgia Symposium on Professionalism and Ethics. The topic for this years symposium is “Ethics and professionalism in the Digital Age.” There will be presentations and panel discussions on e-discovery, the internet and lawyer marketing, and meta-data. The symposium will take place in the Law School Courtroom beginning at 9 a.m. on the 7th. The event is open to the public, and CLE credit will be available. For further information, contact professor Patrick Longan at (478) 301-2639 or longan_p@law.mercer.edu



Jones Day: Linking to Our Site is Trademark Infringement

16 Sep 2008

There’s an article here.  Oh, and here.  Oh, and this one.

There’s a webpage, blockshopper.com that tracks who buys what property and for how much in certain upscale neighborhoods.  Some Jones Day lawyers bought property in  those neighborhoods, and that truthful, factual information was posted on the site, along with truthful factual links to the firm’s website, and truthful, factual links to the individuals’ bios on the firm webpage. 

Jones Day filed this complaint for trademark infringement.   The sum of the alleged confusing and illegal conduct is using a link to the firm’s website and linking to the two lawyers’ bios who bought houses.



Connecticut revises ethics rules, following many ABA updates; new filing requirement effective July 1, 2007

6 Mar 2007

The Connecticut Rules of Professional Conduct have been modified and adopt many of recent changes adopted by the ABA. A redline version is available from the Connecticut Superior Court. These revisions become effective on January 1, 2007, except as follows:

  • Revisions to Rule 1.15 of the Rules of Professional Conduct were effective September 1, 2006
  • New Sections 2-28A and 2-28B and new subsection (e) of Section 2-27 become effective July 1, 2007

Note that Rule 7.2 (advertising) now requires electronic advertisements to be copied every three months on a compact disk or similar technology and kept for three years.

Importantly, Practice Book Section 2-28A, which takes effect July 1, 2007, requires filing with statewide bar counsel a copy of most advertisements. Section 2-28B provides a procedure for lawyers to request an advance advisory opinion concerning the propriety of an advertisement.See modified rules.



New York law firm adapt websites to comply with new advertising rules

3 Mar 2007

A New York Times article describes how large New York law firms are modifying their website home pages and otherwise complying with new advertising rules.



Florida Bar may permit client testimonials on websites

26 Feb 2007

The Florida Bar board of governors has tentatively approved a proposed rule on law firm Web sites that would let lawyers publish client testimonials and claims about their past successes. See law.com article for details.



Lawyers need to consider several aspects of duty of confidentiality for inquiries through a web site

17 Jan 2007

Lawyers must consider confidentiality and other ethical issues associated with inquiries they receive through a website. Informal opinion 2080 (2006).



New York modifies lawyer advertising rules

10 Jan 2007

A redline version of the new lawyer advertising rules effective February 1, 2007, is available online from the New York State Unified Court System website.



Lawyers may not use the services of a website that forwards inquiries from potential clients to subscribing lawyers

12 Nov 2006

Lawyers may not use the services of a website that forwards inquiries from potential clients to subscribing lawyers. Opinion 799 (September 29, 2006). While websites may be used for advertising purposes, they can not, in exchange for a fee, carry out activities that in a non-web setting would constitute prohibited solicitation or referral






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