Committee on Professional Ethics Topic: Disclosure of information obtained from purported client Digest of the Committee: “An individual whose purpose in communicating with an attorney is to defraud that attorney rather than to obtain legal services is not a client or prospective client entitled to confidentiality, and it would not violate any ethical rules for […]
Committee on Professional Ethics Topic: Solicitation; advertising; public education for laypersons. Digest of the Committee: “A lawyer may ethically produce and post an internet video designed to educate lay individuals about a legal subject, and may distribute flyers to members of the public inviting them to view the video. However, the lawyer must adhere to […]
ISBA Professional Conduct Advisory Opinion No. 12-04 Topic: Advertising and Solicitation Digest of the ISBA: “Labeling communications to solicit professional employment as ‘promotional’ materials does not comply with requirements of the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct to label such materials as ‘Advertising Material.’” References: Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct 7.2 and 7.3(c); In the Matter of […]
ISBA Professional Conduct Advisory Opinion No. 12-03 Topic: Advertising and Solicitation; Confidentiality; Referral Fees and Arrangements Digest of the ISBA: “A lawyer may participate in a networking group with other service professionals which refers clients to one another if: (a) the reciprocal referrals are not exclusive; (b) the lawyer requests prior consent from the client to […]
Committee on Professional Ethics Lawyers’ participation in “Questions and Answers” websites is allowed but cannot import solicitation of clients. In Ethics Opinion 899, the New York State Bar Association Committee on Professional Ethics opined that a lawyer may provide general answers to legal questions from laymen on interactive websites, but the lawyer cannot solicit clients […]
Committee on Professional Ethics Which are the rules for a discounted legal service offer? Topic: Marketing of legal services by use of a “deal of the day” or “group coupon” website Digest of the Committee: “Lawyer may market legal services on a ‘deal of the day’ or ‘group coupon’ website provided that the advertising is not misleading […]
Topic: Lawyers’ Use of Deal-of-the-Day or Group Coupon Marketing Programs Digest of the Committee: Opinion rules that a lawyer may advertise on a website that offers daily discounts to consumers where the website company’s compensation is a percentage of the amount paid to the lawyer if certain disclosures are made and certain conditions are satisfied. […]
Florida Bar Standing Committee on Advertising Topic: Attorney Advertising through Chat Rooms Digest of the Committee: An attorney may not solicit prospective clients through Internet chat rooms, defined as real time communications between computer users. Lawyers may respond to specific questions posed to them in chat rooms. Lawyers should be cautious not to inadvertently form […]
Topic: Use of Live Chat Support Service on Law Firm Website From the Opinion “Opinion provides guidelines for the use of live chat support services on law firm websites”. The full text can be found at: http://www.ncbar…
Committee on Professional Ethics Topic: Offering a Prize to Join Attorney’s Social Networking Sites Digest of the Committee: The Rules of Professional Conduct do not prohibit an attorney from offering a prize to join the attorney’s social network as long as the prize offer is not illegal, but if the primary purpose of the prize […]