Committee on Professional Ethics Topic: Attorney advertising Digest of the Committee: “An advertisement that an attorney can “stop” a foreclosure proceeding is prohibited as false, misleading and deceptive. If the advertisement were modified to make it accurate, it would have to be accompanied by a disclaimer that prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.” […]
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 […]
Committee on Professional Ethics Topic: Non-lawyer marketers; bonus compensation to non-lawyer based on number of clients. Digest of the Committee: “A law firm may ethically pay a bonus to a nonlawyer employee engaged in marketing based on the number of clients obtained through advertising provided the amount paid is not calculated with respect to fees […]
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 […]
South Carolina Lawyer 8 (January 2012) Author reviews the most important developments in professional ethics in 2011: (i) Advertising – Amendments to South Carolina Rules of Professional Conduct; (ii) Advertising – Groupon and similar services; (iii) Advertising—Misrepresentation on websites; (iv) Appointments – Just compensation for legal services; (v) Appointments – Right to counsel in civil […]
Groupon and similar deal-of-the-day websites: is their use ethical for a lawyer? It seems so, according to a recent opinion of the Ethics Advisory Committee, but are the risks worth its while? Groupon is an online company that offers daily deals at local businesses. You can get discounts on manicure service, drinks, local restaurants . […]
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 […]
Committee on Professional Ethics Topic: Attorney Advertisement; Solicitation of Clients; Profit Sharing Digest of the Committee: A lawyer or law firm may have a non-lawyer marketer who engages in only that advertising and solicitation in which the lawyer or law firm could engage. The lawyer or law firm may have a profit-sharing plan that pays […]