Ethics Opinions

ISBA Professional Conduct Advisory Opinion No. 06-02 [This Opinion was AFFIRMED by the Board of Governors in January 2010] Topics: Law firm use of marketing firm. Lawyer as speaker at community events. Use of non lawyer to screen potential clients. Digest of the ISBA: “A lawyer is responsible for marketing firm’s conduct that would be in […]

Professional Ethics Committee for the State Bar of Texas Topic: Internet; Referral Services Conclusion of the Committee: Under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, a lawyer may pay a fee to participate in an internet client-lawyer connection service of the type described in this opinion provided that the requirements specified in this opinion are […]

Board of Professional Responsibility of the Supreme Court of Tennessee Topic: Lawyers’ Use of Television Advertising Program When the activities of a company that produced television commercial for attorneys operate under certain requirements described in the relevant opinion (such as for example monthly flat fee, no matching services, callers do not pay the company, etc.) they “do not […]

Opinion No. 335 of the District of Columbia Bar’s Legal Ethics Committee Topic: “Whether a Lawyer May, as Part of a Settlement Agreement, Prohibit the Other Party’s Lawyer From Disclosing Publicly Available Information About the Case” Committee’s Summary: “A settlement agreement may not compel counsel to keep confidential and not further disclose in promotional materials […]

State Bar of California Standing Committee on Professional Responsibility and Conduct Formal Opinion 2005-168 Topic: Website disclaimer Digest of the Committee: “A lawyer who provides to web site visitors who are seeking legal services and advice a means for communicating with him, whether by e-mail or some other form of electronic communication on his web site, […]

State Bar of California Standing Committee on Professional Responsibility and Conduct Formal Opinion 2004-166 Topic: Solicitation Digest of the Committee: “While an attorney’s communication with a prospective fee-paying client in the mass disaster victims Internet chat room described herein is not a prohibited ‘solicitation’ within the meaning of subdivision (B) of rule 1-400, it violates subdivision […]

[WARNING – CPR Opinion-provides advice under the Ohio Code of Professional Responsibility which is superseded by the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct, eff. 2/1/2007.] Topic: Law Firm Identified on Client’s Website as Preferred Attorney Syllabus of the Board: A law firm may be identified on a business client’s Web site, but may not be referred […]

Topic: Lawyers’ Participation in Web Referral Programs Digest of the Committee: “Opinion rules that a lawyer may participate in an on-line service that is similar to both a lawyer referral service and a legal directory provided there is no fee sharing with the service and all communications about the lawyer and the service are truthful”. […]

[WARNING – CPR Opinion-provides advice under the Ohio Code of Professional Responsibility which is superseded by the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct, eff. 2/1/2007.] Topic: Unsolicited E-mail to Advertise Legal Services Syllabus of the Board: Until ethical rules, specifically addressing unsolicited e-mail advertising of legal services, are set forth in the Ohio Code of Professional […]

Committee on Professional Ethics  Modifies: Opinion No. 614 (1990) and Opinion No. 539 (1982) Topic: Website advertising, client testimonials and reports of past results Digest of the Committee: “A website advertisement that uses client testimonials or reports of past results is prohibited under DR 2-101(A) if the advertisement creates unjustified expectations, contains insufficient information, or is […]