Ethics jail is not crowded with those who breach the attorney advertising rules, but there are consequences, says Will Hornsby. Beware of these three myths.
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As most readers know, the practice of law is governed state by state, with rules coming from the states’ highest courts. Among the full range of a lawyer’s activities, these rules of professional conduct, commonly known as the ethics rules, govern a lawyer’s business-getting endeavors: advertisements, solicitations and other marketing activities.
Unfortunately, some myths about compliance with these rules surface with some frequency and tend to mislead lawyers about their responsibilities. Lawyers, legal marketers and legal service providers should be aware of and avoid these myths.
Understanding Attorney Advertising Regulations
Key Rules and Why They Matter
Attorney advertising rules are the backbone of the legal profession. The American Bar Association’s (ABA) Rules of Professional Conduct provide a structure for lawyers to advertise their services without being false or misleading. These rules are there to protect the public from deceptive advertising and the profession from itself.
Key rules include Rule 7.1 which prohibits false or misleading communications about a lawyer’s services and Rule 7.2 which governs testimonials and endorsements. Rule 7.3 restricts in-person solicitation of prospective clients. These rules are enforced by state bar associations which may have additional rules and restrictions on attorney advertising.
Following these rules will prevent law firms from getting suspended or disbarred. It will also help maintain the reputation of the profession and allow lawyers to give accurate and honest info to prospective clients. By following these rules law firms can navigate the crazy world of legal advertising and be professional.
Advertising Ethics Myth No. 1: Lawyer Advertising Rules
“I simply need to comply with the ABA Model Rules for ethics.”
The American Bar Association has crafted sets of ethics rules since the original Canons were established in 1908. The current iteration of these rules is known as the Model Rules of Professional Conduct. Among other things, the Model Rules serve as the basis for teaching professional responsibility at most law schools. As a result, newly admitted lawyers are generally conversant with this set of obligations.
What we need to understand about the Model Rules, however, is that they, in and of themselves, have no force and effect to govern a lawyer’s conduct. In fact, the Model Rules have been drafted as a resource for states to consider and hopefully adopt. Unless and until a state’s highest court adopts the Model Rules, they are merely the policy of the ABA and do not serve as the basis for disciplinary action against lawyers.
We are now at a point where every state has adopted the format of the Model Rules. Nevertheless, when it comes to the advertising rules, no state has adopted the content of the Model Rules verbatim. Furthermore, no two states have an identical set of rules. Typically, the states rely on the Model Rules as a jumping off point to govern business-getting endeavors and then tailor and expand on those rules to address issues of particular concern in their jurisdictions. So, for example, some states include rules pertaining to dramatizations and testimonials while others detail the parameters addressing the communications of fees in lawyer ads. It is also important to maintain compliance on a law firm website to meet specific retention requirements mandated by various jurisdictions.
The point is that lawyers must comply with the state rules that govern their conduct and not the ABA Model Rules, unless, of course, when those state rules mirror the Model Rules. Note that the ABA maintains a site linking to the state rules of professional conduct. When using this or any similar listing, be cautioned to make sure it is up to date.
Advertising Ethics Myth No. 2: False or Misleading Statements
“I’ll be fine if I just comply with the lowest common denominator.”
Most practitioners advertise and provide their services in a single state. However, those in large firms and others who seek out clients in several, if not all, states are confronted with the laborious and sometimes challenging task of multistate compliance. This level of compliance contains a layer of disclaimers and disclosures, limits the information that can be communicated and frequently waters down marketing messages in ways that make the firm less competitive. In fact, it is practically impossible for a large firm to comply with the restrictions of some states. For example, a few states require ads to identify the lawyer who will provide the services that are being advertised. In a multinational firm, the team of lawyers that will provide representation sometimes won’t even be known until the matter is undertaken.
Consequently, some firms conclude that if they comply with the rules of the most restrictive state in which they are seeking clients — the lowest common denominator — then their lawyers will not be subject to disciplinary action in other states. Unfortunately, this assumption is faulty because the states are not linear from the least restrictive to the most restrictive. In many ways, state rules are simply different. One state has a disclaimer cautioning potential clients not to rely on advertising for the selection of a lawyer while another has a disclaimer indicating that the advertising lawyer is no better than other lawyers. Neither is more restrictive than the other. They are just different. It is crucial to adhere to ethical standards when promoting a law firm to ensure compliance with state bar rules and avoid making misleading claims.
There are few shortcuts to multistate compliance and relying on the notion of the lowest common denominator is not one of them. On the other hand, firms may want to consider limiting some of their marketing materials to the states where compliance is not arduous.
Advertising Ethics Myth No. 3: Prospective Clients
“The vendors will take care of compliance.”
Technology has resulted in an unparalleled array of third-party vendors building platforms for client development. Since technology is scalable, it is not that much more costly for a vendor to develop a platform that connects lawyers with clients in 51 jurisdictions than it is in one. These services range from simple online directories to complex matching mechanisms with some level of intake support.
Lawyers who anticipate participation in these services should consider some important questions.
- As a threshold question, who is responsible for compliance, the vendor or the participating lawyer? Frequently, a vendor’s terms of service will shift this burden of compliance to the participating lawyer.
- If you are responsible for compliance, do you then have the ability to structure the communications and operations of the service in ways that are compliant with the rules of your state or are those communications and operations solely within the control of the vendor? As you can see, there is some risk of a catch-22 here with the participating lawyer responsible for compliance but with the vendor in control of the communications.
Lawyers should not assume that their participation in a client development platform is compliant with the rules of their state and should determine compliance before agreeing to participate in these services.
To be frank, ethics jail is not crowded with those who breach the ad rules, but there are consequences, including the embarrassment of a disciplinary investigation or complaint, the need to redevelop a marketing campaign that may be in violation of the rules, or the cost of ending a contract with a third-party vendor. It is crucial to avoid false or misleading communication in advertisements to maintain compliance with professional conduct rules. As a result, lawyers, marketers and legal service providers should cautiously navigate the ad rules and avoid these myths. It may turn out to be a time-consuming task, but one that is well worth the effort.
Avoiding False or Misleading Statements
Ensuring Accuracy and Honesty in Advertising
False advertising can get you in big trouble, including discipline and damage to your reputation. To avoid that, you have to make sure your advertising is accurate and honest.
A false or misleading statement is one that contains a material misrepresentation of fact or law or omits a fact necessary to make the statement, considered as a whole, not materially misleading. Examples of false or misleading statements include superlatives, unsubstantiated claims, and misleading comparisons.
To be accurate and honest in advertising, lawyers should:
- Verify the accuracy of all statements made in their advertising.
- Avoid using superlatives or unsubstantiated claims that cannot be objectively verified.
- Clearly disclose any limitations or qualifications on their services to avoid misleading prospective clients.
- Ensure that their advertising is not misleading or deceptive in any way.
By following these rules, lawyers can make sure their advertising is truthful and ABA compliant. That helps avoid discipline and build trust with prospective clients.
State-Specific Regulations and Compliance
Navigating the Variations Across States
While the ABA’s Rules of Professional Conduct provides the foundation for attorney advertising, state bars have their own rules and restrictions. Lawyers must navigate those variations to be in compliance with state specific rules.
For example, some states like Florida and New York require a physical office address to advertise. Others like California have rules on testimonials and endorsements. Some states require lawyers to disclose certain information, like bar membership or a label that says the communication is an ad.
To ensure compliance with state-specific regulations, lawyers should:
- Familiarize themselves with the rules and regulations of their state bar association.
- Verify the requirements for advertising in their state to ensure all criteria are met.
- Ensure that their advertising complies with state-specific regulations to avoid any legal pitfalls.
- Consult with their state bar association or a legal marketing expert if they are unsure about compliance.
By knowing and following state rules, lawyers can avoid discipline and maintain client and public trust. This protects the law firm’s reputation and the integrity of the profession.
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