Also known as: legal advertisement · legal advertisements · legal ads · lawyer advertising · attorney advertising
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A form of commercial speech in which lawyers communicate information about their availability and services to the public. Truthful statements receive First Amendment protection while false or misleading claims remain subject to prohibition or required disclaimers.
Lars Lindstrom placed a newspaper notice stating his standard fee for an uncontested divorce and the documents included. Potential clients contacted him directly after reading the notice. The state bar attempted to discipline him solely for advertising prices of routine services.
Lola Langley listed on her website that she holds a CPA license and is a Certified Financial Planner. The state bar sought discipline based only on the use of those designations without any showing that they were false or inherently misleading. Clients who reviewed the listing understood the credentials as additional professional qualifications.
Select any source to read its text and confirm it supports the definition.
Luna Lang posted a video on her firm site in which a former client described winning a large verdict. The video omitted any disclaimer that results vary and did not mention cases the firm had settled or lost. Prospective clients viewing the video assumed similar outcomes were typical.
Lorenzo Lugo ran a television spot stating that clients pay nothing unless the firm recovers money. The advertisement omitted any statement that clients might still owe costs even with no recovery. Viewers contacted the firm expecting the quoted terms to cover all expenses.
Yes. Lawyers may communicate information about their services through any form of media provided the content is not false or misleading and identifies at least one responsible lawyer or firm.
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A claim is misleading when it states or implies a perfect record while omitting settlements or losses that would alter the overall impression for a reasonable viewer.
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Yes. Every communication must clearly name at least one lawyer or firm responsible for its content together with contact information so the public knows who is offering the services.
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Payment is permitted only for reasonable advertising costs. Compensation that varies with the inclusion of recommendation language or click volume tied to an endorsement crosses into prohibited payment for a recommendation.
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No. A lawyer may not state or imply certification as a specialist unless the certifying organization has been approved by a state authority or accredited by the ABA and the organization is clearly identified in the communication.
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