what language needs to be on attorney advertising in illinois

by Shyanne Bechtelar II 8 min read

According to Rule 7.4 an attorney may not use the terms, “certified,” “expert,” “specialist,” or any other similar term to describe the attorney's qualifications as a lawyer; however they may state on their website whether they do or do not practice in particular fields of law.Mar 9, 2022

What do you need to know about lawyer advertising?

May 31, 2019 · Many of the rules related to attorney advertising online in Illinois can be found at Rule 7.1 through Rule 7.5 in the section for Information About Legal Services. These rules govern the promotion of the law-related services and deal with advertising and solicitation. Additional information can be found in the comments to the rules and formal ...

Is it legal to advertise a lawyer via text message?

Jan 31, 2019 · This post is part of the Attorney’s Guide to Ethical Marketing, a series of posts (and eventually an eBook) that provides attorneys with a summary of key ethical rules for marketing across all fifty states, and the US territories.If you want to be notified when your jurisdiction is covered, subscribe to The Dead Drop, my monthly newsletter covering updates from this site …

How to advertise your law firm in a legal directory?

Non Illinois licensed lawyer representing party in Illinois arbitration proceeding: Opinion # 12-17. ... Third party vendor lawyer promotion (advertising) and compensation: Opinion # 06-02. Capital Litigation Trial Bar designation: Opinion # 03-03. Identifying non-legal accreditations: Opinion # …

What are the rules on statements in lawyer advertisements?

Jul 20, 2021 · Lawyer advertising rules related to a geographical office location may also require you to include the address in your advertisement. This could mean you need to post a physical office address on your law firm’s website. 4. Make sure testimonials follow the rules. Positive recommendations from past clients can be a powerful tool for ...

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Can lawyers advertise in Illinois?

Attorneys aren't allowed to offer anything of value to those who recommend their legal services, with a few exceptions [Rule 7.2] When advertisements or communications are published, it needs to include the name and office address of at least one lawyer at the firm [Rule 7.2]

Can attorneys advertise on social media?

(a) Subject to the requirements of rules 7.1 and 7.3, a lawyer may advertise services through any written,* recorded or electronic means of communication, including public media.

Can lawyers advertise their services?

A lawyer's best advertisement is a well-merited reputation for professional capacity and fidelity to trust based on his character and conduct. For this reason, lawyers are only allowed to announce their services by publication in reputable law lists or use of simple professional cards.Sep 12, 2009

Are attorneys allowed to advertise on Facebook?

With an audience size of 2.5 billion people, running ads on Facebook allows law firms to get their name in front of nearly 70% of the U.S. population. If you haven't started running ads on Facebook for your law firm, it's something you need to be considering if you want to generate more leads in 2022 and beyond.

Can lawyers advertise on Instagram?

In short, the answer is a resounding yes. An estimated 71% of U.S. businesses are on Instagram. While it may seem unlikely to use Instagram for law firms, it's a great way to reach new clients and show them who you are, especially for lawyers in certain specialties.Aug 15, 2021

What should lawyers post on Facebook?

What Lawyers Should Post on Facebook
  • Share articles and tips in your area of law.
  • Share blog posts from your law firm.
  • Share client feedback and testimonials.
  • Share relevant local and national news.
  • Post answers to frequently asked questions.
  • Share firm events and news.
  • Post motivational and inspirational content.
Dec 10, 2021

Is it ethical for lawyers to advertise?

According to the ABA Rule 7.3 regarding Solicitation of Clients, a lawyer or law firm cannot direct any advertising communication to a specific person who needs legal services for a certain matter, and offer to provide legal services for that particular matter.Jul 20, 2021

What are the rules of advertising?

Under the watchful eye of the FTC, the following general advertising rules must be followed:
  • Ads must be truthful and non-deceptive.
  • Businesses must have evidence to back up their claims.
  • Ads can't be unfair, meaning the advertisement can't cause substantial injury to consumers that consumers can't reasonably avoid.
Feb 20, 2018

What countries allow lawyers to advertise?

Legal advertising is advertising by lawyers (attorneys), solicitors and law firms.
...
Contents
  • Australia.
  • England and Wales.
  • European Union.
  • Germany.
  • India.
  • Israel.
  • Italy.
  • United States.

How do I target a lawyer on Facebook ads?

Quick Links
  1. Create an optimized Facebook page that includes rich media.
  2. Target a hyper-specific audience to keep ad relevance high.
  3. Set out clear goals for your campaign.
  4. Make your ads engaging as well as relevant.
  5. Create multiple versions of ad copy and split test them.
  6. Incorporate video into your ads.
Dec 10, 2021

How do I target an attorney on LinkedIn?

With LinkedIn for lawyers, like with Facebook, you also have the option of using paid advertising to reach out to your target audience.
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For instance, you can target your ad based upon:
  1. Location.
  2. Company type/size.
  3. Industry.
  4. Job title/function.
  5. Seniority level.
  6. Educational background/fields of study.
  7. Skills.
  8. Group memberships.
Dec 14, 2021

Is texting a form of advertising?

On April 5, 2013, the Ohio Supreme Court’s ethics board ruled that text messages are a permitted form of advertising.

What is Avvo rating?

Avvo, which allows anyone to rate lawyers and creates a final rating based on an undisclosed calculation, has been a boon to many firms’ client lists, as long as the client is making first contact of course. Other websites, like Super Lawyers and Martindale offer similar services.

What is Rule 7.3?

Rule 7.3 (a) prevents lawyers from soliciting prospective clients for pecuniary gain. Exceptions are made for the solicitation of other lawyers, family and those with either close personal or prior professional relationships with the lawyer. Social networks can muddy the waters of “close personal relationships”though. Simply being a Facebook “friend”or LinkedIn contact might not create the type of close personal or prior professional relationship that falls within the exception; tread carefully with these loose connections as we wait for a clarifying court or ethics opinion.

Attorney Advertising Disclaimers by State

All states have a rule that forbids lawyers from making false or misleading communications about their services. Most states also have specific rules of professional conduct related to how attorneys can advertise and what disclaimers they must have on their advertisements:

Client Testimonials, Comparisons Between the Services of Attorneys, Endorsements, and Spokespeople

Many states require advertising disclaimers or disclosures when attorneys use client testimonials or compare their services to others. Certain states also require paid testimonials, endorsements, and spokespersons to be clearly called out. This list is current as of September 2020*:

Practice Area-Specific Disclaimers

In the following practice areas, state, federal or administrative law may require advertising disclaimers when attorneys advertise that practice area: bankruptcy (all states), and immigration law (California).

Other Required Disclaimers

In addition, disclaimers may be required in a variety of other situations, such as when a firm:

What is attorney advertising?

Attorney advertising is a communication made by or on behalf of a lawyer or law firm about a lawyer or firm’s available services. Attorney solicitation is an advertisement made by a lawyer or law firm that is targeted to a specific person or group—which may be unethical.

Why is it important to know if a trade name is allowed?

Because many jurisdictions have rules for identifying information that must be included in attorney advertisements to prevent misleading the public, it’s important to know if it’s permitted to use a trade name before you try to.

Can you call yourself an expert?

Words matter, so be careful what you call yourself. Even if you have a high level of expertise, it’s generally against the rules to call yourself an “expert” or “specialist” unless you have been formally certified or accredited as such. According to the ABA Rule 7.2, lawyers should not imply that they are a specialist in a legal practice area, unless they have actually been certified as so by an ABA-accredited organization authorized by their state, district, or U.S. Territory.

Is legal directory advertising a must?

Legal directory advertising is pretty much a must. You know that searchers may very well be looking for your particular services. And, in some cases, you would be conspicuous by your absence if you didn’t list.

When did the legal advertising era begin?

What can be called the modern era of attorney advertising began on June 27, 1977. That was the day the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its decision in Bates v. State Bar of Arizona, essentially striking down prohibitions against advertising by attorneys. So advertising for attorneys is really just over 40 years old.

When did Tim Berners-Lee invent the web?

But it is already entering completely new territory. Another pivotal date for advertising for attorneys came 12 years after the Bates decision. In 1989 , Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web.

Is print advertising still used?

Print advertising, whether in a magazine, a local newspaper, or some other publication, is still prevalent, and, properly placed, can be useful, but can no longer be considered sufficient on its own.

What is pay per click?

Pay-per-click. Essentially, pay-per-click, or PPC, is paying for prospects to visit your site. PPC is conceptually pretty straightforward. Executing PPC effectively can be complicated, and requires an ongoing commitment of time on your part. With pay-per-click, you bid on keywords that people seeking services like yours might use in a search.

How does Google determine the quality of an ad?

Google also evaluates the quality of your ad using factors such as relevance to your keywords and landing page. Your ad placement is determined by your Ad Rank, which is the product of your bid and your quality score. A second formula determines what you actually pay per click.

Is a poor listing better than no listing?

A poor listing can be little better than no listing at all. It has to be targeted and relevant to your prospects. Proof your listing carefully, and make sure you have mechanisms in place to respond to any inquiries made through any of your listed points of contact.

Overview of the Lawyer Advertising Rules

What is commonly referred to as the lawyer advertising rules are five Model Rules (7.1 through 7.5) under the title “Information About Legal Services.” These Model Rules have not been significantly changed since they were adopted by the ABA in 1983. The Rules and the comments reflect a different time and place.

Weigh in Now on Proposal to Amend the Advertising Rules

The goal of the Ethics Committee is to draft a proposal for consideration by the ABA House of Delegates at the annual meeting in August 2018. So it wants to receive all comments on the proposed draft by March 1, 2018.

What is the Illinois short form power of attorney?

The form is broken into three sections: (1) Notice to the Individual Signing the Illinois Statutory Short Form Power of Attorney for Property; (2) Illinois Statutory Short Form Power of Attorney for Property; and (3) Notice to Agent. The first section, “Notice to The Individual Signing the Illinois Statutory Short Form Power ...

What is the law of Illinois?

The law of Illinois; The law of the state or country where the principal lives, owns property, has a business, or is a national; and . The law of the state or country where the agent lives, or has a place of business. Finally, Section 2-10.6 (b) of the Illinois Power of Attorney Act states a power of attorney agency created in Illinois before ...

What is a POA form?

In an effort to enable individuals, agents, and third parties to understand and accept documents creating a POA agency, Section 3-1 of the Illinois Power of Attorney Act provides the Illinois Statutory Short Form Power of Attorney for Property. The statutory form allows individuals wishing to name an agent to act on their behalf for financial ...

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Attorney Advertising Disclaimers by State

Specific Disclaimers Required by Some States

  • Certain states require additional disclaimers when attorneys: 1. State they are certified or are specialists in an area of law 2. Offer contingency fee arrangements 3. Use client testimonials 4. Compare themselves to other lawyers
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Certification and Specialization Disclaimers/Disclosures

  • The following states* require advertising disclaimers or disclosures when attorneys indicate practice limitations, areas of concentration, areas of specialization, and/or certifications: 1. Arkansas - Arkansas Rules of Professional Conduct 7.4(d) 2. California - California Rules of Professional Conduct 7.4 (2018) 3. Colorado - Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct 7.4(d) an…
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Contingency Fee Arrangement Disclaimers/Disclosures

  • These states* require advertising disclaimers or disclosures when attorneys discuss contingency fee arrangements: 1. Arizona: Must list expenses and whether the percentage fee will be computed before expenses are deducted from the recovery. (Arizona Rules of Professional Conduct 7.2(d)(1) (2014)) 2. California: Must disclose client responsibility f...
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Practice Area-Specific Disclaimers

  • In the following practice areas, state, federal or administrative law may require advertising disclaimers when attorneys advertise that practice area: bankruptcy (all states), and immigration law (California).
See more on lawyers.findlaw.com

Other Required Disclaimers

  • In addition, disclaimers may be required in a variety of other situations, such as when a firm: 1. makes misleading statements 2. implies that past successes indicate the likelihood of future success 3. uses a trade name, particularly a potentially misleading one 4. uses examples of results or verdicts in advertising 5. includes an endorsement, particularly a paid endorsement 6. …
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