California Lawyers and Bar Rules for Internet Websites

California Bar Rules for Attorney Advertising

For any lawyer in California, the best time to learn about the California Bar Rules for an internet website is before the website has been created. In order to have a full understanding of the internet marketing rules required by the California Bar Association it is important to read all published opinions as well as the individual rules.

At Internet LAVA, we work with California lawyers to develop a website that fully complies with each rule. As the California Bar Rules for internet marketing and websites change, we work hard to keep attorneys informed of the changes so every attorney's website stays in full compliance.

California is the only state that does not utilize the Model Rules of Professional Conduct adopted by the American Bar Association. Instead, California lawyers must comply with a number of uncodified cases, the California Rules of Professional Conduct, and the California Business and Professions Code Section 6068, which is related to the statutory duties for a lawyer.

California's professional conduct rules provide specifications regulating the professional conduct of members of the State Bar of California that can be enforced through disciplinary proceedings. The California Rules of Professional Conduct have been adopted by the State Bar of California and the California Board of Governors. Furthermore, the bar rules have been expressly approved by the Supreme Court of California under the Business and Professional Codes in sections 6076 and 6077 to promote confidence and respect in the legal profession and to protect the public.

The California Bar Association has issued an opinion stating the content on a website is an advertisement under Rule 6157 - 6158.3 of the Business and Professional Code. The California Bar Association also found that the content on a website is considered a communication under California Rules of Professional Conduct Section 1-400(a). Therefore, a website for an attorney or law firm is governed by the general California Bar Rules that apply to advertising, including rules that apply to images, words and sounds.

California Attorney Website and Advertising Bar Rules Resources

California Bar Association's Opinion on Attorney and Law Firm Internet Websites - The California Bar Association's opinion is a must read for any California attorney before beginning an internet marketing campaign.

California Rules of Professional Conduct - This link is to an entire list of rules regulating the professional conduct of California attorneys, including discussions about attorney advertising on the internet, through a website, with a blog, and through social media.

Hotline for California Bar Ethics Issues - This hotline is a great resource for California attorneys who need additional information to determine the best way to handle a question regarding professional responsibility when a certain issue arises.

Ethics Opinions from the LA County Bar Association - Current ethics opinions from the Los Angeles County Bar Association, in addition to archived ethics opinions, can be downloaded in PDF format.

San Diego County Bar Association SDCBA's Legal Ethics Resource - The SDCBA's Legal Ethics Committee issues advisory opinions regarding the ethical propriety of hypothetical attorney conduct.

California Bar Ethics Opinions - This link provides the complete text of advisory opinions regarding the ethical propriety of hypothetical lawyer conduct for attorneys in California. Although the California Bar Ethics Opinions are not binding, these rules are often cited by the California Bar Court Review Department, the California Court of Appeal and the California Supreme Court.

Rule 1-400. California Bar Rules for Law Firm Advertising - This link provides the text of Rule 1-400, which governs the advertising rules for California attorneys and law firms.

California's BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE SECTION 6157-6159.2 for Attorney Advertisements - This link provides the text of Article 9.5 of the California Business and Professions Code, which governs legal advertising in the state.

Internet LAVA, LLC | California Attorney Website and Marketing Bar Rules

For more information on how the California Bar Rules impact your internet marketing strategy, contact Internet LAVA at 1-800-292-LAVA. We provide cost effective website design and internet marketing strategies to busy lawyers that provide an incredible return on investment. While other attorneys spend too much on expensive pay-per click campaigns read more about attorney internet marketing for particular practice areas such as criminal defense, DUI / DWI, personal injury, medical malpractice, immigration law, family law, or securities law.