Pennsylvania Bar Rules for Attorney Advertising
For any Pennsylvania attorney or law firm considering launching an internet website marketing campaign, the first step requires understanding the bar rules that apply. Perhaps the greatest concern to the Pennsylvania Bar Association centers around the following issues:
- Websites that are deceptive and misleading;
- Websites that create an unjustified expectations through discussions of past case results that imply that the same results may be obtained for other clients;
- Websites do not clearly identify the lawyer or law firm responsible for the website’s content;
- Websites do not disclose the geographical location where the lawyer or lawyers who will be providing legal services are admitted to practice;
- Websites do not disclose whether or not they are being operated as a form of lawyer referral service;
- Websites do not comply with the prohibitions and requirements governing lawyer advertising and solicitation under the Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct; and
- Websites offering legal services to Pennsylvania clients that are not posted by lawyers located in Pennsylvania or admitted to practice in Pennsylvania.
At Internet LAVA we focus exclusively on developing a complete on-line presence for the law firm that effective communicates with the law firm's ideal clients who begin their search for an attorney on-line.
At the same time, we understand the attorney's primary concern is maintaining a dignified image for the firm. By providing informative and educational information, the website can provide an important service to potential clients seeking more information about possible solutions to their legal problems.
Contact us today for a free consultation to learn how you can use the internet to market your legal practice.
Report of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Task Force on Lawyer Advertising (May 2007) - Great source of information that addresses limitations on Bar Rules regulations of a law firm's website including First Amendment protections and Anti-Trust limitations enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Includes a details discussion of Bates v. State Bar of Arizona, 433 U. S. 350 (1977), and its modern-day application to regulating attorney advertising through internet communications.
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Pennsylvania Bar Association
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Harrisburg, PA, 17108-0186
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Members of Pennsylvania Bar Association can search ethics opinions on-line
Pennsylvania Bar Rules Related to Internet Website Chat Rooms
Many attorneys are concerned about social media, legal forums and directories. The limitations on what is acceptable is not clear. As the social media revolation continues to evolve the very way that we communicate can cause attorneys to inadvertantly run afoul of soliciation rules. Facebook, Twitter, blogs and other methods of internet marketing are becoming increasingly important for search engine optimization. At the same time, Pennsylvania attorneys needs to understand the limitations imposed on these types of communications.
For example, the Philadelphia Bar Association, in Opinion 98-6, acknowledged that attorneys could not engage in any activity that would be improper solicitation. The Committee further stated, "In the opinion of the Committee, conversation interactions with persons on the Internet do not constitute improper solicitation, but in any one particular case the interaction may evolve in such a way that it could be characterized as such."
Our Solutions
At Internet LAVA we understand the concerns that attorneys have when launching an internet marketing campaign. We focus on internet marketing for attorneys. Whether you are a solo-pracitioner or manage a mid-size law firm, call today to learn more about our solutions for website design and internet marketing for attorneys in Pennsylvania. Read more about our solutions for criminal defense attorneys, DUI law firms, personal injury lawyers, medical malpractice, divorce and family law practices, securities law, or immigration law.