Each State has its own rules governing as to advertising by
attorneys and the information that must accompany their advertisements. When viewing a listing on the Law office of
Ronald E. Norman, LLC directory consider the following rules to which lawyers and
law firms must adhere.
General Advertising Disclaimers
Attorneys who practice law in the following states must include
a general disclaimer with their advertisements:
Alabama
Florida
Iowa
Mississippi
Disclaimers relating to Specialization and Areas of
Practice
The following states listed below require advertising
disclaimers when attorneys indicate practice limitations, areas of
concentration, areas of specializations or certifications in those areas:
Hawaii
Illinois
Iowa
Massachusetts
Mississippi
Missouri
Nevada
New
Jersey
New
Mexico
Rhode
Island
Tennessee
Texas
Washington
Wyoming
Alabama
No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be
performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other
lawyers.
Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 7.2(e) (2002).
Alaska
The Alaska Bar Association does not accredit or endorse certifying
organizations.
Alaska Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 7.4(a)(2) (1997).
Florida
The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely
upon advertisements. Before you decide, ask us to send you free written
information about our qualifications and experience.
Florida Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 4-7.3(b) (2002).
Hawaii
The Supreme Court of Hawaii grants Hawaii certification only to lawyers in good
standing who have successfully completed a specialty program accredited by the
American Bar Associaton.
Hawaii Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 7.4(c) (2002).
Illinois
The Supreme Court of Illinois does not recognize certifications of specialties
in the practice of law and that the certificate, award or recognition is not a
requirement to practice law in Illinois.
Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 7.4(c)(2) (2002).
Iowa
The determination of the need for legal services and the choice of a lawyer are
extremely important decisions and should not be based solely upon advertisements
or self-proclaimed expertise. This disclosure is required by rule of the
Supreme Court of Iowa.
Memberships and offices in legal fraternities and legal societies, technical and professional licenses, and memberships in scientific, technical and professional associations and societies of law or field of practice do not mean that a lawyer is a specialist or expert in a field of law, nor do they mean that such a lawyer is necessarily any more expert or competent than any other lawyer.
A description or indication of limitation of practice does not mean that any agency or board has certified such lawyer as a specialist or expert in an indicated field of law practice, nor does it mean that such lawyer is necessarily any more expert or competent than any other lawyer.
All potential clients are urged to make their own independent investigation and evaluation of any lawyer being considered. This notice is required by rule of the Supreme Court of Iowa.
See Iowa Code of Professional Responsibility DR 2-101(A), DR 2-101(C), DR 2-105(A)(3)(c) (1997).
Massachusetts
If a Massachusetts lawyer holds himself or herself out as "certified"
in a particular service, field or area of law by a non-governmental body, the
certifying organization is a private organization, whose standards for
certification are not regulated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
See Massachusetts Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 7.4(b)(2002).
Mississippi
The Mississippi Supreme Court advises that a decision on legal services is
important and should not be based solely on advertisements.
Free Background information is available upon request to a Mississippi attorney.
The listing of any area of practice by a Mississippi attorney does not indicate any certification of expertise therein.
See Mississippi Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 7.4 (a), (2002).
Missouri
Neither the Supreme Court of Missouri nor the Missouri Bar reviews or approves
certifying organizations or specialist designations.
Missouri Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 4-7.4 (2002).
Nevada
Neither the state bar of Nevada nor any agency of the State Bar has certified
any lawyer identified here as a specialist or as an expert. Anyone
considering a lawyer should independently investigate the lawyer's credentials
and ability.
Nevada Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 198 (2002).
New Jersey
Any certification as a specialist, or any certification in a field of practice,
that does not state that such certification has been granted by the Supreme
Court of New Jersey or by an organization that has been approved by the
American Bar Association, indicates that the certifying organization has not
been approved, or has been denied approval, by the Supreme Court of New Jersey
and the American Bar Association.
See New Jersey Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 7.4(b) (2002).
New Mexico
Any certification by an organization other than the New Mexico Board of Legal
Specialization does not constitute recognition by the New Mexico Board of Legal
Specialization, unless the lawyer is also recognized by the board as a
specialist in that area of law.
See New Mexico Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 16-704(D) (2002).
Rhode Island
The Rhode Island Supreme Court licenses all lawyers in the general practice of
law. The court does not license or certify any lawyer as an expert or
specialist in any field of practice.
Rhode Island Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 7.4 (2002).
Tennessee
Certifications of Specialization are available to Tennessee lawyers in all
areas of practice relating to or included in areas of Civil Trial, Criminal
Trial, Business Bankruptcy, Consumer Bankruptcy, Creditor’s Rights, Medical
Malpractice, Legal Malpractice, Accounting Malpractice, Elder Law, Estate
Planning and Family Law. Listing of
related or included practice areas herein does not constitute or imply a
representation of certification or specicalization.
See Tennessee Code of Professional Responsibility DR 2-101(C)(3) (2002). Tennessee Formal Ethics Opinion 2001-F-144(b) (2001)
Texas
Unless otherwise indicated, Texas attorneys are Not Certified by the Texas
Board of Legal Specialization.
See Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 7.04(b)(3) (2002).
Washington
The Supreme Court of Washington does not recognize certification of specialties
in the practice of law and that the certificate, award, or recognition is not a
requirement to practice law in the State of Washington.
See Washington Rules of Professional Responsibility Rule 7.4(b)(3) (2002).
Wyoming
The Wyoming State Bar does not certify any lawyer as a specialist or
expert. Anyone considering a lawyer should independently investigate the
lawyer's credentials and ability, and not rely upon advertisements or
self-proclaimed expertise.
Wyoming Rules of Professional Conduct for Attorneys at Law Rule 7.2 (g)(2002).