Legal Advertising Rules

LEGAL ADVERTISING RULES: HOW ABOUT THAT FLORIDA BAR?!
by NANCY MYRLAND on FEBRUARY 19, 2013
32
inShare
 

The Florida Bar Association continues to encroach on lawyers’ digital real estate.

The Florida Supreme Court just released new advertising rules for Florida lawyers, as well as those who practice law in the State of Florida.

The advertising rules were revisited in an attempt to make them easier to understand, and to clarify what some of them mean.

There are many changes, and many who have written about them, but I want to discuss 1 of them with you today because it is an odd, and not necessarily clear, change.

1) Regarding The Use of Social Media: Rule 4-7.11, Application of Rules, we are told that, regarding Type of Media:

“Unless otherwise indicated, this subchapter applies to all forms of communication in any print or electronic forum, including but not limited to newspapers, magazines, brochures, flyers, television, radio, direct mail, electronic mail, and Internet, including banners, pop-ups, websites, social networking, and video sharing media.”

If we then look to Rule 4-7.12 Required Content, we find out what must be included in all updates on Social Media:

(a) Name and Office Location. All advertisements for legal employment must include:

the name of at least 1 lawyer, the law firm, the lawyer referral service if the advertisement is for the lawyer referral service, or the lawyer directory if the advertisement is for the lawyer directory, responsible for the content of the advertisement; and
the city, town, or county of 1 or more bona fide office locations of the lawyer who will perform the services advertised.
What?

via LEGAL ADVERTISING RULES: HOW ABOUT THAT FLORIDA BAR?! | Myrland Marketing Minutes.