For current Texas Bar Advertising Rules please visit this link: https://www.texasbar.com/Content/NavigationMenu/ForLawyers/GrievanceandEthics/AdvertisingReview/default.htm

 

The State Bar of Texas has jurisdictional control over the practice of law in Texas. Accordingly, the State Bar of Texas has promulgated detailed rules governing lawyer advertising and solicitation. These rules are designed to protect the public from false or misleading advertising and to ensure that lawyers do not engage in unethical or overly aggressive solicitation practices.

 

Texas attorneys who maintain a website or utilize social media for digital marketing purposes should be aware of these rules and ensure that their online content complies with them. Failure to do so could result in disciplinary action by the State Bar of Texas.

 

The general rule is that a lawyer may advertise services through any form of media, including websites and social media sites, so long as the advertisement is not false, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct. However, there are some specific requirements that must be met for attorney websites and social media sites.

 

For example, an attorney website must include the following information: (1) the name of at least one lawyer or law firm who is responsible for the site; (2) the address of at least one office where the responsible lawyer or law firm practices; and (3) a disclaimer stating that results obtained in prior cases do not guarantee a similar outcome in future cases. In addition, all pay-per-click ads must include a disclaimer stating that pay-per-click does not guarantee a particular outcome.

 

Social media sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter are also subject to certain guidelines set forth by the State Bar of Texas. For instance, LinkedIn profiles must include a disclaimer identical to the one required for attorney websites. In addition, lawyers are prohibited from using Twitter to make unsolicited direct contact with prospective clients unless they have first determined that the prospective client is not represented by counsel in the matter and that the prospective client would not consider such contact to be unwanted solicitations.

 

Attorney websites and social media pages are subject to certain advertising rules set forth by the State Bar of Texas. These rules are designed to protect consumers from false or misleading advertising and to ensure that lawyers do not engage in unethical or overly aggressive solicitation practices. Failure to comply with these rules could result in disciplinary action by the State Bar of Texas. Consequently, it is important for attorneys who maintain a website or utilize social media for marketing purposes to be familiar with these rules and take steps to ensure compliance.

 

For current Texas Bar Advertising Rules please visit this link: https://www.texasbar.com/Content/NavigationMenu/ForLawyers/GrievanceandEthics/AdvertisingReview/default.htm

 

As the legal landscape continues to shift, it's more important than ever for attorneys to be aware of the rules governing lawyer advertising. In Texas, the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct (Tex. Gov't Code, Chapter 81, Subchapters A & B) govern attorney advertising. Violation of these rules can result in disciplinary action against the attorney, including but not limited to a public reprimand, probation, or suspension from the practice of law. 

 

While some aspects of attorney advertising are clear-cut, others are not. For example, Rule 7.03 of the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct prohibits false or misleading statements in attorney advertisements. But what exactly constitutes a "false or misleading statement?" Is an attorney who claims to be "board certified" in a particular area of law engaging in false or misleading advertising if he or she is not actually board certified? 

 

Similarly, Rule 7.05 of the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct requires that any information contained in an attorney advertisement that could reasonably lead a prospective client to believe that the advertiser is reviewing his or her own case must be disclosed. But what if the advertiser is not expressly stating that he or she is reviewing the prospective client's case? Could an omission like that still lead to a finding of misconduct? 

 

These are just some of the questions that attorneys must consider when developing marketing plans for their websites and social media accounts. While there is no one-size-fits-all answer, there are some general principles that can help guide attorneys in their compliance with the rules governing lawyer advertising. 

 

The Basics of Attorney Advertising in Texas

 

In order to ensure compliance with the rules governing lawyer advertising, it's important for attorneys to understand the basics of those rules. Here are some key points to keep in mind: 

 

For current Texas Bar Advertising Rules please visit this link: https://www.texasbar.com/Content/NavigationMenu/ForLawyers/GrievanceandEthics/AdvertisingReview/default.htm

 

When it comes to lawyer advertising, there are a lot of rules attorneys need to follow in order to avoid disciplinary action from the State Bar of Texas. While some aspects of the rules are clear-cut, others are more ambiguous. As a result, it's important for attorneys to consult with experienced marketing professionals before launching any digital marketing campaigns. By doing so, they can minimize the risk of running afoul of the State Bar's Rules and potentially facing serious consequences.

 

The State Bar of Texas governs the practice of law in the state of Texas. As such, the State Bar of Texas has rules and regulations in place regarding the advertising of legal services. These rules and regulations affect attorney websites and social media digital distribution. Let's take a closer look at how the Texas Bar Advertising Rules affect attorney websites and social media digital distribution.

 

What are the Texas Bar Advertising Rules?

 

For current Texas Bar Advertising Rules please visit this link: https://www.texasbar.com/Content/NavigationMenu/ForLawyers/GrievanceandEthics/AdvertisingReview/default.htm

 

The Texas Bar Advertising Rules are a set of rules promulgated by the State Bar of Texas that govern the advertising of legal services by attorneys in the state of Texas. The purpose of the Texas Bar Advertising Rules is to ensure that the public is not misled by false or misleading advertising claims made by attorneys, and to protect the public from over-zealous or intrusive advertising practices by attorneys. 

 

Under the Texas Bar Advertising Rules, an attorney may not make any false or misleading statements in any advertisement about the attorney's qualifications or experience. Furthermore, an attorney may not make any false or misleading statements in any advertisement about the results that the attorney has obtained for clients. 

 

In addition, under the Texas Bar Advertising Rules, an attorney may not use any form of mass mailing or telemarketing to solicit prospective clients, unless such solicitation is directed only to persons who have a pre-existing relationship with the attorney. Furthermore, under the Texas Bar Advertising Rules, an attorney may not send unsolicited email advertisements (i.e., "spam") to prospective clients. Finally, under the TexasBar Advertising Rules, an attorney may not use paid Internet search engines (e.g., Google AdWords) to advertise legal services without including a disclaimer in such advertisement indicating that payment does not guarantee a particular outcome. 

 

How do the Texas Bar Advertising Rules affect Attorney Websites? 

The Texas Bar Advertising Rules affect attorney websites in a number of ways. For instance, under the rule prohibiting false or misleading statements in advertisements about an attorney's qualifications or experience, an attorney would be prohibited from making false or misleading statements on his or her website regarding his or her qualifications or experience. In addition, under the rule prohibiting false or misleading statements in advertisements about results that an attorney has obtained for clients, an attorney would be prohibited from making false or misleading statements on his or her website regarding results that he or she has obtained for clients. Furthermore, under the rule prohibiting lawyers from using paid Internet search engines to advertise legal services without including a disclaimer indicating that payment does not guarantee a particular outcome, an attorney would be required to include such a disclaimer on his or her website if he or she were to use paid Internet search engine advertising to promote his or her website. 

 

How do The TexasBar Advertising Rules affect Social Media Digital Distribution? 

The texas bar advertising rules also affect social media digital distribution platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. For example, if a lawyer were to create a post on Facebook about qualified immunity, which is currently a hot-button issue, he or she would need to take care not to make any false or misleading claims about their qualifications with regards to this issue. If you are a lawyer who uses social media platforms for business purposes, it is important that you understand how these rules work so that you can avoid running afoul of them.  

 

As you can see,theTexas Bar Advertising Rules have a significant impact on both attorney websites and social media digital distribution platforms. If you are a lawyer who utilizes either of these mediums for marketing purposes, it is important that you take care to comply with all applicable rules and regulations. Violating these rules could result in serious disciplinary action taken against you by the State Bar of Texas.

 

For current Texas Bar Advertising Rules please visit this link: https://www.texasbar.com/Content/NavigationMenu/ForLawyers/GrievanceandEthics/AdvertisingReview/default.htm