Duly Noted

Grand Rapids Bar Association announces 2011 directory

The Grand Rapids Bar Association will be publishing a 2011 Membership Directory this fall. Directories are available by pre-order only. To order now viist www.grbar.org, find the article on the home page, and click where indicated. Directories are $25 each (including shipping).

Those needing to update contact information for the directory should ontact Debbie Kurtz at 616-454-5550 or debbie@grbar.org.
GRBA has also announced that its summer hours will be Monday-Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Regular office hours will resume on Sept. 6.

Supreme Court amends lawyer advertising rule

The Michigan Supreme Court has enacted amendments to a lawyer advertising rule that will take effect Sept. 1, 2011. The revisions to Rule 7.3 of the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct include a 30-day prohibition on targeted written solicitations following an injury, death, or accident that may give rise to a claim and require the labeling of letters and circulars, whether targeted or non-targeted, as advertising material.

The revision also includes the wording: “Every written communication from a lawyer [described in subsections (1) and (2)] shall include the words ‘Advertising Material’ on the outside envelope, if any, and at the beginning and ending of any written communication, unless the lawyer has a family or prior professional relationship with the recipient.  If a written communication is in the form of a self-mailing brochure, pamphlet, or postcard, the words ‘Advertising Material’ shall appear on the address panel of the brochure, pamphlet, or postcard.  The requirement to include the words ‘Advertising Material’ shall apply regardless whether the written communication is transmitted by regular United States mail, private carrier, electronically, or in any other manner.”

Three Justices (Marilyn Kelly, Stephen Markman and Diane Hathaway) dissented from the order. View the Court’s order at http://courts.
michigan.gov/supremecourt/Resources/Administrative/2002-24_05-19-11_formatted%20order_FINAL.pdf

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