'Ethics of Law Firm Advertising and Solicitation' explored in webcast

American Law Institute Continuing Legal Education will present the webcast “Ethics of Law Firm Advertising and Solicitation: Keeping Pace in Today’s Race for Clients” on Friday, March 24, from noon to 1 p.m.

A good reputation that results from ethical practices gives a lawyer or law firm a competitive edge. However, in the race to acquire new clients, law firms and their attorneys are not immune to lapses of ethical judgment that can lead to serious consequences. The rise of digital marketing, with its ease of use and immediacy of results, combined with increased pressure to grow client bases by attracting new clients online, has created a marketing environment where the need to break through the advertising noise sometimes tests the limits of established legal protocol. No law firm, regardless of practice area, size or scope is immune to issues relating to the Rules of Professional Conduct in the race to market to prospective clients.

Ethics rules regarding solicitation and advertising have slowly adjusted to the times. Many law firms struggle with the need to remain competitive while wanting to adhere to regulations. The webcast will discuss the changing landscape with increased multi-state jurisdictional marketing, third-party lead generation and referral services—in lucrative areas including mass torts, class actions, and personal injury.

This program will look at American Bar Association and state bar ethics opinions, court decisions and rules that relate to areas including digital marketing and social media, trade names, public relations, lead generation, ratings and rankings, responding to online reviews, and some areas that attorneys most likely have never considered.

Topics include:

• The relevant Rules of Professional Conduct as they relate to marketing, advertising, and solicitation.

• Avoiding issues of unauthorized practice of law when marketing toward a particular practice or jurisdiction.

• Which state bars regulate my practice? And where potential disciplinary actions might flow from?

• When does advertising potentially cross the line into improper solicitation?

• The steps your law firm should take to ensure compliance.

• A review of state bar and ABA ethics opinions, and court decisions that impact law firm business development.

This course is for attorneys who want a better understanding of the operational and ethical implications of law firm marketing, advertising, and solicitation.

All registrants will receive a set of downloadable course materials to accompany the program.

Cost for the webcast is $199.  To register, visit www.ali-cle.org.