Idaho

Idaho Rules of Professional Conduct

If you are intending to do any internet advertising in Idaho, you will need to look through the Idaho Rules of Professional Conduct (IRPC).

For example, unless you have been certified as a specialist in a specific area of law, you cannot claim that you are one.

You can find more information on this and other requirements in the resources listed below. If you fail to follow the guidelines, the Idaho Bar may need to take some sort of disciplinary action; that’s why it’s so important to have an experienced law firm marketing team to make sure your website and advertisements are up to those standards.

Resources

Idaho Rules of Professional Conduct – This link will lead you to the complete list of the professional conduct rules in Idaho.

Idaho Ethics Opinions – If you have further questions or want further resources regarding ethics opinions, this resource will help you.

Key Rules to be Aware of

lawyer

RULE 7.1: COMMUNICATIONS CONCERNING A LAWYER’S SERVICES

A lawyer shall not make a false or misleading communication about the lawyer or the lawyer’s services. A communication is false or misleading if it:

(a) contains a material misrepresentation of fact or law, or omits a fact necessary to make the statement considered as a whole not materially misleading;

(b) is likely to create an unjustified expectation about results the lawyer can achieve, or states or implies that the lawyer can achieve results by means that violate the rules of professional conduct or other law; or

RULE 7.2: ADVERTISING

(a) Subject to the requirements of Rules 7.1 and 7.3, a lawyer may advertise services through written, recorded or electronic communication, including public media.

(b) A copy or recording of an advertisement or communication shall be kept for two years after its last dissemination along with a record of when and where it was used.

(c) A lawyer shall not give anything of value to a person for recommending the lawyer’s services except that a lawyer may

(1) pay the reasonable costs of advertisements or communications permitted by this Rule;

(2) pay the usual charges of a legal service plan or a notfor-profit or qualified lawyer referral service. A qualified lawyer referral service is a lawyer referral service that has been approved by an appropriate regulatory authority;

(3) pay for a law practice in accordance with Rule 1.17; and

(4) refer clients to another lawyer or a nonlawyer professional pursuant to an agreement not otherwise prohibited under these Rules that provides for the other person to refer clients or customers to the lawyer, if

(i) the reciprocal referral agreement is not exclusive, and

(ii) the client is informed of the existence and nature of the agreement.

(d) Any communication made pursuant to this rule shall include the name and office address of at least one lawyer or law firm responsible for its content.