
Indiana Rules of Professional Conduct
The Indiana State Bar’s rules for internet advertising and marketing can be daunting and confusing, which is why you should consider hiring a marketing firm that can help you navigate through all the regulations.
For example, if you wish to show your past case recreations on your website (perhaps as a video), you’ll need to disclose that your advertising is meant to display a dramatization and that it’s not documentation of actual events.
To read more on the Indiana Bar’s rules for advertising, look through the resources listed below.
Resources
Indiana Rules of Professional Conduct – The complete list of rules of professional conduct in Indiana.
Legal Ethics Opinions in Indiana – Have further questions regarding the Rules of Professional Conduct? The legal ethics opinions resource could be a great help.
Key Rules to be Aware of
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 contains a material misrepresentation of fact or law, or omits a fact necessary to make the statement considered as a whole not materially misleading.
Rule 7.2. Advertising
(a) Subject to the requirements of this rule, lawyers and law firms may advertise their professional services and law related services. The term “advertise” as used in these Indiana Rules of Professional Conduct refers to any manner of public communication partly or entirely intended or expected to promote the purchase or use of the professional services of a lawyer, law firm, or any employee of either involving the practice of law or law-related services.
(b) A lawyer shall not give anything of value to a person for recommending or advertising 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 not-for-profit or qualified lawyer referral service described in Rule 7.3(d);
(3) pay for a law practice in accordance with Rule 1.17; and
(4) refer clients to another lawyer or a non-lawyer 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.
(c) Any communication subject to this rule shall include the name and office address of at least one lawyer or law firm responsible for its content. The lawyer or law firm responsible for the content of any communication subject to this rule shall keep a copy or recording of each such communication for six years after its dissemination.