Rules of Professional Conduct Minnesota Legal Advertising
Wanting to update your internet marketing or change your website advertising? You’ll need to read through the Minnesota Rules of Professional Conduct before moving forward.
If you fail to follow all the guidelines listed, you may be subject to some disciplinary action.
Luckily, the creative marketing team at Law Firm Sites can assist you in creating a marketing plan and website that follow the state guidelines while still being effective.
For more information on the state bar rules, visit the resources listed below.
Resources
Rules of Professional Conduct Minnesota – This link will take you to the complete list of the professional conduct rules in Minnesota.
Minnesota Ethics Opinions – This is a helpful resource if you have further questions regarding these rules in Minnesota.
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 Rules 7.1 and 7.3, a lawyer may advertise services through written, recorded, or electronic communications, including public media.
(b) 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 not-for-profit lawyer referral service;
(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.
(c) Any communication made pursuant to this rule shall include the name of at least one lawyer or law firm responsible for its content.
