General Advertising Disclaimers

Attorneys practicing in the following states must include a general disclaimer with their advertisements:

• Alabama
• Florida
• Iowa
• Mississippi

Areas of Practice and Specialization Disclaimers

The following states require advertising disclaimers when attorneys indicate practice limitations, areas of concentration, areas of specialization or certifications therein:

• Hawaii
• Illinois
• Iowa
• Massachusetts
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Nevada
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• Rhode Island
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Washington
• Wyoming

Alabama
No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.

Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 7.2(e) (2002).

Florida
The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements.  Before you decide, ask us to send you free written information about our qualifications and experience.

Florida Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 4-7.3(b) (2002).

Hawaii
The supreme Court of Hawai'i grants Hawai'i certification only to lawyers in good standing who have successfully completed a specialty program accredited by the American Bar Association.

Hawaii Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 7.4(c) (2002).

Illinois
The Supreme Court of Illinois does not recognize certifications of specialties in the practice of law and that the certificate, award or recognition is not a requirement to practice law in Illinois.

Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 7.4(c)(2) (2002).

Iowa
The determination of the need for legal services and the choice of a lawyer are extremely important decisions and should not be based solely upon advertisements or self-proclaimed expertise. This disclosure is required by rule of the Supreme Court of Iowa.

Memberships and offices in legal fraternities and legal societies, technical and professional licenses, and memberships in scientific, technical and professional associations and societies of law or field of practice do not mean that a lawyer is a specialist or expert in a field of law, nor do they mean that such a lawyer is necessarily any more expert or competent than any other lawyer.

A description or indication of limitation of practice does not mean that any agency or board has certified such lawyer as a specialist or expert in an indicated field of law practice, nor does it mean that such lawyer is necessarily any more expert or competent than any other lawyer.

All potential clients are urged to make their own independent investigation and evaluation of any lawyer being considered.  This notice is required by rule of the Supreme Court of Iowa.

See Iowa Code of Professional Responsibility DR 2-101(A), DR 2-101(C), DR 2-105(A)(3)(c) (1997).

Massachusetts
If a Massachusetts lawyer holds himself or herself out as "certified" in a particular service, field or area of law by a non-governmental body, the certifying organization is a private organization, whose standards for certification are not regulated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

See Massachusetts Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 7.4(b) (2002).

Mississippi
Free Background information is available upon request to a Mississippi attorney.

There is no procedure in Mississippi for approving certifying or deisgnating organizations and authorities.

See Mississippi Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 7.4(a), Rule 7.6(a) (2002).

Missouri
Neither the Supreme Court of Missouri nor the Missouri Bar reviews or approves certifying organizations or specialist designations.

Missouri Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 4-7.4 (2002).

Nevada
Neither the state bar of Nevada nor any agency of the State Bar has certified any lawyer identified here as a specialist or as an expert.  Anyone considering a lawyer should independently investigate the lawyer's credentials and ability.

Nevada Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 198 (2002).

New Jersey
Any certification as a specialist, or any certification in a field of practice, that does not state that such certification has been granted by the Supreme Court of New Jersey or by an organization that has been approved by the American Bar Association, indicates that the certifying organization has not been approved, or has been denied approval, by the Supreme Court of New Jersey and the American Bar Association.

See New Jersey Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 7.4(b) (2002).

New Mexico
LAWYER ADVERTISEMENT 16-701

Any certification by an organization other than the New Mexico Board of Legal Specialization does not constitute recognition by the New Mexico Board of Legal Specialization, unless the lawyer is also recognized by the board as a specialist in that area of law.

See New Mexico Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 16-704(D) (2002).

Rhode Island
The Rhode Island Supreme Court licenses all lawyers in the general practice of law.  The court does not license or certify any lawyer as an expert or specialist in any field of practice.

Rhode Island Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 7.4 (2002).

Tennessee
Certifications of Specialization are available to Tennessee lawyers in all areas of practice relating to or included in the areas of Civil Trial, Criminal Trial, Business Bankruptcy, Consumer Bankruptcy, Creditor's Rights, Medical Malpractice, Legal Malpractice, Accounting Malpractice, Elder Law, Estate Planning and Family Law. Listing of related or included practice areas herein does not constitute or imply a representation of certification of sepcialization.

See Tennessee Code of Professional Responsibility DR 2-101(C)(3) (2002); Tennessee Formal Ethics Opinion 2001-F-144(b) (2001).

Texas
Unless otherwise indicated, Not Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

See Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 7.04(b)(3) (2002).

Washington
The Supreme Court of Washington does not recognize certification of specialties in the practice of law and that the certificate, award, or recognition is not a requirement to practice law in the State of Washington.

See Washington Rules of Professional Responsibility Rule 7.4(b)(3) (2002).

Wyoming
The Wyoming State Bar does not certify any lawyer as a specialist or expert. Anyone considering a lawyer should independently investigate the lawyer's credentials and ability, and not rely upon advertisements or self-proclaimed expertise.

Wyoming Rules of Professional Conduct for Attorneys at Law Rule 7.2(g) (2002).