Firms weigh in on attorney websites

Eight major law firms protested the recently proposed Supreme Court rules for web advertising in a 66-page comment to the court submitted just before the August 16 deadline.

The firms — including Foley & Lardner, White & Case, Holland & Knight, and Carlton Fields — balked at the proposed rules, which would restrict online testimonials, case summaries, and some audio and visual content.

Rule 4-7.6 was submitted by the Bar to the Florida Supreme Court in June at the direction of the court after the court issued an order stating that all of the substantive lawyer advertising rules will be applicable to lawyer websites. The court’s order means that, for example, websites will not be able to freely use past results, testimonials, and statements that characterize the quality of legal services, among other regulations. The additional amendments filed in June would permit testimonials, past results, and other information to be posted in separate sections on firm websites. Online viewers, the rule states, would need to confirm their request for the information by accepting a disclaimer before entering that section of the site.

These guidelines could involve entire overhauls of some firm websites and re-programming of others, updates that law firms said could cost millions of dollars for larger establishments.

Although cost is a concern, the comments presented by the eight firms suggest that a decrease in business might be a greater consequence of the proposed rules.

Read the full article on FloridaBar.org