ETHICS OPINION 484-1959 ADVERTISING

NUMBER 484

QUESTION

 

A trade association which publishes a bulletin for its membership is represented by a firm of attorneys. Is it ethically proper for the association to insert the following announcement in its bulletin?

 

“A regular feature of our bulletin will be the expressing of legal opinions by _______, Esq. of counsel to the Association’s attorneys, ________, Esqs., upon problems common to the membership. If you have any questions which you believe to be of common interest to the members, submit them in writing to our Executive Secretary.”

 

ANSWER.

 

The subject matter of this inquiry has been before this Committee on a number of occasions (see, for example, opinions nos. 396, 466). We think that including a reference to the lawyer as being of counsel to the Association’s attorneys would improperly advertise the author. He may properly be referred to as a member of the New York Bar.

 

We also believe that the announcement should not invite inquiries from members of the Association. This will inevitably tend to elicit questions of a personal nature even though other members of the Association may also be interested in them (see Canon 40).

 

Dated: November 10, 1959.