Montana Bar Rules for Attorney Advertising
The regulations in the Montana Rules of Professional Conduct establish the rules for Montana attorneys who advertise online. An attorney's online advertisements include a website, blog, or posting on a social media platform.
If you are interested in redesigning your law firm's website or starting a new internet marketing campaign you must abide by the Montana Bar Rules. Failure to uphold these rules can lead to disciplinary actions.
The best way to understand the rules requires reading the applicable Montana Rules of Professional Conduct. Many of the rules related to attorney advertising online in Montana can be found at Rule 7.1 through Rule 7.5 in the section for "Information About Legal Services." Additional information can be found in the comments and the Ethics Advisory Opinions interpreting the rules.
The advertising rules may seem restrictive, however they were made to ensure that all attorneys in Montana promote themselves fairly. Staying in compliance with these rules will help you avoid any issues with the Bar.
These rules include a requirement that contain advertisements be submitted to the Bar prior to their dissemination. Attorneys in Montana should review these rules, as well as the "Policies and Procedures for Lawyer Advertising," prior to disseminating or publishing their advertisement.
If you are interested in finding an internet marketing and website design company that understands the bar rules, then contact our parent company, Internet Lava, LLC. Contact us for a free consultation to discuss designing a better website and internet marketing strategy.
Resources for Montana Bar Rules
Montana Rules of Professional Conduct - Read more about amendments to Montana Rules of Professional Conduct for Rule 7.1 (Communications Concerning a Lawyer's Service) and Rule 7.2 (Advertising). The amendments were intended to clarify Montana disciplinary jurisdiction over attorney advertising and specifically identify types of misleading lawyer communications.
Duncan Scott, Lawyer Advertising and Specialization in Montana: An Alternative Approach, 43 Mont. L. Rev. (1982) - Find a law review article that traces the history of attorney advertising in Montana and the rest of the United States. The article argues that the disciplinary rules are overly restrictive and impede the flow of useful information to legal consumers.
Office of Disciplinary Counsel (ODC) in Montana- the ODC is part of a comprehensive lawyer regulation system established by the Montana Supreme Court. ODC performs central intake functions and processes, appoints the Disciplinary Counsel, and prosecutes complaints against lawyers in Montana. The Commission on Practice (COP) hears and decides the complaints and makes recommendations to the Supreme Court for discipline.
This article was last updated on Friday, May 31, 2019.
