Before you redesign your law firm's website or start a new internet marketing campaign, it's critical that you read bar rules related to attorney advertising and internet marketing including:
Additional information can be found in the comments to each rule and the advisory ethics opinions interpreting the rules.
Although the rules in West Virginia are restrictive, an attorney can stay in full compliance while still having an extremely effective internet marketing campaign. Taking an ethical approach to marketing means following the letter and spirit of each rule.
As the bar rules in West Virginia for attorney advertising are changed and interpreted, it's imperative that you strive to understand how those changes might impact your website, blog or social media postings.
At Lawyer Legion, we developed this online attorney directory to help the public find a lawyer in the State of West Virginia. This online attorney directory also provides information on legal organizations and lawyer referral services located throughout the state.
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Under the West Virginia Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 7.4 on the Communication of Fields of Practice and Specialization:
West Virginia does not currently recognize specialization in the practice of law. Therefore, a lawyer shall not state or imply that a lawyer is certified as a specialist in a particular field of law. The comments to the rule provide that a lawyer is permitted to indicate areas of practice in communications about the lawyer’s services.
If a lawyer practices only in certain fields, or will not accept matters except in a specified fields, the lawyer is permitted to so indicate.
West Virginia Rules of Professional Conduct for Attorneys- Read the rules of professional conduct including the Rules on Information About Legal Services including Rule 7.1 for Communications concerning a lawyer's services, Rule 7.2 for Advertising, Rule 7.3 for Direct contact with prospective clients, Rule 7.4 for Communication of fields of practice and Rule 7.5 or Firm names and letterheads.
West Virginia Rules Governing Lawyers and Judges - Visit the website for the West Virginia Court System and the Supreme Court of Appeals to find links to the Rules for Admission to the Practice of Law, the Rules of Professional Conduct, and the Rules of Lawyer Disciplinary Procedure.
This article was last updated on Monday, June 10, 2019.