Rule 7.4 Communications of Fields of Practice and Specialization
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Opinion 25-01 |
Multijurisdictional Practice | Unauthorized Practice of Law
Pursuant to Rule 5.5(d), a lawyer not licensed in Illinois may counsel an Illinois business on matters the lawyer is authorized by federal or other law or rule to provide in this jurisdiction. However, to the extent the non-Illinois lawyer seeks to advise an Illinois business on Illinois law, one of the exceptions to Rule 5.5(c) must apply.
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Opinion 14-04 |
Advertising and Solicitation | Unauthorized Practice of Law
Solicitation of personal injury cases within Illinois by a lawyer not admitted to practice in Illinois is not, in and of itself, a form of unauthorized practice of law, however, all solicitations must comply with all restrictions imposed by the Illinois Supreme Court on lawyer advertising, and must contain all information necessary to prevent the recipient from being misled.
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Opinion 06-02 |
Advertising and Solicitation | Division of Fees | Unauthorized Practice of Law
A lawyer is responsible for marketing firm’s conduct that would be in violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct if engaged in by a lawyer, if the lawyer orders or ratifies such conduct.
Marketing firm, retained by a law firm, may distribute advertisements promoting the firm to potential clients through the mail, by posting on electronic bulletin boards and by delivering promotions door-to-door, but it may not have personal contact with the recipients in its distribution of the advertisements.
Law firm aids in the unauthorized practice of law if it permits marketing firm to screen the responses to the advertising and to forward only “promising” responses to the law firm.
Law firm may not compensate marketing firm on any basis related to the fees received by the firm from clients obtained through the marketing firm.
Lawyer may make appearances before civic and similar organizations in an effort to obtain clients.
Law firm may not assign nonlawyer employee to determine whether potential client has a claim.
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Opinion 03-05 |
Advertising and Solicitation | Dual Professions
Attorney may list non-legal accreditation on attorney business card.
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Opinion 03-03 |
Advertising and Solicitation | Law Firm Name and Letterhead
Resolution of the conflict between Supreme Court Rule 714 and Rule 7.4 favors Rule 714 as the more recent. A lawyer may list the certification "Capital Litigation Trial Bar" on letterhead without the disclaimer that "the Supreme Court of Illinois does not recognize certifications of specialties in the practice of law."
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Opinion 96-10 |
Advertising and Solicitation | Confidentiality | E-mail
Lawyers may use electronic mail services, including the Internet, without encryption to communicate with clients unless unusual circumstances require enhanced security measures. The creation and use by a lawyer of an Internet “web site” containing information about the lawyer and the lawyer’s services that may be accessed by Internet users, including prospective clients, is not “communication directed to a specific recipient” within the meaning of the rules, and therefore only the general rules governing communications concerning a lawyer’s services and advertising should apply to a lawyer “web site” on the Internet. If a lawyer uses the Internet or other electronic mail service to direct messages to specific recipients, then the rules regarding solicitation would apply.
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Opinion 96-08 |
Advertising and Solicitation | Scope of Representation
- It is not misleading for a law firm to hold itself out as concentrating its practice in intellectual property law despite the fact that it does not do patent work. However, it may not hold itself out as "specializing" in any field of practice.
- A law firm may not have outside lawyers perform legal services without client disclosure and consent.
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Opinion 92-17 |
Advertising and Solicitation
An attorney may solicit clients from a targeted group of individuals already involved in litigation, so long as that solicitation complies with Rule 7.3
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Opinion 90-32 |
Business Transactions With Clients | Dual Professions
Lawyer who is also an insurance and investment professional: may advertise insurance and investment business, but if advertising discloses status as a lawyer it must comply with rules governing lawyer advertising and solicitation; may accept legal employment from insurance and investment customers; and may sell insurance and investment products to legal clients with disclosure and consent; but may not agree with legal clients who are also insurance and investment customers that insurance or investment advice cannot be considered legal advice.
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Opinion 90-16 |
Dual Professions
Lawyer may operate business of providing economic analyses in conjunction with law practice from existing law office.
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Opinion 85-03 |
Dual Professions
Practice of law and accounting in same office now permissible due to repeal of Code section that required physical separation of dual practices.
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Opinion 702 |
Advertising and Solicitation
It is not improper for a law firm to send a letter to all postal patrons in a community stating that the firm has opened a branch office and containing certain other information, including the fields of law in which services will be provided.
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Opinion 700 |
Advertising and Solicitation
It is professionally proper to handle "player representation" from the attorney's law office.