ISBA Ethics Opinions by IRPC Rule 7.5

Lawyers may state or imply that they practice in a partnership only when that is the fact. A law firm's name may not imply a partnership when none exists. A law firm's name must not mislead the public. But for limited exceptions, a law firm's name should not include the name of a non-practicing lawyer. To be of counsel to a firm one must have a continuing and regular relationship with the firm. To practice as a limited liability partnership, the partnership's name must end with one of several designations prescribed by statute.

Representation of a party in a grievance arbitration in Illinois may be considered the practice of law, however, a lawyer licensed in another state may serve as representative of a party at a grievance arbitration without being admitted to practice in Illinois so long as the representation is in accordance with Illinois Rules of professional Conduct RPC 5.5(b) and (c). With regard to advertising, nothing in the Rules specifically authorizes lawyers admitted in jurisdictions other than Illinois to advertise in Illinois, therefore, whether and how lawyers may communicate the availability of their services to prospective clients in this jurisdiction is governed by Rules 7.1 to 7.5.

A new firm may state the name of its predecessor firm on its stationery where there is a continuing line of succession. A firm may not claim a prior affiliation with another existing firm from which some partners in the new firm withdrew several years previously.