Law and Ethics

Legal marketing and blogging can implicate a minefield of laws, especially intellectual property, and regulations like legal ethics. Here’s how to navigate them.

The ABA Formal Opinion 480 is Also Absurd

by Myers Freelance
November 29, 2021February 22, 2023

We have described the ABA’s Formal Opinion 480 as terrible, no good, and very bad. Other valid criticisms, some of which we have read elsewhere… Read More »The ABA Formal Opinion 480 is Also Absurd

New Model Rule 7 Slowly Gains a Following

by Myers Freelance
July 28, 2021August 6, 2021

In 2018, the American Bar Association (ABA) finally updated its Model Rules for Professional Responsibility regarding attorney advertising. There was no immediate impact: Until states… Read More »New Model Rule 7 Slowly Gains a Following

Competitive Keyword Advertising Reaches the Legal Field

by Myers Freelance
September 16, 2019

Whether you love them or hate them, lawyer referral services are showing a newfound interest in online marketing. Earlier this year, they broke Google’s algorithm… Read More »Competitive Keyword Advertising Reaches the Legal Field

Scouting for trademarks in legal blog images

A Hidden Danger in Legal Blogging: Trademarks in Images

by Myers Freelance
May 6, 2019May 4, 2019

For being professional legal bloggers, we sure seem to talk an awful lot about images. It should come as no surprise, though, considering how important… Read More »A Hidden Danger in Legal Blogging: Trademarks in Images

The ABA's new attorney advertising rules impact claims of specialty

Claims of Specialty in the ABA’s New Model Rule 7

by Myers Freelance
October 22, 2018

In our last couple of blog posts, we dealt with the new attorney advertising rules from the American Bar Association (ABA), and then delved into… Read More »Claims of Specialty in the ABA’s New Model Rule 7

ABA's changes to Rule 7 attorney advertising rules will impact legal blogging

New Model Rule 7 and Its Impact on Legal Blogging

by Myers Freelance
October 15, 2018August 6, 2021

In our last blog post, we mentioned how the American Bar Association (ABA) revised its rules on attorney advertising. The revision of the ABA’s Model… Read More »New Model Rule 7 and Its Impact on Legal Blogging

American Bar Association alters rules of attorney advertising

ABA Revises Model Rules on Attorney Advertising

by Myers Freelance
October 8, 2018October 22, 2018

Attorney advertising is regulated by your state’s bar association and its Rules of Professional Conduct. Most of the states in the U.S. base their rules… Read More »ABA Revises Model Rules on Attorney Advertising

Legal Issues With Using GIFs in Legal Blog Posts and Social Media

by Myers Freelance
September 24, 2018March 5, 2019

Law firms with even a basic social media presence know that using animated GIFs is a great way to attract attention. The moving picture draws… Read More »Legal Issues With Using GIFs in Legal Blog Posts and Social Media

Couching language can protect your legal blog posts from claims of libel

Libel, Couching Language, and Legal Blogging

by Myers Freelance
July 30, 2018

There are numerous legal issues that make legal blogging a minefield. From trademark law to copyright law to your state’s ethical rules, it can be… Read More »Libel, Couching Language, and Legal Blogging

ABA formal opinion 480 creates confusion in online legal blogging

The ABA’s Terrible, No Good, Very Bad, Formal Opinion 480

by Myers Freelance
March 19, 2018December 15, 2021

The American Bar Association (ABA), notorious for being behind the times, made a proud public proclamation of moving into the 21st century earlier this month.… Read More »The ABA’s Terrible, No Good, Very Bad, Formal Opinion 480

Law firm penalized for soliciting online reviews

Law Firm Gets Penalized for Soliciting Online Reviews

by Myers Freelance
March 12, 2018

Search engines are increasingly moving towards a business model that lets their customers – internet users – make recommendations. After all, search engines are in… Read More »Law Firm Gets Penalized for Soliciting Online Reviews

Mistakes in the call to action can run afoul of ethical rules

Tiny Mistakes in a Call to Action Can Seriously Hurt Your Firm

by Myers Freelance
November 27, 2017January 13, 2018

The call to action, or CTA, is the paragraph in your legal blog post that urges readers to reach out to your law firm: “If… Read More »Tiny Mistakes in a Call to Action Can Seriously Hurt Your Firm

The War Against Legal Blogging: Rule 8.4(c)

by Myers Freelance
December 12, 2016January 13, 2018

This is the third installment in a series of blog posts by Myers Freelance about the movement against legal blogging, particularly the practice of ghostwriting.… Read More »The War Against Legal Blogging: Rule 8.4(c)

The War Against Legal Blogging: Author Bylines and Rule 7.1

by Myers Freelance
December 5, 2016December 29, 2016

This is the second installment in our investigation into legal blogging, and the claims that ghostwriting them is somehow uncouth. You can see our overview of… Read More »The War Against Legal Blogging: Author Bylines and Rule 7.1