Florida Bar Board Approves Lawyer Web Site Rules

Update: The Florida Bar has released new advertising rules. Please visit our blog posts on the subject here:

The Florida Bar Board of Governers has given final approval for an advertising rule amendment regulating attorney and law firm web sites.

Read the full article.

Summary:

Web Site home pages must comply with all Bar advertising regulations, except the requirement that it be submitted to the Bar for review.
Inside pages (accessed by the viewer taking a definite action) are deemed request for further information. These will be exempt from other ad regulations, including:
- Internal pages may contain factually verifiable statements concerning past results obtained by the lawyer or law firm, so long as they do not mislead.
- Internal pages may contain testimonials obtained by the lawyer or law firm, so long as they do not mislead.
- Internal pages may contain text characterizing quality of legal service, so long as the text is factually verifiable and do not mislead

What does this mean?” In general, make sure your home page complies with all Florida Advertising rules. Your inside pages can contain testimonials, past results and talk about your quality of legal service, so long as it does not mislead and contains a disclaimer.

More information to come, once the Florida Supreme Court approves the rules.