State Bar Ethics Opinions State Bar Proposes Ruling on Business Cards The following is an excerpt from an article that appeared on the front page of the February 19, 2007 issue of North Carolina Lawyers Weekly (this is not the entire article). Thanks to a host of comments, the state bar has changed the proposed opinion. Lawyers are a buzz over a proposed ethics ruling that would limit how many business cards they can hand out. Some lawyers are complaining about a proposed State Bar ethics ruling that would limit use of the simplest form of advertising: the lowly business card. Proposed 2007 FEO 4 offers ethical guidance on several common methods for drumming up business, from educational seminars to holiday fruit baskets and cheese trays. But it is the proposal on business cards and firm brochures that has some lawyers up in arms. The ruling states that only one business cared or firm brochure can be handed out at a time. In letters to the Bar, lawyers say the proposed opinion would rob them of a vital advertising tool. “The sharing of business cards is the most basic way those of us who don’t extensively advertise obtain business, through the good recommendation of fellow professionals and current and former clients” said Raleigh lawyer Laurel E. Solomon. “If my CPA has worked with me and thinks I would be a good fit for her client, shouldn’t she have a card handy in order to pass my contact information?” Solomon asked. “If my client is happy and asks if they can take few cards with them so that they can recommend me to their friends, isn’t that a fair and reliable form of ‘advertising?’… How offensive would it be to a client to say ‘no, you can only take one card?’” Raleigh lawyer Jeffrey E. Rosner said the Bar proposal had gone overboard with a ruling that would punish lawyers who don’t run big-budget ad campaigns. “It is irritating that I am not allowed to give out more than one business card to someone who asks, but an attorney who can afford to can advertise on TV and implore tens of thousands to use his or her service,” he said. The Ethics Committee voted on Jan 18 to publish 2007 FEO 4 for public comment. Bar officials stress the ethics ruling is just a proposal. It could be revised in April before being sent to the Bar council for a final vote.

Disclaimer: This is a publication of Rosner Law Firm P.A. Information provided is intended for general information purposes only, and does not constitute legal advice. For legal issues that arise, the reader should consult with legal counsel.