This opinion addresses the propriety of New Jersey attorneys being involved, and concludes that such involvement is improper, based upon the facts as they now appear. One, A, concentrates on personal injury matters, and the other, B, on defense of driving while intoxicated cases. Both are based in a city in the southern United States. While both A and B claim to be nonprofit, no evidence has been offered to demonstrate this fact. Both appear to be under the control of a third organization, C, which is a for-profit advertising agency.
C collects a commission from A and B for all ads placed.
They utilize advertisements for legal services in a variety of media, principally television messages which rely on dramatizations. These ads urge interested prospective legal clients to call a toll-free number. These calls go to a city in the South. No local or member attorney is identified by name in any advertisement. Neither organization is affiliated with, or endorsed or sponsored by, any New Jersey bar association, or the New Jersey Supreme Court.