The first law related site on the World Wide Web was the Cornell Law School site, and it opened its virtual doors in 1993. Most lawyers did not discover the Web until years later. The issue of lawyer advertising is at the forefront of much online lawyer regulation because regulators tend to be concerned about what attorneys may say or do to attract clients online. Within the last several years, many lawyers have discovered the Internet and have participated in many online activities. A growing number of lawyers have established sites on the World Wide Web.
Lawyers also participate in chat groups or online discussion forums.
An expansive interpretation would suggest that whenever lawyers are engaged in commercial speech with nonclients, they are advertising. Regulators will likely find that many lawyer Web pages are advertisements. Given that fact, it is a good idea to follow the advertising rules in your jurisdiction when setting up a Web site. Florida is now considering whether participation in chat rooms for the purpose of attracting clients is improper. Similar scrutiny is likely in other jurisdictions.