Opinion ID: 2392444
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: selection of a lawyer

Text: EC 2-7 Changed conditions, however, have seriously restricted the effectiveness of the traditional selection process. Often the reputations of lawyers are not sufficiently known to enable laypersons to make intelligent choices. The law has become increasingly complex and specialized. Few lawyers are willing and competent to deal with every kind of legal matter, and many laypersons have difficulty in determining the competence of lawyers to render different types of legal services. The selection of legal counsel is particularly difficult for transients, persons moving into new areas, persons of limited education or means, and others who have little or no contact with lawyers. Lack of information about the availability of lawyers, the qualifications of particular lawyers, and the expense of legal representation leads laypersons to avoid seeking legal advice. EC 2-8 Selection of a lawyer by a layperson should be made on an informed basis. Advice and recommendation of third parties  relatives, friends, acquaintances, business associates, or other lawyers  and disclosure of relevant information about the lawyer and his practice may be helpful. A layperson is best served if the recommendation is disinterested and informed. In order that the recommendation be disinterested, a lawyer should not seek to influence another to recommend his employment. A lawyer should not compensate another person for recommending him, for influencing a prospective client to employ him, or to encourage future recommendations. Advertisements and public communications, whether in law lists, telephone directories, newspapers, on the electronic broadcast media, or in any other permissible form should be formulated to convey only information that is necessary to make an appropriate selection. Such information includes: (1) office information, such as, name, including name of law firm and names of professional associates; addresses; telephone numbers; credit card acceptability; fluency in foreign languages; and office hours; (2) relevant biographical information; (3) description of the practice, to the extent that may be hereafter permitted by Rule of this Court. Pending the adoption of such a rule lawyers may not specify in any advertisement (1) one or more fields of law in which he or she practices; (2) any statement or indication that he or she specializes in, or accepts clients only in a particular area of practice or restricts his or her practice. Lawyers may give appropriate fee information. Self laudation should be avoided.