NYSBA Ethics Opinion 18

NYSBA Ethics Opinion 18

11.1.1965

By Committee on Professional Ethics

NEW YORK STATE BAR ASSOCIATION

Professional Ethics Committee Opinion

Opinion #18 – 11/01/1965 (9-65)

Disapproved in part by 265
Topic: Advertising, Professional Directory
Digest: Classified and alphabetical listing of attorney is proper so long as there is no reference to a specialization other than the traditional specialties of the bar
Canon: None

QUESTION

May an attorney properly permit publication of his name in a “business or professional directory” issued by a local Chamber of’ Commerce of which he is a member?
The directory contains two parts (a) a list of members, classified by business or profession, and (b) an alphabetical list of members.  In the classified portion, there appears a heading “attorneys and counselors-at-law” under which the names of the attorney members are listed without address or comment.In the alphabetical part of the directory, the names of lawyers appear with those of lay members with addresses and telephone numbers followed by such words as “general law practice”, “lawyer” or “attorney”.

OPINION

In the opinion of this Committee the classified listing is not objectionable nor is the alphabetical listing.  However, we find objectionable the addition to the word “attorney”, or “Lawyer”, the words “general law practice”, “industrial real estate attorney” or another like description. (See our Opinion No. 16 – 11/1/65 (5-65)