Comments on: I Am Not Legally Allowed To Say I Am the Best Lawyer in Florida http://www.floridainjurytriallawyer.com/i-am-not-legally-allowed-to-say-i-am-the-best-lawyer-in-florida No One Is Thu, 19 Mar 2009 22:14:01 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: gyi tsakalakis http://www.floridainjurytriallawyer.com/i-am-not-legally-allowed-to-say-i-am-the-best-lawyer-in-florida/comment-page-1#comment-5 gyi tsakalakis Fri, 06 Feb 2009 01:32:40 +0000 http://thefloridalawyer.wordpress.com/?p=13#comment-5 I look forward to future posts! You have been added to Google Reader. I look forward to future posts! You have been added to Google Reader.

]]> By: centralfloridalawyer http://www.floridainjurytriallawyer.com/i-am-not-legally-allowed-to-say-i-am-the-best-lawyer-in-florida/comment-page-1#comment-4 centralfloridalawyer Fri, 06 Feb 2009 01:24:13 +0000 http://thefloridalawyer.wordpress.com/?p=13#comment-4 Thank you for the well-conceived comment. My post was meant as a quick'n'dirty introduction to the basic ground rules of legal advertising. As you certainly know, there's a lot more to flesh out. I do not think the public would be deceived by lawyer statements claiming to be the best. However, I don't mind that rule so much because statements of best or good are utterly useless in helping legal consumers chose the best lawyer for their situation. What is needed as you mention is a lifting of the chilling effect that Bars impose on lawyer advertising. For that to occur, new rules would help, but most of all more intelligent enforcement is needed. I'll address that topic in future blogs. Thanks for commenting. Thank you for the well-conceived comment. My post was meant as a quick’n'dirty introduction to the basic ground rules of legal advertising. As you certainly know, there’s a lot more to flesh out. I do not think the public would be deceived by lawyer statements claiming to be the best. However, I don’t mind that rule so much because statements of best or good are utterly useless in helping legal consumers chose the best lawyer for their situation. What is needed as you mention is a lifting of the chilling effect that Bars impose on lawyer advertising. For that to occur, new rules would help, but most of all more intelligent enforcement is needed. I’ll address that topic in future blogs. Thanks for commenting.

]]> By: gyi tsakalakis http://www.floridainjurytriallawyer.com/i-am-not-legally-allowed-to-say-i-am-the-best-lawyer-in-florida/comment-page-1#comment-3 gyi tsakalakis Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:40:08 +0000 http://thefloridalawyer.wordpress.com/?p=13#comment-3 Hmmm...While I certainly agree with the multitude of reasons for certain rules regarding lawyer advertising, I disagree with you about the ones cited here. I think it is ironic that you chose the "Elf" situation as support for such a rule. Have we really come to be such a "literal" society? While certain regulations prohibiting lawyers from claiming some special certification in a particular area are appropriate, are people really "deceived" when a lawyer claims to be the best? What if she claims merely to be good? What if she claims to be honest? Should these self-endorsements be prohibited as well? Florida is not alone in its arcane advertising rules. The rules of several State bars miss their intended mark. There needs to be a re-focus on protecting consumers from misleading and misrepresenting advertisements while, at the same time, recognize the competitive and high-paced digital society in which we live. Lawyers have a constitutional right to commercial speech the same as a used car salesman. Obviously, there are unique concerns when it comes to the legal profession. But, those concerns do not justify the burdensome chill that many State bars place on lawyer commercial speech. Hmmm…While I certainly agree with the multitude of reasons for certain rules regarding lawyer advertising, I disagree with you about the ones cited here.

I think it is ironic that you chose the “Elf” situation as support for such a rule. Have we really come to be such a “literal” society? While certain regulations prohibiting lawyers from claiming some special certification in a particular area are appropriate, are people really “deceived” when a lawyer claims to be the best? What if she claims merely to be good? What if she claims to be honest? Should these self-endorsements be prohibited as well?

Florida is not alone in its arcane advertising rules. The rules of several State bars miss their intended mark.

There needs to be a re-focus on protecting consumers from misleading and misrepresenting advertisements while, at the same time, recognize the competitive and high-paced digital society in which we live.

Lawyers have a constitutional right to commercial speech the same as a used car salesman. Obviously, there are unique concerns when it comes to the legal profession. But, those concerns do not justify the burdensome chill that many State bars place on lawyer commercial speech.

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