Can a lawyer run a law office out of his home and list his home address and phone number on a business card?

Plain-English summary

A member asked whether he could use a business card stating that he is an attorney at law and showing his residence address and telephone number, and whether a lawyer practicing in Florida must maintain a business office and mailing address separate from his residence.

The committee found no objection whatever to a lawyer having his office in his home, using his home telephone for business purposes, and using a professional card listing his residence address and telephone number. It added that this was entirely apart from any question of whether such an arrangement violated regulations for the area in which the lawyer resided, which has nothing to do with professional ethics.

Currency note

This opinion was issued in 1962, before The Florida Bar's adoption of the 2006 revisions to the Rules of Professional Conduct. The opinion applied former Canon 27 of the Canons of Professional Ethics; the opinion's note states that lawyer advertising rules are now in Rules Regulating The Florida Bar 4-7.11 through 4-7.22 (Model Rule 7.2). Subsequent rule amendments or later opinions may have changed the analysis. Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance. Verify against the current rules before relying on any specific requirement mentioned here.

Common questions

Q: Can a lawyer practice from a home office?

A: Yes. The committee found no objection to a lawyer having his office in his home and using his home telephone for business purposes.

Q: Must a lawyer keep a separate business address apart from his residence?

A: No. The committee found no requirement that a lawyer maintain a business office and mailing address other than his residence.

Q: Can the lawyer put his home address and phone on a business card?

A: Yes. The committee found no objection to a professional card listing the lawyer's residence address and telephone number.

Background and rules framework

The opinion applied former Canon 27 of the Canons of Professional Ethics. The opinion's note states that lawyer advertising is now governed by Rules Regulating The Florida Bar 4-7.11 through 4-7.22 (Model Rule 7.2). The committee was careful to separate the ethics question from local zoning or use regulations, which it said had nothing to do with professional ethics.

Citations and references

Rules of Professional Conduct:

• Canon 27 [Canons of Professional Ethics; see current Rules 4-7.11 through 4-7.22 per the opinion's note]

See also

• FL Bar Ethics Op. 62-64: Hotel Office Address and Phone
• FL Bar Ethics Op. 62-69: Leaving Business Cards to Refer

Source

• Landing page: https://www.floridabar.org/etopinions/etopinion-62-42/
• Original PDF: https://www-media.floridabar.org/uploads/2017/04/FL-Bar-Ethics-Op-62-42-2.pdf

Original opinion text

Reproduced from the official source for research purposes. The linked source is authoritative.

FLORIDA BAR ETHICS OPINION
OPINION 62-42
December 13, 1962
Advisory ethics opinions are not binding.
It is proper for a Florida lawyer to list his name, residence telephone number and address on his business card. A lawyer may ethically maintain a law office in his home.
Note: Lawyer advertising rules are now in Rules Regulating The Florida Bar 4-7.11 through 4-7.22.
Canon: 27
Chairman Holcomb stated the opinion of the committee:
A member of The Florida Bar submits an inquiry regarding the propriety of his using a business card setting forth that he is an attorney at law, his residence address and telephone number, and further inquiring as to whether it is mandatory that a lawyer practicing in Florida maintain a business office and mailing address other than his place of residence.
We find no objection whatever to a lawyer having his office in his home and using his home telephone for business purposes and using a professional card listing his residence address and telephone number.
This is entirely apart, of course, from any question as to whether such arrangement violates regulations in the area in which he resides, but that has nothing to do with professional ethics.