Can a lawyer print her name, address, and 'Attorney at Law' on the checks she uses in her law practice?

Plain-English summary

A member asked whether it would be proper to print on the checks used in her law practice her name and address together with the words "Attorney at Law."

The committee unanimously concluded that she could have checks printed reflecting that information. It noted that the matter was specifically covered by ABA Opinions C-418 and 68 of the ABA Committee on Professional Ethics and Grievances (1957), and the committee concurred with the views stated in those opinions.

Currency note

This opinion was issued in 1965, before The Florida Bar's adoption of the 2006 revisions to the Rules of Professional Conduct, and before the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Bates v. State Bar of Arizona, 433 U.S. 350 (1977), which changed the constitutional landscape for lawyer advertising. The opinion applied former Canon 27 of the Canons of Professional Ethics; lawyer advertising is now governed by Rules 4-7.11 and following of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar (Model Rule 7.2). The bar's note points to current Rule 4-7.11. 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 Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance.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 print "Attorney at Law" on her practice checks?

A: Yes. The committee unanimously concluded a lawyer may print her name, address, and "Attorney at Law" on checks used in her practice as useful identifying information.

Q: What authority did the committee rely on?

A: It said the matter was specifically covered by ABA Opinions C-418 and 68 (1957) of the ABA Committee on Professional Ethics and Grievances, and it concurred with those opinions.

Background and rules framework

The opinion applied former Canon 27 of the Canons of Professional Ethics, which governed how lawyers could hold themselves out. Lawyer advertising and the display of a lawyer's identifying information are now governed by Rules 4-7.11 and following of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar (Model Rule 7.2); the bar's note cites current Rule 4-7.11. The committee rested its conclusion on the agreement of ABA Opinions C-418 and 68.

Citations and references

Rules of Professional Conduct:

• Canon 27 [Canons of Professional Ethics; advertising and holding out; see current Rule 4-7.11]

Other opinions cited:

• ABA Informal Op. 68; ABA Informal Op. C-418 (1957): a lawyer may show identifying professional information

See also

• FL Bar Ethics Op. 65-25: Two-Office Firm Letterhead
• FL Bar Ethics Op. 67-2: Out-of-State Office on Partnership Letterhead

Source

• Landing page: https://www.floridabar.org/etopinions/etopinion-65-14/
• Original PDF: https://www-media.floridabar.org/uploads/2017/04/FL-Bar-Ethics-Op-65-14-1.pdf

Original opinion text

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

FLORIDA BAR ETHICS OPINION
OPINION 65-14
February 27, 1965
Advisory ethics opinions are not binding.
A lawyer may place his name, address, and designation as a lawyer on checks used in his practice, where this is done simply to give useful identifying information to persons handling the checks.
Canon: 27 [See current 4-7.11]
Opinions: ABA Informal 68, Informal C-418
Chairman Smith stated the opinion of the committee:
A member of The Florida Bar inquires whether it would be proper to print on the checks used in the practice of law her name and address together with the words "Attorney at Law."
It is the unanimous opinion of this Committee that she may have checks so printed as to reflect the information mentioned. The matter is specifically covered by Opinions C-418 and 68 of the ABA Committee on Professional Ethics and Grievances (1957). This Committee concurs with the opinions therein stated.