Can a lawyer use a postage meter that prints a short slogan alongside the postage?

Plain-English summary

The committee was asked whether a lawyer could use, in his office, a postage meter that printed the message "Law, Rule of Right, Not Might" in conjunction with the postage stamp. The committee found no ethical objection to that use.

Currency note

This opinion was issued in 1968, before The Florida Bar's adoption of the 2006 revisions to the Rules of Professional Conduct, and before the 1977 Bates v. State Bar of Arizona decision reshaped lawyer-advertising restrictions. It applied the former Canon 27 on advertising. Advertising of legal services is now addressed by the rules at Rule 4-7.11 and following. Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance.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: Could a lawyer print a slogan on metered office mail?

A: Under this opinion, yes. The committee found no ethical objection to a postage meter imprinting the message "Law, Rule of Right, Not Might" on the lawyer's office mail.

Q: What rule did the committee apply?

A: The committee analyzed the question under the former Canon 27 on advertising; the opinion's header cross-references current Rule 4-7.11.

Background and rules framework

The opinion applied the former Canon 27, which governed lawyer advertising and publicity. Advertising of legal services is now addressed by the advertising rules of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar beginning at Rule 4-7.11; the Model Rule analogue is Rule 7.1.

Citations and references

Rules of Professional Conduct:

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

See also

• FL Bar Ethics Op. 68-9: Displaying Two Diplomas
• FL Bar Ethics Op. 68-29: Senator on Office Door

Source

• Landing page: https://www.floridabar.org/etopinions/etopinion-68-1/
• Original PDF: https://www-media.floridabar.org/uploads/2017/04/FL-Bar-Ethics-Op-68-1-2.pdf

Original opinion text

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

FLORIDA BAR ETHICS OPINION
OPINION 68-1
February 15, 1968
Advisory ethics opinions are not binding.
There is no ethical objection to the use by a member of The Florida Bar of a postage meter imprinting a message reading "Law, Rule of Right, Not Might."
Canon: 27 [See current 4-7.11]
Chairman MacDonald stated the opinion of the committee:
The Committee finds no ethical objection to the use by a member of The Florida Bar in his office of a postage meter utilizing in conjunction with the postage stamp a message reading "Law, Rule of Right, Not Might."