Can a lawyer whose office is in a bank building have his name and 'attorney-at-law' designation placed on the bank's outside sign?

Plain-English summary

An attorney asked whether a lawyer whose offices are in a bank building may have his name, his attorney-at-law designation, and his suite number on the bank's sign outside the building near the street. The committee answered the question in the affirmative, based on the authorization of, but also subject to the restrictions of, the recent modifications to the Code of Professional Responsibility, namely new Disciplinary Rules 2-101 and 2-102 and the accompanying Ethical Considerations as promulgated in The Florida Bar, Re: Amendment to the Florida Bar Code of Professional Responsibility (Advertising), 380 So.2d 435 (Fla. 1980).

The committee observed that the new amendments may modify the analysis given in a long series of prior opinions on signs, but that outside signs had been authorized for a good while, possibly always, citing a series of prior opinions all since withdrawn.

Currency note

This opinion was issued in 1980, before The Florida Bar's adoption of the 2006 revisions to the Rules of Professional Conduct. Subsequent rule amendments or later opinions may have changed the analysis. Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance. Verify against current rules before relying on any specific rule, deadline, or requirement mentioned here.

Although the opinion number carries a 1978 prefix, the official PDF prints an issuance date of November 25, 1980; the printed date controls.

Common questions

Q: Can a lawyer's name go on a bank building's outdoor sign?

A: The opinion concluded a lawyer with offices in a bank building may have his name, attorney designation, and suite number on the bank's outside sign near the street.

Q: What rules governed the answer?

A: The opinion grounded its answer in the new Disciplinary Rules 2-101 and 2-102 and their Ethical Considerations adopted in the 1980 Florida advertising decision, 380 So.2d 435.

Q: Were outside signs already permitted before this opinion?

A: The opinion observed that outside signs had been authorized for a good while, possibly always, while noting the new amendments may modify the analysis of its prior sign opinions.

Background and rules framework

The opinion interprets CPR DR 2-101 and DR 2-102 as amended by the 1980 Florida advertising decision. The communication and firm-identification concerns correspond to Model Rules 7.1 and 7.5 (Florida Rules 4-7.14 and 4-7.21).

Citations and references

Rules of Professional Conduct:

• CPR DR 2-101; DR 2-102 (Model Rules 7.1, 7.5)

Cases:

• The Florida Bar, Re: Amendment to the Florida Bar Code of Professional Responsibility (Advertising), 380 So.2d 435 (Fla. 1980), new advertising rules

Other opinions cited:

• Florida Ethics Opinions 59-14, 65-68, 66-71, 66-70, 77-21 (all since withdrawn)

See also

• FL Bar Ethics Op. 78-10: Yellow Page Listing in a Private Directory
• FL Bar Ethics Op. 82-1: Religious Statement in Lawyer Advertising
• FL Bar Ethics Op. 86-4: Nonlawyer Employees on Letterhead and Cards

Source

• Landing page: https://www.floridabar.org/etopinions/etopinion-78-13/
• Original PDF: https://www-media.floridabar.org/uploads/2017/04/FL-Bar-Ethics-Op-78-13-2.pdf

Original opinion text

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

FLORIDA BAR ETHICS OPINION
OPINION 78-13
November 25, 1980
Advisory ethics opinions are not binding.
It is acceptable for a lawyer whose offices are in a bank building to have his name and designation as an attorney-at-law, along with his suite number, out on the bank's sign outside of the bank and near the street.
Note: Lawyer advertising rules are now in Rules Regulating The Florida Bar 4-7.11 through 4-7.22.
CPR: DR 2-101, DR 2-102
Opinions: 59-14, 65-68, 66-71, 66-70, 77-21
Cases: The Florida Bar, Re: Amendment to the Florida Bar Code of Professional Responsibility (Advertising), 380 So.2d 435 (Fla. 1980).
Mr. Livingston stated the opinion of the committee:
An attorney inquires whether it is acceptable for a lawyer whose offices are in a bank building to have his name and designation as an attorney-at-law, along with his suite number, out on the bank's sign outside of the bank and near the street.
Based on the authorization of, but also subject to the restrictions of, the recent modifications to the Code of Professional Responsibility (new Disciplinary Rules 2-101 and 2-102 and the new accompanying Ethical Considerations, as promulgated in The Florida Bar, Re: Amendment to The Florida Bar Code of Professional Responsibility (Advertising), 380 So.2d 435 (Fla. 1980)), this Committee answers the question in the affirmative.
The new amendments may modify the analysis given in a long series of prior opinions on signs. Outside signs, however, have been authorized for a good while, possibly forever. See, e.g., Opinions 59-14, 65-68, 66-71, 66-70 and 77-21 [all since withdrawn].