Can a lawyer put 'Juris Doctor' on letterhead and business cards, and can it be used in advertising?

Plain-English summary

The inquiring attorney held a Juris Doctor degree and asked whether he could use the words "Juris Doctor" on his letterhead, business cards, and other communications about his practice. The committee applied the rule that communications about a lawyer's practice are permissible if they are not false or misleading.

The committee concluded that it would not be false for the attorney to indicate he holds a Juris Doctor degree, nor misleading to include that indication on business cards or letterhead, so use of the term there is permissible. As to advertising, the committee concluded that in some contexts use of "Juris Doctor" could be misleading, so unlike letterhead and business cards, the permissibility of advertisements containing the term must be considered on an individual basis.

Currency note

This opinion was issued in 1988, 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 Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance.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. (The opinion notes that the lawyer-advertising rules are now found in Rules Regulating The Florida Bar 4-7.11 through 4-7.22.)

Common questions

Q: Can a lawyer put "Juris Doctor" on a business card or letterhead?

A: Yes. The opinion concluded that indicating a Juris Doctor degree on letterhead and business cards is neither false nor misleading and is therefore permissible.

Q: Can a lawyer use "Juris Doctor" in advertising?

A: The opinion concluded that, unlike letterhead and cards, advertising use of the term could be misleading in some contexts and so must be evaluated on an individual, case-by-case basis.

Background and rules framework

The opinion interprets Rules 4-7.1, 4-7.2, 4-7.3, and 4-7.4 (Model Rules 7.1 and 7.2), which permit communications about a lawyer's practice so long as they are not false or misleading. The opinion notes that the lawyer-advertising rules are now located in Rules 4-7.11 through 4-7.22.

Citations and references

Rules of Professional Conduct:

• Fla. Rules 4-7.1, 4-7.2, 4-7.3, 4-7.4 / Model Rules 7.1, 7.2 (communications about a lawyer's services; advertising)

See also

• FL Bar Ethics Op. 00-1: Retired Partner in Firm Name
• FL Bar Ethics Op. 98-3: In-House Insurance Counsel Firm Name

Source

• Landing page: https://www.floridabar.org/etopinions/etopinion-88-2/
• Original PDF: https://www-media.floridabar.org/uploads/2017/04/FL-Bar-Ethics-Op-88-2-2.pdf

Original opinion text

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

FLORIDA BAR ETHICS OPINION
OPINION 88-2
January 15, 1988
Advisory ethics opinions are not binding.

An attorney may indicate his or her possession of a law degree on professional letterhead and business cards by use of the term "Juris Doctor." However, use of that term in advertisements can be misleading, and such use must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Note: Lawyer advertising rules are now in Rules Regulating The Florida Bar 4-7.11 through 4-7.22.

RPC: 4-7.1, 4-7.2, 4-7.3, 4-7.4

The inquiring attorney has a Juris Doctor degree. He asks whether it is permissible for him to use the words "Juris Doctor" on letterhead, business cards "and other methods of communicating [his] practice."

An attorney may use letterhead, business cards and other methods to communicate information concerning his practice if such communications are not false or misleading. Rules 4-7.1, 4-7.2, 4-7.3, 4-7.4, Rules Regulating The Florida Bar. It would certainly not be false for the inquiring attorney to indicate that he has a Juris Doctor degree. Nor would it be misleading to include such an indication on business cards or letterhead. Accordingly, use of the term "Juris Doctor" on letterhead and business cards is permissible.

With respect to advertising, however, it is conceivable that in some contexts use of the term "Juris Doctor" could be misleading. Therefore, unlike business cards and letterhead, the permissibility of advertisements containing the term "Juris Doctor" must be considered on an individual basis.