Can my law firm list paralegals, legal assistants, and office managers by name on the firm's stationery and office directory?

Plain-English summary

The inquiring attorney asked whether the names of paralegals, legal assistants, and office managers can be listed on law firm stationery and in an office directory.

The panel took the position that it is improper for a law firm to list non-lawyers' names on the firm's stationery and office directory. The panel stated that the listing of non-lawyer employees on legal stationery and in an office directory is in itself misleading to the public, and can easily create public confusion and a false impression of a partnership between lawyers and non-lawyers. The panel concluded that only the names of attorneys who are members or associates of the firm should be listed on the firm's stationery and office directory, cross-referencing Digest of Ethics Advisory Opinion #91-42 and the Rhode Island Supreme Court's Guidelines for Use of Legal Assistants, Provisional Order No. 18.

Currency note

This opinion was issued in 1992, after the Rhode Island Supreme Court adopted the Model Rules of Professional Conduct effective November 15, 1988. Subsequent rule amendments (including the nationwide 2007 Ethics 2000 revisions to the Rhode Island rules) or later opinions may have changed the analysis; some jurisdictions now permit identifying non-lawyer staff by title if not misleading. Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance. Verify against current rules before relying on any specific rule mentioned here.

Common questions

Q: Can I put my paralegal's or office manager's name on the firm letterhead?

A: Per the opinion, no; the panel found it improper to list non-lawyers' names on the firm's stationery and office directory.

Q: Why does the panel treat listing non-lawyer staff as misleading?

A: Per the opinion, the listing is in itself misleading to the public and can create public confusion and a false impression of a partnership between lawyers and non-lawyers.

Q: Whose names may appear on firm stationery and the office directory?

A: Per the opinion, only the names of attorneys who are members or associates of the firm.

Background and rules framework

The opinion concerns misleading firm communications and firm-name practices, matters addressed by Rule 7.1 (communications concerning a lawyer's services) and Rule 7.5 (firm names and letterheads). The panel grounded its conclusion in the misleading-impression concern and in the Rhode Island Supreme Court's Guidelines for Use of Legal Assistants, Provisional Order No. 18 (Feb. 1, 1983), and its prior Opinion #91-42.

Citations and references

Rules of Professional Conduct:

• MR 7.1 (communications concerning a lawyer's services)
• MR 7.5 (firm names and letterheads)
• RI RPC 7.1, 7.5

Statutes:

• None cited.

Cases:

• None cited.

Other opinions cited:

• RI EAP Digest of Ethics Advisory Opinion #91-42: a non-lawyer paralegal's name may not appear among attorneys on firm materials.
• Rhode Island Supreme Court, Guidelines for Use of Legal Assistants, Provisional Order No. 18 (Feb. 1, 1983).

See also

• RI EAP Op. 91-42: Nonlawyer Paralegal Name May Not Appear Among Attorneys on Firm Materials
• RI EAP Op. 92-06: Legal Assistant, Not Paralegal, on Letterhead Separated From Attorneys
• RI EAP Op. 88-04: Nonlawyer Graduate on Firm Letterhead

Source

• Landing page: https://www.courts.ri.gov/attorney-resources/Pages/Ethics-Advisory-Panel-default.aspx
• Original PDF: https://www.courts.ri.gov/Opinions/EAP%2092-24.pdf

Original opinion text

Best-effort transcription from a scanned PDF. Minor errors may remain; the linked PDF is authoritative.

ETHICS ADVISORY PANEL

Opinion #92-24, Request #248
Issued May 20, 1992

An attorney seeks Panel advice regarding whether or not paralegals, legal assistants and office managers' names can be listed on law firm stationery and an office directory.

The Panel believes that it is improper for a law firm to list non-lawyers' names on the law firm's stationery and the office directory. The listing of non-lawyer employees on legal stationery and in an office directory is in itself misleading to the public. This situation can easily create public confusion and a false impression of a partnership between lawyers and non-lawyers. The Panel agrees that only the names of attorneys who are either members or associates of the firm should be listed on the firm's stationery and office directory. See also Digest of Ethics Advisory Opinion #91-42. See, Rhode Island Supreme Court, Guidelines For Use of Legal Assistants, Provisional Order No. 18, February 1, 1983.