Can a lawyer running for public office state 'Attorney at Law' on a political campaign card?

Plain-English summary

The inquiry asked whether a lawyer who was a candidate for county judge could use a political campaign card reading "JOHN DOE / Attorney at Law / Candidate for County Judge."

The Committee unanimously concluded that the use of that card would not violate the Canons of Ethics (10-0). The headnote frames the holding as a lawyer being permitted to indicate his profession on cards used in his campaign for public office.

Currency note

This opinion was issued in 1954, under the former Texas Canons of Ethics, which the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct replaced effective January 1, 1990. The advertising restrictions the opinion applies predate Bates v. State Bar of Arizona, 433 U.S. 350 (1977), which held that categorical bans on lawyer advertising violate the First Amendment, so the Canon 24 framework used here has since been substantially narrowed. Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance. Verify against current rules before relying on any specific rule, deadline, or requirement mentioned here.

Common questions

Q: Could a lawyer-candidate list "Attorney at Law" on a campaign card under this opinion?

A: Yes. The Committee held unanimously that the described campaign card would not violate the Canons of Ethics (10-0).

Q: What did the card say?

A: It read "JOHN DOE / Attorney at Law / Candidate for County Judge."

Background and rules framework

The opinion interprets former Texas Canons 24 (advertising) and 39 as applied to a political campaign card noting the candidate's profession. The modern analog for communications about a lawyer is ABA Model Rule 7.1.

Citations and references

Rules of Professional Conduct:

• MR 7.1 (communications concerning a lawyer's services), as the modern analog
• Texas Canon 24 (advertising)
• Texas Canon 39

See also

• TX Ethics Op. 119: Lawyer Status on a Side-Business Letterhead
• TX Ethics Op. 121: Postage-Meter Civic Slogans
• TX Ethics Op. 110: Contributor Credit Noting "Attorney"

Source

• Landing page: https://www.legalethicstexas.com/resources/opinions/opinion-103/
• Original PDF: https://tcle-web.s3.amazonaws.com/public/documents/Opinion_103.pdf

Original opinion text

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

QUESTION PRESENTED

Would it violate the Canons of Ethics for an attorney who is a candidate for the office of county judge to use a political campaign card containing the following language:

"JOHN DOE
Attorney at Law
Candidate for County Judge"?

18 Baylor L. Rev. 237 (1966)

CAMPAIGN CARDS
A lawyer may indicate his profession in cards pursuant to his campaign for public office.

Canons 24, 39.

The members of the committee are unanimously of the opinion that the use of the above described card would not violate the Canons of Ethics. (10-0)

Tex. Comm. On Professional Ethics, Op. 103 (1954)