TX 1947

Can a lawyer print marketing slogans, like 'Wills save worry, contracts save rights,' on the back of a professional card?

Short answer: The Committee held unanimously (7-0) that printing 'Safety thoughts' slogans such as 'Wills save worry' and 'Contracts save rights' on the back of a professional card violated Canons 24 and 39.

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This page answers the general question as of 1947. Ezel answers yours: whether it's allowed on your facts, under the current Texas Rules of Professional Conduct, with citations.

About this page: The plain-English summary, reader guidance, and Q&A below were written by Ezel based on the official ethics opinion. The original opinion (linked on this page as a PDF) is the authoritative source for any reliance.

View original ethics opinion (PDF)

Plain-English summary

The inquiry asked whether a set of "Safety thoughts" printed on the back of a Texas lawyer's card violated the Canons. The text urged that "Wills save worry," "Contracts save rights," "Titles save trouble," and that "A lawyer in each deal saves rights and weal."

The committee held that the words violated Canons 24 (solicitation) and 39 (professional card). The vote was 7-0.

Currency note

This opinion was issued in 1947, under the former Texas Canons of Ethics, which the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct replaced effective January 1, 1990. Lawyer advertising restrictions were also reshaped by later constitutional decisions beginning with Bates v. State Bar of Arizona (1977). Subsequent rule amendments or later opinions may have changed the analysis; communications about a lawyer's services are now addressed by ABA Model Rule 7.1. Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance.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 print catchy slogans on the back of a professional card?

A: No. The committee held that "Safety thoughts" slogans promoting the value of legal services on the back of a card violated Canons 24 and 39.

Q: Which Canons applied?

A: Texas Canon 24 (solicitation, direct or indirect) and Canon 39 (professional card). The vote was 7-0.

Background and rules framework

The opinion interprets former Texas Canons 24 (solicitation) and 39 (professional card), applied to promotional slogans printed on a lawyer's card. The modern analog is ABA Model Rule 7.1 (communications about a lawyer's services), which governs the content of a lawyer's communications, including a card.

Citations and references

Rules of Professional Conduct:

MR 7.1 (communications concerning a lawyer's services), as the modern analog
Texas Canons 24 and 39

Source

Landing page: https://www.legalethicstexas.com/resources/opinions/opinion-3/
Original PDF: https://tcle-web.s3.amazonaws.com/public/documents/Opinion_3.pdf

Original opinion text

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

QUESTION PRESENTED

Whether the following words on the back of the card of Texas lawyer violates one or more of the Texas Canons of Ethics, to-wit:

"SAFETY THOUGHTS"
"Wills save worry.
Contracts save rights.
Abstracts show records only.
Lawyers show the title.
Titles save trouble.

A lawyer in each deal
Saves rights and weal."

18 Baylor L. Rev. 196 (1966)

SOLICITATION - PROFESSIONAL CARDS
An attorney may not put words such as "Safety thoughts: Wills save worry / Contracts save rights" on the back of his professional card.

Canons 24, 39.

The foregoing words are in violation of Canons 24 and 39. (7-0)

Tex. Comm. On Professional Ethics, Op. 3 (1947)

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