Could Vermont lawyers appear in Yellow Pages practice-field listings?
Apply this to your situation
This page answers the general question as of 1991. Ask about yours and see what the current Vermont Rules of Professional Conduct say for your facts, with citations.
Plain-English summary
The Vermont Bar Association asked whether lawyers could list themselves under practice headings in a telephone directory's Yellow Pages. The committee relied on former DR 2-105, which allowed lawyers to communicate fields in which they practiced or concentrated, while limiting claims of specialist status.
The committee concluded that field-of-practice listings would comply with the Code if the directory prominently stated that the lawyers had chosen those fields themselves. It compared that approach with a physicians' directory explaining that doctors chose their own practice-field listings.
Currency note
This opinion was issued in 1991, before Vermont's 1999 adoption of 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 Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance.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.
Common questions
Q: Did the committee allow Yellow Pages headings for practice concentrations?
A: Yes, with a prominent notice that each lawyer chose the field under which the lawyer was listed.
Q: Did a practice-field listing amount to a specialist certification?
A: The committee analyzed it as a listing by field of concentration under DR 2-105, which separately restricted specialist claims.
Background and rules framework
The opinion applied former Vermont DR 2-105 and discussed Peel's treatment of bona fide private certifications.
Citations and references
Former Vermont disciplinary rules:
- DR 2-105.
Cases cited:
- Peel v. Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission, 58 U.S.L.W. 4684 (June 4, 1990).
See also
Source
- Landing page: VBA specialization opinions
- Original PDF: Vermont Advisory Opinion 91-02
- Rules history: Vermont Rules of Professional Conduct, “These rules apply to lawyer conduct after September 1, 1999.”
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