Ezel / Ethics Opinions / WSBA
WSBA 1989

May a firm's lawyer who is licensed only in Texas use letterhead stating 'Board Certified - Family Law -- Texas Board of Legal Specialization'?

Short answer: The committee was of the opinion that using such letterhead would be prohibited by RPC 7.4, which bars a Washington lawyer from stating or implying that the lawyer is a specialist.

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This page answers the general question as of 1989. Ezel answers yours: whether it's allowed on your facts, under the current rules of professional conduct in your state, with citations.

Currency note: this opinion is from 1989
Subsequent statutory amendments, court decisions, or later opinions or rule amendments may have changed the analysis. Treat this page as historical context, not current legal advice. Verify current law before relying on any specific rule, deadline, or remedy mentioned here.
Disclaimer: Advisory only. Not binding precedent.
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) is the authoritative source for any reliance.

Plain-English summary

A law firm asked whether a member licensed only in Texas could use business letterhead stating "Board Certified - Family Law -- Texas Board of Legal Specialization." The committee was of the opinion that the use of such language would be prohibited by RPC 7.4, which prohibits a Washington lawyer from stating or implying that the lawyer is a specialist.

Currency note

This opinion was issued in 1989, before the Washington State Bar Association's adoption of the 2006 revisions to the Washington 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 Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance.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.

Common questions

Q: Can a lawyer advertise a Texas board certification on Washington letterhead?

A: Under this 1989 opinion, no. The committee concluded the "Board Certified - Family Law -- Texas Board of Legal Specialization" language would be prohibited by RPC 7.4.

Q: Does it matter that the certification came from another state's board?

A: The committee addressed the proposed letterhead language as a whole and found it prohibited because RPC 7.4 bars a Washington lawyer from stating or implying specialization.

Q: Which rule controls?

A: RPC 7.4, which prohibits stating or implying that a lawyer is a specialist.

Background and rules framework

RPC 7.4, Washington's version of ABA Model Rule 7.4, governs how a lawyer may communicate fields of practice and, in this era, prohibited a Washington lawyer from stating or implying that the lawyer is a specialist. The committee read the proposed "Board Certified" letterhead as such a statement of specialization and therefore prohibited.

Citations and references

Rules of Professional Conduct:

  • ABA Model Rule 7.4 (communication of fields of practice and specialization)
  • Washington RPC 7.4

See also

Source

Original opinion text

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

The Committee reviewed your inquiry concerning a member of your law firm who is licensed only in Texas. Your specific question is whether that lawyer may use business letterhead stating "Board Certified - Family Law -- Texas Board of Legal Specialization." The Committee was of the opinion that the use of such language would be prohibited by RPC 7.4 which prohibits a Washington lawyer from stating or implying that the lawyer is a specialist.

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