May a lawyer advertise legal services on public buses?

Plain-English summary

The inquiry concerned proposed advertising on public buses. The committee was of the opinion that nothing in the Rules of Professional Conduct would prohibit such advertising.

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 Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance.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 put ads on public buses?

A: Under this 1989 opinion, yes. The committee was of the opinion that nothing in the Rules of Professional Conduct would prohibit advertising on public buses.

Q: Did the committee impose any conditions on bus advertising?

A: The opinion as issued states only that nothing in the rules prohibits the advertising; it does not set out additional conditions specific to bus advertising.

Background and rules framework

RPC 7.2, Washington's version of ABA Model Rule 7.2, permits a lawyer to advertise services through written, recorded, or electronic communication, including public media, subject to the other advertising rules. The committee applied that permission to advertising on public buses, finding nothing in the rules to prohibit it.

Citations and references

Rules of Professional Conduct:

• ABA Model Rule 7.2 (advertising)
• Washington RPC 7.2(a)

See also

• WA Ethics Op. 1304: "Law Offices" Phone Answering

Source

• Landing page: https://ao.wsba.org/print.aspx?ID=410

Original opinion text

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

The Committee reviewed your inquiry concerning proposed advertising on public buses, and was of the opinion that nothing in the Rules of Professional Conduct would prohibit such advertising.