Ethics Committee Advisory Opinion #1985/6-7

July 8, 1986

ANNOTATIONS:

A law firm’s sign, including names of lawyers who are not admitted to practice in this state, is improper because it is misleading in that it does not indicate the jurisdictional limitations of such lawyers (Rule 7.1; Rule 7.5(b)).

A law firm’s letterhead listing multiple lawyers, including lawyers not admitted in this state, provided it specifies the jurisdictions each is admitted to, complies with the Rules of Professional Conduct.  (Rule 7.5(b); 7.5(d)).

QUESTION:

  1. Whether a New Hampshire attorney who becomes “associated” with three Massachusetts attorneys may display outside of his New Hampshire law office a sign which bears only the word “Lawyers” and the full names of each of the four attorneys.
  2. Whether a New Hampshire attorney who becomes “associated” with three Massachusetts attorneys may use letterhead which lists the three Massachusetts attorneys as “associates” and specifies the jurisdictions in which each is admitted to practice.

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