Ethics Committee Advisory Opinion #1989-90/4

Letterhead Listing:  Elected Public Official/Firm Member

January  11, 1990

ANNOTATIONS

Any communication contained in an attorney’s letterhead must not be misleading to the public.  (Rule 7.1; 7.5(a))

The inclusion of the name of a lawyer who has been appointed or elected to a high public office, in the firm name, is inherently misleading to the public.  It is in violation of Rule 7.1.  (Rule 7.1)

QUESTION:

  1. Do the Rules of Professional Conduct prevent the name of a lawyer who has been elected to a high federal public office from appearing on the letterhead of a law firm with the designation “on leave”, or appearing in the name of the firm?

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