Hello everyone and happy Columbus Day to you. This is an update of my 9/24/13 Ethics Alert blog which discussed September 11, 2013 Florida Bar Advertising Staff Opinion which states that Florida lawyers cannot list areas of practice on Linkedin.com “Skills and Expertise” page unless they are Board Certified (or the equivalent). The September 11, 2013 staff opinion is here: https://it-lex.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Florida-Bar-Opinion-re-LinkedIn-Redacted.pd
I was advised by the Ethics and Advertising Counsel for The Florida Bar today that the SCA was unable to consider the staff opinion at its October 8, 2013; however, the committee plans to consider the opinion at its meeting on October 29, 2013. I will keep everyone advised.
Bottom line: As I stated in my previous Ethics Alert, the staff opinion is not binding and is intended to provide guidance to lawyers; however, lawyers must be aware that The Florida Bar has taken this position. This is clearly an important issue that must be addressed by The Florida Bar and the Bar’s Statewide Committee on Advertising will be considering the issue to potentially draft a formal advertising opinion at its next meeting on October 8, 2013. If you would like to provide your comments to the Statewide Committee on Advertising, you can send them to Elizabeth Tarbert, the Ethics and Advertising Counsel for The Florida Bar who oversees the SCA, or you can attend the meeting and ask to be heard.
Be careful out there!
Disclaimer: this e-mail does not contain any legal advice and the comments herein should not be relied upon by anyone who reads it.
Joseph A. Corsmeier, Esquire
Law Office of Joseph A. Corsmeier, P.A.
2454 McMullen Booth Road, Suite 431
Clearwater, Florida 33759
Office (727) 799-1688
Fax (727) 799-1670[email protected]
