"The rules do not define a "technique [...] to obtain attention" or explain what sorts of techniques are "relevan[t] to the selection of counsel." Nor do they provide any guidance as to what lawyer characteristics are deemed to be "unrelated to legal competence" or what sorts of statements "impl[y] an ability to obtain results in a matter." The rules, by their plain language, are so broad in scope as to cover essentially every advertisement ever used by an attorney beyond a business card, letterhead, or resume."
This is very true. While professionals in other fields enjoy a marked lack of illogical restrictions on advertising, the legal field imposes restrictions that give word-of-mouth the greatest power. In our field, rumors can promote or assassinate a career at any time. If you are interested in the issue, check out Turkewitz's post at the New York Personal Injury Law Blog.
Speaking of personal injuries, here's a piece you are bound to admire: Peter Lattman's May 29 post on the Wall Street Journal Law Blog entitled "Ultimate Fighting: Lawyer's Edition." Lattman discusses two lawyers from opposing sides who started brawling during an employee-employer negotiation. While their clients have settled the dispute between themselves, the lawyers are still fighting each other in a lawsuit over the brawl.
Well, I'll see you folks next week, but in passing, and while still on the topic of mindsets, there's a new word in the field called "plaintiphobia." Yes, that's "plaint-i-phobia." A May 30 post on Deliberations deliberates upon this word used by Cornell professors and the research that coined it. Like it? I love it!
