Opinion 1500

The Committee reviewed your inquiry regarding placing your name, logo and other information on a pamphlet distributed by [an adoption agency.] The Committee is of the opinion that nothing in the Rules of Professional Conduct would prohibit you from doing so, provided that, first, you are only paying the reasonable advertising cost for placing your name on the pamphlet, as required by RPC 7.2(c). Second, the Committee was of the opinion that the use of the phrase "adoption attorney" would violate RPC 7.4 -- in that it would imply that you are a specialist. The Committee was of the opinion that either you should not use that phrase or, in the alternative, that you use it with an appropriate disclaimer such as "Washington has no procedure for certifying expertise of lawyers admitted to practice in this state".

Advisory Opinions are provided for the education of the Bar and reflect the opinion of the Committee on Professional Ethics (CPE) or its predecessors. Advisory Opinions are provided pursuant to the authorization granted by the Board of Governors, but are not individually approved by the Board and do not reflect the official position of the Bar association. Laws other than the Washington State Rules of Professional Conduct may apply to the inquiry. The Committee's answer does not include or opine about any other applicable law other than the meaning of the Rules of Professional Conduct.