Florida Bar’s New Rules Regarding Website: Effective January 1, 2010
December 11, 2009
For those of you who practice law in Florida, new rule regulating social media and website go into effect on January 1, 2010. Below find a synopsis provided by the FL Supreme Court:
The Supreme Court of Florida has issued a revised opinion amending the rules regulating lawyer advertisements over the Internet. Websites will be subject to the general advertising regulations set forth in Rule 4-7.2. Websites will remain exempt from the filing requirement under Rule 4-7.8. The jurisdictional disclosure requirement will no longer be required on the homepage, but will be required to appear on the website. Requirements for direct e-mail will be reinstated: a statement of qualifications will be required and a disclosure if a lawyer other than the one whose name appears in the advertisement will handle the matter will be required. Direct e-mail also will be required to begin the subject line with the statement “legal advertisement.” The changes will be effective January 1, 2010. In Re: Amendments to Rules Regulating The Florida Bar – Rule 4-7.6, Computer Accessed Communications, 34 Fla. L. Weekly S627 (Fla. Nov. 19, 2009), Case No. SC08-1181.
