Attorneys May Receive Screened Case Referrals

Certified by the California Bar Association (Certification # 0128), 1000Attorneys.com is a single point of contact to find pre-screened attorneys in Los Angeles, California. The lawyer referral program complies with rules and regulations set forth by the Bar and the Supreme Court to provide unbiased lawyer referrals to Los Angeles County residents.

Los Angeles County Attorneys benefit from receiving screened case referrals from a CALBAR compliant lawyer referral. Our call center receives hundred of calls from people looking for legal advise in different areas of law.

Lawyer Marketing Ethics Violations

Ethics Violations to Avoid on Law Firm Web Sites

From case studies to core practice-area content to e-mail newsletters, law firms have a variety of Internet-based content tools they can use to inform potential clients of who they are and what they do. Other online marketing tactics, however, fall outside of state ethics rules, as well as the ethical guidelines the American Bar Association (ABA) promotes the states to adopt.

As an attorney working to develop client relationships online, it’s your responsibility to educate yourself about these rules and apply them. One good resource is the AMA Web site, which provides links to the rules governing lawyer advertising, solicitation and marketing in all 50 states:

www.abanet.org/adrules

While the ABA’s prohibition against posting "false and misleading" information on a legal Web site is interpreted differently in various states, there are some established guidelines your law firm can refer to make sure that you are operating ethically on your site. Some of the key areas that your firm should address include:

Illegal communications. If the Internet is anything it’s information-rich — and the unauthorized "borrowing" of content is a recurring problem. Utilizing plagiarized materials, stolen testimonials or copyrighted images from other Web sites is not only unethical, but illegal.

Omissions. Statements such as "No Recovery — No Fee" can be misleading if the client is exempt from legal fees only and is still liable for courts costs or administrative fees. Many states require disclaimers when contingent fee arrangements are publicized. Another common omission on legal Web sites is the posting of positive awards and settlements without a prominently displayed disclaimer on all relevant pages of the site stating that results may vary or that the facts and circumstances of each case dictate the results.

Unjustified expectations. The creation of unjustified expectations is an important consideration that is relevant in all states. Some of the key areas of concern are:

• Many of the same rules that apply to law firm names also apply to Web site domain names. A firm may not, for example, adopt a domain name that creates undue expectations of success or that implies a connection with a government agency or charitable legal services organization.
• Some states restrict the use of awards, honors or commendations, as they can create unjustified expectations of success. New Jersey is presently discussing the use of the "Super Lawyers" designation due, in part, to a concern that the designation may create an unjustified expectation that the "Super Lawyer" is better than other lawyers.
• The inclusion of "verdicts and settlements" pages or other descriptions of success can be a powerful marketing tool, but may create unjustified expectations without the inclusion of appropriate disclaimers or factual descriptions. Most states regulate the use of this type of information.
• Testimonials, endorsements or representative-client lists are also prohibited or banned in certain states because they can create expectations of success merely by reference to who has retained the firm in the past.

Statements about a lawyer’s services. Statements that compare one lawyer’s services with another’s run afoul of the ethics rules in many states, if they cannot be factually substantiated or objectively verified. In some states, self-laudatory are also against the rules. Any comparisons to the services of other lawyers — even implied comparisons, such as a law firm that bills itself as "the most experienced in the state" or "the most qualified" — should be avoided or clearly documented, if possible, on your site.

Claims of specialization. While the rules differ state-by-state, a Web site that positions a firm as "experts" or "specialists" may violate ethics guidelines. In most states it is allowable, however, to state that you "limit your practice to" or "concentrate in" your area of expertise.

Failure to include necessary disclaimers. Many states require special disclaimers that govern contingency fees or legal services in general. It is important that the attorney understand all disclaimers required, as well as any size, position, type and color requirements that may exist in certain states. In some states, failure to include necessary disclaimers results in a per se violation of the rules.

Spamming. Spamming is another key ethics concern online. If your firm uses mass e-mail communication, do not include overt marketing messages in the subject line, and give recipients a prominently displayed "opt-out" option to ensure the e-mail is not misconstrued as spam. Some states also require that advertising for legal services be included in the subject line itself.

The ethics guidelines covering spam and some other aspects of Internet-based legal marketing, such as online recordkeeping requirements, are still being fine-tuned. To stay on top of developments in blogging, pay-per-clicks and other emerging areas, the best strategy is to bookmark the ABA Web page that tracks changes in state advertising laws (www.abanet.org/cpr/professionalism/lawyerAd.html) and refer to it frequently for updates.

For membership consideration

No attorney shall be registered with 1000Attorneys.com Lawyer Referral and Information Service unless or until he or she shall warrant the following minimum requirements for membership:


1. That he or she is a member in good standing of the State Bar of California;


2. That he or she operates and maintains an office in California and is actively engaged in the practice of law;


3. That he or she has disclosed with his or her application any suspension from practice or disbarment from the State Bar of California;


4. That he or she is covered by such bond, policy of errors and omissions insurance, or self-insurance as may be required from time to time by the Governing Committee of the service, and, if so required, shall forward to 1000Attorneys.com proof of such policy upon request with a coverage of at least 100,000 per incident and 300,000 per aggregate year.

Membership benefits

• Unique Call Rotation System: All calls are rotated evenly and effectively among each panel member.

• Superior In-house Call Processing Center: Our trained legal analysts gather all necessary contact information and immediately forward the information to your office if it is determined that legal counsel is needed. Callers are either patched directly to your office or are given your contact information. You will also get an email or fax confirmation of every referral forwarded to your office.

• Marketing Consulting Services: Free offline/online marketing and corporate identity support for all our members.

• Dedicated Customer Satisfaction: You will be assigned a LRIS Coordinator specializing in your area of practice, who will contact you periodically to ensure quality of service.

• Cost Efficiency: The service monitors all details of performance to ensure maximum results. Benefit from a large advertising budget for an entire market for only the cost of a single area in which you practice.

• State Bar Compliance: Our lawyer referral program complies with rules and regulations set forth by the Bar and the Supreme Court to provide unbiased lawyer referrals.

• Target Audience: Our Powerful Internet advertising positions our website at the top of all the major search engines and online directories; this generates immediate call generation to our call center. We partner with our panel members to strengthen and grow their practice through direct response Internet advertising.

***Referral Panel membership is open to members of the California Bar who qualify under our Rules of Operation.***


We are also accepting applications from attorneys in the following counties: San Diego, San Bernardino, Orange, Ventura and Riverside. 1000Attorneys.com is pursuing CALBAR certification in these areas and will begin operating upon approval.

How to apply

For immediate membership consideration or to inquire about our lawyer referral and information service, please FAX the following documents.

* A letter of intent to join our service in your company's letterhead with all contact information. Please indicate what areas of law you practice.

* A copy of your E/O declaration policy page with the required minimum coverage limits as stated above.

Our FAX number is: 661-554-7079

A LRIS Coordinator will contact you within 5 business days.