ETHICS OPINION 449-1956 ADVERTISING

NUMBER 449

QUESTION,

 

Is it professionally proper for the attorneys for a Federal Credit Union to permit the listing of their firm name on the Credit Union’s letterhead as general counsel, together with the attorney’s address and telephone number, – the Credit Union being of the opinion that such “listing would be advantageous for the purpose of channelizing communications from Credit Union members directly to (the attorneys) with respect to legal matters pertaining to Credit union business or collection of delinquent accounts”?

 

If the above would be professionally objectionable, is there any proper manner by which the purposes of the Credit Union in this respect can be realized?

 

ANSWER

 

Notwithstanding the stated purpose to be served thereby, in the opinion of the Committee, the listing on the Credit Union’s letterhead of the names of their attorneys, as general counsel, together with their address and telephone number, constitutes advertising in violation of Canons 27 and 35 of the Canons of Professional Ethics, and hence would be professionally improper. See Drinker’s Legal Ethics, page 262.

 

It is not within the province of the Committee to advise how the names of the attorneys can be used to accomplish the purposes of the Credit Union.

 

Dated: June 22, 1956