La. high court lists lawyer-ad rules

NEW ORLEANS — The Louisiana Supreme Court announced Thursday new standards for lawyer advertising, including pre-clearance of all ads by the Louisiana State Bar Association — and possible disciplinary action for violators. But don’t expect attorneys to swallow the rule changes without a fight, a law professor said. Retiring Chief Justice Pascal Calogero said the amendments to the Rules of Professional Conduct for attorney advertising were the result of months of study by both the state bar and a court committee, chaired by his successor, Catherine D. Kimball. The review began with a request from the state Senate in 2006. “The Court’s decision balances the right of lawyers to truthfully advertise legal services with the need to improve the existing rules in order to protect the public from unethical forms of advertising,” the... [read full story]