quote:
Originally posted by hoss gal:
what was the impetus for creating the rule, reckon, hammy? what is it trying to prevent, or create?
i think it's beyond silly!
I looked back over this and had no clue I was this wordy. Forgive me. Advocacy is just something I am very passionate about. This just represents my own personal opinion.I agree about the commercials.
It is kind of strange to hear 52 seconds of "call us, we can get you money!" "call us, we can get you more than the other guy!" then to have 8 seconds of a disclaimer saying they are no better than the next guy. It is supposed to be there to protect the public. In fact, there are even limits on what an attorney can say about being a "specialist" in one field or another. The rule says that a lawyer can communicate the fact that the he or she has been certified as a specialist in a field of law by a named and recognized organization or authority, but only if such certification is granted by an organization previously approved by the Alabama State Bar Board of Legal Certification to grant such certifications. Otherwise, he/she could land in trouble. They have to be very careful about what they say and do and it is highly regulated.
Think about this...
Every lawyer ad you see is actually regulated by the Alabama State Bar. They even have a copy of all those ads believe it not.
(b) A true copy or recording of any such advertisement shall be delivered or mailed to the office of the general counsel of the Alabama State Bar at its then current headquarters within three (3) days after the date on which any such advertisement is first disseminated; the contemplated duration thereof and the identity of the publisher or broadcaster of such advertisement, either within the advertisement or by separate communication accompanying said advertisement, shall be stated. Also, a copy or recording of any such advertisement shall be kept by the lawyer responsible for its content, as provided hereinafter by Rule 7.2(d), for six (6) years after its last dissemination.How much fun could we all have going through their vault down on Dexter Ave. pointing and laughing at some of the worst ones?
It is my opinion that the best advocates (and most professional attorneys) are people that come highly recommended by word of mouth and through satisfied former clients. Their reputation in the community for honestly and as a zealous advocate accomplishes what a barrage of ads could never do. Please do not mistake what I am saying here. Tasteful, professional ads can be a valuable resource for helping the public locate the right lawyer.
Think about this with me...
A client comes to your office because they are in trouble and they need help. I see it every day. They need (and they are counting on) you. You represent their access to a system that might as well be inside a locked vault in a foreign land. The language is different, the rules are tricky, and the "gatekeepers" are sometimes not so friendly. But then you find out that your lawyer has a passport (and maybe even a second home) in that "foreign land". They also know that foreign language. Oh, and that mean "gatekeeper"? Your guy/gal actually has lunch with them once a month at an associational meeting downtown, so all is well.
Clients are there because they have a problem and they are betting everything on you. In most instances, their health, their pensions, their businesses, their homes, their assets, and their families are all at stake. If you have a criminal practice, they are facing jail time and their very liberty is at stake...and they are counting on you. If I am going to have to be riding through rough waters, I want a guide driving the boat that has been there a thousand times and knows where the rocks are in the bend of the river. It's about doing the very best you can representing your client's best interests no matter what. There are no free passes in this profession, and a real advocate (and one that knows your name) could never sleep at night if they felt like they ever took one.
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