Attorney and law firm advertising involves legal ethics standards and is regulated by the state bar associations in which the attorney is licensed, or in which the advertisements appear. The disclosures and required and prohibited advertising content varies from state to state, whether the advertisements appear on television, radio, social media, print, billboards, or another medium.
In Oklahoma, attorney and law firm advertising is governed by the Oklahoma Rules of Professional Conduct, which are enforced by the Oklahoma Bar Association. These rules are designed to ensure that attorney advertising is not misleading, is truthful, and does not create unjustified expectations or imply results that cannot be guaranteed. Attorneys must comply with specific regulations regarding the content of their advertisements, including making necessary disclosures, such as identifying the advertisement as such if it is not apparent from the context. Prohibited content includes statements that compare the lawyer's services with other lawyers' services, unless the comparison can be factually substantiated. Additionally, claims regarding the quality of legal services and certain types of testimonials or endorsements are also subject to strict scrutiny. The rules apply to all forms of advertising, including television, radio, social media, print, billboards, and other mediums. Attorneys must also keep a copy of each advertisement for a period of time, typically two years, along with a record of when and where it was used.