View this video here.
GREGORY LEYH: In 1977, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that advertising by lawyers is constitutionally protected speech.
Some lawyers now heavily advertise on TV and the radio and in the yellow pages. Others refuse to advertise because they think it demeans the profession.
My practice is to avoid extensive advertising because I handle only a select few cases at a time. I personally handle and work every aspect of every case I take. And I prefer spending my time practicing law rather than managing the staff necessary to service a higher volume of cases.
Many of the cases I take are referrals from other lawyers. Referrals come into the office not because of advertising but because my colleagues have come to know me or my legal work. Also, experience has taught me that major users of, let's say, yellow pages advertising are often not the most skilled trial lawyers. Mass ad campaigns produce lots of calls to the office, allowing lawyers to screen out cases with too much complexity or risk. A satisfactory result can be less a function of legal skill than simply cherry picking a large inventory of potential cases.
Notwithstanding a lawyer's right to advertise, consumers should be very careful about relying on advertising alone when selecting a lawyer. For additional advice on how to select an attorney, click over to my video blog on that subject. Thank you.
