Q. We’ve discovered that a firm of solicitors is supplying beer mats to some local pubs.These advertise the matrimonial and criminal services they provide using rather tacky slogans and cartoons. Surely this brings the profession into disrepute?
A. Solicitors are permitted to advertise their firms and generally speaking, rule 7 of the Solicitors Code of Conduct does not restrict the manner in which they do so, provided the publicity is not misleading and does not involve ‘cold calling’.
It is certainly the case that you must not behave in a way which is likely to diminish the trust the public places in the legal profession (see rule 1.06 of the code). However, the SRA takes a fairly robust view in respect of publicity and it is unlikely that the use of slogans or cartoons, even if they are rather tacky, would generally be considered to breach rule 1.06.
