Further Guidance Needed on 'Expertise' vs. 'Expert' in Lawyer Ads

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Lawyers were not allowed to advertise in New Jersey before the United States Supreme Court found First Amendment protection for some attorney advertising in 1977. Thereafter, the Rules of Professional Ethics were amended to permit specified advertising, RPC 7.2, as explained in an entire chapter in Kevin Michaels’ treatise on New Jersey Attorney Ethics (Chapter 11, pages 201-232) and a Supreme Court Committee on Attorney Advertising was established to provide guidance and decide grievances. R. 1:19A.

In its most recent decision, the committee withdrew its previous prohibition on lawyers advertising that they “specialize” or have “expertise” in a field of law, subject to demonstration that the advertising lawyer has the necessary education, training and experience to substantiate the claim. Opinion 45 (Nov. 8, 2018). Nevertheless, while attorneys may claim “expertise,” they may not “call themselves ‘experts’” unless they are certified by the Supreme Court or by an organization approved by the American Bar Association.

As to the exact difference between claiming “expertise” and claiming to be an “expert,” the committee is silent. A clarification would be helpful.