Does a law firm blog need a disclaimer?

Three situations where a disclaimer does real work

• The post reports resultsComment [3] to North Carolina's Rule 7.1, which follows the ABA Model Rule, says a truthful report of past results may mislead if it leads a reasonable person to expect the same result without regard to each client's facts and law, and that an appropriate disclaimer or qualifying language may prevent that finding. More in whether firms can publish case results.
• The post invites readers to send detailsComment [2] to Rule 1.18, in versions such as Massachusetts Rule 1.18, says a consultation is likely if a lawyer's advertising specifically invites information about a potential representation without clear and reasonably understandable warnings and cautionary statements that limit the lawyer's obligations. A contact form under a blog post is exactly that kind of invitation.
• The post explains the law in general termsABA Formal Opinion 10-457, issued August 5, 2010, recognized that firm websites can offer a wide range of legal information and, as summarized by the ABA's own ethics counsel, suggested warning visitors that such information is general and should not be relied on as legal advice. That summary is secondhand; read your state's version of the rule.

What your state adds

States differ on filing, not on whether the content rules apply. In Texas, Rule 7.05(b) exempts information and links on a firm website from filing, except the homepage, and the comment says the whole site must still comply with Rules 7.01 and 7.02; the Texas guide covers the rest. Florida's website checklist says a firm's own website is generally not filed, but lists disclaimers that specific content triggers, such as a testimonial or a firm specialty claim. A blog post does not escape any of that by being informational.

Why placement matters in AI search

An assistant may quote one paragraph of your post and nothing else. A results sentence whose qualifier sits in a footer travels without it. Keep the qualifying language in the same paragraph as the claim it qualifies, and write each answer so it stays accurate when read alone. AI-drafted posts carry the same duties; see whether advertising rules apply to AI-generated content.

Go deeper

The guide to AI search for law firms links each state's advertising rules and how they apply to pages that get quoted.

Keep reading