Ethics Question of the Month • July/August 2025

Do I Need to Pass a Site Inspection?

Garrett is an experienced attorney who is opening a solo law practice. He wants to market his law practice throughout Texas, so he is creating an extensive website that could serve as an enticing virtual storefront to potential clients across the state.

Garrett plans to put information on his website regarding his experience, specific matters that he has handled, general advice for potential clients, client testimonials, links to other websites that he thinks are of interest, articles from publications, video from his media appearances, and anything else that he thinks will enhance his image with potential clients.

He is aware that Rule 7.04 of the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct requires that certain advertisements be filed with the Advertising Review Committee of the State Bar of Texas. But he is unsure of whether a website constitutes an “advertisement” under the rule. And if his website is considered an advertisement, what parts of the website does he need to file? His website is sufficiently voluminous that filing everything on his site would be burdensome.

Which part of a law firm website is required to be filed by the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct?

A.   All pages of the website.

B.   Only the website homepage.

C.   Only the homepage and any page containing “specific guidance or advice” on legal matters.

D.   Only the homepage and pages containing links that take the reader to another website.

E.   Both C and D.

F.   Websites do not need to be filed with the Advertising Review Committee.

ANSWER: Rule 7.04(a) of the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct requires that attorneys file any “advertisement of legal services” with the State Bar Advertising Review Committee.

However, Rule 7.05(b) exempts from the Rule 7.04 filing requirements all “information and links posted on a law firm website, except the contents of the website homepage, unless that information is otherwise exempt from filing.”

Comment 2 to Rule 7.05 makes clear that “the entire website of a lawyer or law firm must be compliant with Rules 7.01 and 7.02,” even though “the only material on the website that may need to be filed pursuant to this Rule is the contents of the homepage.” The correct response is B. For more analysis, go to legalethicstexas.com/ethics-question-of-the-month.

For more information about the Advertising Review Committee, and for assistance in filing websites and advertisements with the committee, go to texasbar.com/adreview.