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Rule Information
• Lawyer Advertising Rules, effective 10-01-2009 (**as amended through 06-02-2016)
• LSBA Handbook on Lawyer Advertising and Solicitation (First Edition, October/November
2008)
• History of LSBA Proposal for the new Rules

• Filing
Please note that an advertisement/communication is not considered “filed” until it has been
actually received and “clocked-in” by LSBA Ethics Counsel, i.e., the date an item is placed
within the mail to be sent to the LSBA generally does not constitute the date of “filing.” Please
note, also, that “filings” are NOT accepted via email or fax.

To be “concurrent”, a “filing” must be received by the LSBA no later than the date of first
use/dissemination of the advertisement/communication (i.e., typically, received by the LSBA on
the same day as first use/dissemination).

• Exempt and Compliant
A list of advertisements/communications that are “exempt” from the filing requirement can be
found in Rule 7.8. It should be noted, of course, that “exempt” does not necessarily mean
“compliant” with the Rules – “exempt” means merely that the Rules do not require filing with
the LSBA but still impose upon the individual lawyer the obligation to reasonably ensure
compliance with the Rules.
• In short, ALL advertisements and unsolicited communications-exempt and non-exempt-must
be compliant with the Rules, or the lawyer risks potential professional discipline.

Questions, comments or suggestions regarding the lawyer advertising and solicitation Rules, the
advertising filing and evaluation process, etc., may be directed to: Ethics Counsel, Richard P.
Lemmler, Jr., 601 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70130; direct dial: (504) 619-0144; fax:
(504) 598-6753.

LSBA Lawyer Fee Dispute Resolution Program

The LSBA Lawyer Fee Dispute Resolution Program was created to provide quick, low
cost, and confidential solutions to fee disputes between clients and attorneys, or between two or
more attorneys, as an alternative to going through the court system.
Although most lawyer-client relationships are concluded without fee disputes,
controversies occasionally arise. There are two ways to start the LSBA legal fee dispute
resolution process: 1) by Demand for Arbitration or (2) by Submission to Arbitration.
Arbitration is a voluntary process in the absence of an existing arbitration clause. If the parties to
the fee dispute have agreed in advance to arbitration, the party wishing to start an arbitration
proceeding makes a demand that the advance agreement be honored. Usually such advance
agreement is in the form of an arbitration clause within the attorney’s fee contract, with that
clause providing for arbitration under the LSBA rules.
If there is no advance agreement, the parties may agree after the dispute arises to submit
their dispute to arbitration. This is called submission. If only one party submits a matter for
possible arbitration, the LSBA will contact the opposing party and seek their participation in the
arbitration process. Although initial submission is voluntary, once both parties agree to arbitrate,
the final arbitration award is binding.
Disputes can be between a client and attorney, or between two or more attorneys. The
administrative cost is extremely low. The administrative fee schedule is as follows:
Disputes between Attorney\Client under $10,000 - $50 per party
Disputes $10,000 and over -$100 per party