In Re R.M.J.

455 U.S. 191 (1982)

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Nature of the Case

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Facts

Missouri Rule 4 prescribed the way in which a lawyer must list his areas of practice in his advertisements. The Rule allowed the listing of three general areas, Civil, Criminal or Civil and Criminal. Alternatively, the lawyer could choose from a list of 23 areas of practice such as tort, family, probate, trust, etc. The Rule prohibited the use of both the general and the specific listings in the same ad nor could a lawyer deviate from the precise wording stated in the rule. The lawyer was not allowed to indicate that his practice was limited to the listed areas and he was also required to include a disclaimer of certification of expertise following any listings of specific areas of practice. D placed an ad that included information that was not permitted under Rule 4; that D was licensed in both Missouri and Illinois, and that he was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court and had specific listings not authorized such as personal injury, real estate, tort law, property law including contracts, zoning, and land use, communication, pension, and profit sharing plans. D also failed to include the required disclaimer of certification of expertise after the listing of the areas of practice. D was issued a private reprimand.