What is the purpose of Model Rule 7.1's standard for advertising?

• A. To require state bar approval for all ads.
• B. To ensure advertising is not false or misleading.
• C. To ensure all lawyers advertise equally.
• D. To restrict the content of advertising to official templates.

Answer: (B)

Advertising rules for lawyers focus on truthfulness and prevent deception. Model Rule 7.1 sets the guardrail that a lawyer’s communications about services must not be false or misleading. This protects the public from being deceived and helps maintain trust in the legal system. You can advertise legitimate information about practice areas and services, but any claims about results, specialties, or capabilities must be accurate and not mislead; disclaimers are often used to avoid creating a false impression. The rule doesn’t require state bar approval for ads, it doesn’t mandate that all lawyers advertise in the same way, and it doesn’t require using official templates.