Informal Opinion Number: 970110

QUESTION: Attorney plans to take the certification test pertaining to the National Board of Trial Advocacy. In the event Attorney passes and is certified in the area of civil litigation, may Attorney note on the firm letterhead that Attorney is a member of the National Board of Trial Advocacy and is certified? Must a disclaimer be added to the letterhead? ANSWER: Attorney may include the certification on firm letterhead, but to do so triggers the requirement of Rule 4-7.4 to include a disclaimer that neither the Supreme Court of Missouri nor The Missouri Bar reviews or approves certifying organizations or specialist designations.

Informal Opinions are ethics advisory opinions issued by the Office of Legal Ethics Counsel to members of the Bar about Rule 4 (Rules of Professional Conduct), Rule 5 (Complaints and Proceedings Thereon), and Rule 6 (Fees to Practice Law) pursuant to Missouri Supreme Court Rule 5.30(c). Written summaries of select Informal Opinions are published for informational purposes as determined by the Advisory Committee of the Supreme Court of Missouri pursuant to Rule 5.30(c). Informal opinion summaries are advisory in nature and are not binding. These opinions are published as an educational service and do not constitute legal advice.

To request an Informal Opinion, please visit: https://mo-legal-ethics.org/for lawyers/requesting-an-informal-advisory-opinion/.

© Copyright 2025