Informal Opinion Number: 990099
Rules: 4 dash–7.1
Information About Legal Services
Communication Concerning a Lawyer's Services
Subject: Advertising and Solicitation
Summary: use of term "court certified" mediator in advertisements
QUESTION: Attorney has completed the training course for mediators that satisfies the requirements of Supreme Court Rule 17.04. May Attorney state that Attorney is a “court-certified” mediator?
ANSWER: Supreme Court Rule 17.04 does not indicate, in any way, that people who attend the required training are certified by the court. Therefore, it would violate Rule 4 dash–7.1 to make that representation.
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.
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