IN · rules

Ind. Prof. Cond. Rule 7.5

Firm Names and Letterheads

activein force · 2024-10-01 – presentcompiled-edition

Effective January 1, 2021

(a) A lawyer shall not use a firm name, letterhead or other professional designation that viol-

ates Rule 7.1. A trade name may be used by a lawyer in private practice if it does not imply a

connection with a government agency or with a public or charitable legal services organization and is not otherwise in violation of Rule 7.1.

(b) A law firm with offices in more than one jurisdiction may use the same name or other professional designation in Indiana if the name or other designation does not violate paragraph

(a) and the identification of the lawyers in an office of the firm indicates the jurisdictional lim-

itations on those not licensed to practice in Indiana.

in communications on its behalf, during any substantial period in which the lawyer is not act-

ively and regularly practicing with the firm. A member of a part-time legislative body such as

the General Assembly, a county or city council, or a school board is not subject to this rule.

(d) Lawyers may state or imply that they practice in a partnership or other organization only

when they in fact do so.

Comment

[1] A firm may be designated by the names of all or some of its members, by the names of

deceased members where there has been a continuing succession in the firm's identity,

or by a trade name that complies with the requirements of the Rules of Professional Conduct. A lawyer or law firm may also be designated by a distinctive website address or comparable professional designation. The use of a trade name in law practice is acceptable

so long as it is not misleading and otherwise complies with the requirements of paragraph

(a)(4). A firm name that includes the name of a deceased partner is, strictly speaking, a

trade name. The use of such names to designate law firms has proven a useful means of

identification. However, it is misleading to use the name of a lawyer not associated with

the firm or a predecessor of the firm, or the name of a non-lawyer.

[2] With regard to paragraph (d), lawyers sharing office facilities, but who are not in fact

associated with each other in a law firm, may not denominate themselves as, for

example, "Smith and Jones," for that title suggests that they are practicing law together in

a firm.

Maintaining the Integrity of the Profession

Provenance

Source: rules.incourts.gov
Retrieved: 2026-10-02
Edition: supplied-in-22-2024-10-01
Content hash: 19c78ce735c8a478b47467ceb1d2975343af697e7fdce6e6cb147a3f33dedf1e

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