MI · rules

MRPC Rule 7.5

Firm Names and Letterheads

activein force · 2026-01-01 – presentact-effective-date

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

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 it 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 in each

jurisdiction, but identification of the lawyers in an office of the firm shall indicate the

jurisdictional limitations on those not licensed to practice in the jurisdiction where the office

is located.

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

actively and regularly practicing with the firm.

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

when that is the fact.

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

such as the “ ABC Legal Clinic. ” Although the United States Supreme Court has held that

legislation may prohibit the use of trade names in professional practice, use of such names in law

practice is acceptable so long as it is not misleading. If a private firm uses a trade name that

includes a geographical name such as “ Springfield Legal Clinic,” an express disclaimer that it is

a public legal aid agency may be required to avoid a misleading implication. It may be observed

Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct 89 Updated with MSC order(s)

that any firm name including 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 with a

predecessor of the firm.

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

may not denominate themselves as, for example, “ Smith and Jones,” for that title suggests

partnership in the practice of law.

RULES 8.1–8.5. MAINTAINING THE INTEGRITY OF THE PROFESSION.

Provenance

Source: www.adbmich.org
Retrieved: 2026-09-30
Edition: 2026-09-29
Content hash: 1dd946e38fc3779ee1d5cd391b21e13e6ff35d0977e0a640d7de779fa6bb7762

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