Texas Lawyers Approve Change Allowing Law Firm Trade Names

(Reuters) – Members of the State Bar of Texas have approved a
proposed change to the state’s disciplinary rules that would allow
law firms in Texas to use trade names as long as they aren’t false
or misleading.

In a month-long vote that concluded Thursday evening, lawyers in
the state approved eight proposed rule amendments that will now go
to the Texas Supreme Court, which can decide to adopt or reject
them.

Texas is one of the last states that still bars law firms from
using trade names. Several states, including New York and New
Jersey, revised their professional conduct rules to allow the
practice in the past year,
following constitutional challenges.

The rule change on trade names in Texas is part of a broader
proposal related to lawyer advertising and solicitation, which if
adopted would also add exemptions to some solicitation restrictions
and explicitly address social media, according to materials on the
state bar’s website.

The other proposals approved by state bar members address an
exception that allows lawyers to disclose information to get legal
ethics advice, conflict of interest exceptions for nonprofit and
pro bono services, and other changes.

Members approved all eight proposals that were included in the
vote.

Texas lawyers cast just under 20,000 votes, about 18.5% of
eligible voters, the state bar said in a Thursday statement.

(Reuters) – Members of the State Bar of Texas have approved a
proposed change to the state’s disciplinary rules that would allow
law firms in Texas to use trade names as long as they aren’t false
or misleading.

In a month-long vote that concluded Thursday evening, lawyers in
the state approved eight proposed rule amendments that will now go
to the Texas Supreme Court, which can decide to adopt or reject
them.

Texas is one of the last states that still bars law firms from
using trade names. Several states, including New York and New
Jersey, revised their professional conduct rules to allow the
practice in the past year,
following constitutional challenges.

The rule change on trade names in Texas is part of a broader
proposal related to lawyer advertising and solicitation, which if
adopted would also add exemptions to some solicitation restrictions
and explicitly address social media, according to materials on the
state bar’s website.

The other proposals approved by state bar members address an
exception that allows lawyers to disclose information to get legal
ethics advice, conflict of interest exceptions for nonprofit and
pro bono services, and other changes.

Members approved all eight proposals that were included in the
vote.

Texas lawyers cast just under 20,000 votes, about 18.5% of
eligible voters, the state bar said in a Thursday statement.