Md. R. Att'y 19-307.4

As amended through November 13, 2024

Rule 19-307.4 - Communication of Fields of Practice (7.4)

(a) An attorney may communicate the fact that the attorney does or does not practice in particular fields of law, subject to the requirements of Rule 19-307.1 (7.1).

(b) An attorney admitted to engage in patent practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office may use the designation "Patent Attorney or a substantially similar designation.

Md. R. Att'y 19-307.4

Adopted June 6, 2016, eff. 7/1/2016. Amended Dec. 13, 2016, eff. 4/1/2017.

HISTORICAL NOTES

2016 Orders

The December 13, 2016, order deleted the second sentence of paragraph (a) and revised the Model Rule Comparison.

COMMENT

[1] This Rule permits an attorney to indicate areas of practice in communications about the attorney's services; for example, in a telephone directory or other advertising. If attorney practices only in such fields, or will not accept matters except in such fields, the attorney is permitted so to indicate.

[2] Section (b) of this Rule recognizes the long-established policy of the Patent and Trademark Office for the designation of attorneys practicing before the Office.

Model Rules Comparison--This Rule adopts Rule 7.4(a) and (b) of the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct, and expressly makes section (a) "subject to the requirement of Rule 19-307.1 (7.1). The substance of the first two sentences of the ABA Comment on Rule 7.4(a) is included in Comment [1], and the ABA Comment on Rule 7.4(b) is included as Comment [2].

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