At a Glance

Mississippi combines substantive advertising restrictions with a pre-dissemination submission system. Filing an advertisement is not the same as receiving approval. Rule 7.5 provides defined exemptions and a separate, optional advisory-opinion process.

The practical starting points are a named responsible lawyer or referral service, a geographic-office disclosure or the rule’s Bar-information alternative, and the prominent background-information notice required by Rule 7.4. Lawyers must also prepare the factual background information promised by that notice.

Current codification and enforceability of the statutory overlays still need legal review, particularly Section 11-1-8 and the current operation of Section 73-3-38. This guide is educational information, not advice about a particular campaign.

Rules 7.4, 7.5

Read source: Mississippi Supreme Court, Rules of Professional Conduct, especially Rules 1.6, 7.1–7.7 and 8.5 · Mississippi Bar, Lawyer Advertising Rule 7.5, policies and FAQ

Who Regulates

The Mississippi Supreme Court establishes the Rules of Professional Conduct. The Office of General Counsel of the Mississippi Bar, abbreviated OGCMB in the rules, administers the advertising-submission process under Rule 7.5. The Bar’s published policies implement that process and distinguish mandatory submissions from optional advisory opinions.

Rule 8.5 reaches Mississippi-admitted lawyers regardless of where their conduct occurs and lawyers not admitted in Mississippi who provide or offer legal services there. Its choice-of-law provisions distinguish tribunal-related conduct from other conduct, including a predominant-effect analysis. The official compilation records an amendment effective July 1, 2026. A nationwide campaign should therefore receive jurisdiction-specific review; a lawyer’s home-state approval is not automatically a Mississippi answer.

Rules 7.5, 8.5

Read source: Mississippi Supreme Court, Rules of Professional Conduct, especially Rules 1.6, 7.1–7.7 and 8.5 · Mississippi Bar, Lawyer Advertising Rule 7.5, policies and FAQ

What Counts as Advertising

Rule 7.2(a) defines an advertisement as an active quest for clients through public or nonpublic communication. Its examples include telephone, television, radio, motion pictures, computer-accessed communications, newspapers, signs, directories, listings and written communications.

The comment expressly includes websites, unsolicited email and lawyer information appearing on search-engine screens. The classification depends on the communication’s substance and purpose, not whether an agency calls it educational content, a profile or a landing page. The comment distinguishes lawyer-to-lawyer communications, including recruitment brochures, from communications directed to prospective clients concerning availability for legal services.

Rule 7.1 independently prohibits communications that are false, misleading, deceptive or unfair. Both material inaccuracies and omissions can create a problem. Review the total impression of the headline, visuals, qualifications and call to action, rather than checking isolated sentences alone.

Rule 7.1

Read source: Mississippi Supreme Court, Rules of Professional Conduct, especially Rules 1.6, 7.1–7.7 and 8.5

Required Disclosures

Rule 7.2(c) requires advertisements and covered written communications to disclose the city and state of one or more offices of the advertised lawyers, or to state that additional information about the lawyer or firm is available from the Mississippi Bar at a Bar-designated number included in the advertisement. Do not substitute an unverified phone number or imply that a mailing service is an actual office.

Rule 7.2(d) requires the name of at least one lawyer or lawyer referral service responsible for the content. Rule 7.4 requires the prominent notice: FREE BACKGROUND INFORMATION AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. The lawyer must have written factual information about background, training and experience available, provide it promptly when requested, and mail it if requested.

Where special expertise is claimed or a practice is publicly limited to particular matters or clients, the background material must provide the corresponding factual details. A generic biography that does not substantiate the advertised specialty is not a substitute.

If a lawyer outside the advertising firm pays some or all of an advertisement’s cost, Rule 7.2(e) requires disclosure of that lawyer’s name and address, the relationship, and whether cases received through the advertisement may be referred to that lawyer. Review co-funded campaigns before launch, not after leads begin arriving.

Rule 7.4(f) also addresses expected outside counsel. If the lawyer reasonably believes that an unaffiliated lawyer or firm will be associated or act as primary counsel, an unqualified statement that the advertising lawyer or firm will handle that type of matter is presumed misleading. Qualify the representation accordingly; the rule permits consideration of the lawyer’s prior conduct in similar matters. Source: Rule 7.4(f).

Rules 7.2(d), 7.2(e), 7.4(f)

Read source: Mississippi Supreme Court, Rules of Professional Conduct, especially Rules 1.6, 7.1–7.7 and 8.5

Filing, Review & Recordkeeping

Rule 7.5(a) generally requires a copy or recording of an advertisement before first dissemination. The submission includes the actual form or forms to be used, an audio or video transcript when applicable, and a statement of when and where it has been, is or will be used. The rule sets a $25 timely-submission fee and a $150 fee for untimely submissions. Paying the late fee does not make late filing a recommended alternative.

The exemptions include qualifying information-only advertisements without illustrations, telephone-directory advertisements, nonsoliciting firm-change announcements, business cards and letterhead, office signage, certain lawyer-oriented directories and specialty publications, qualifying unsolicited-search web pages, scholarly writings, mail only to existing or former clients or lawyers, requested written communications, legally required notices, and other exemptions authorized by OGCMB. Apply the exact category rather than treating every digital communication as exempt.

An unchanged advertisement need not be resubmitted for every dissemination. The Bar’s FAQ says to provide updated when-and-where information when the identical advertisement is reused. Changes to form or content require a new submission under the policies.

An optional advisory opinion is a separate process, with a $50 fee and submission at least 45 days before dissemination. It does not replace a required mandatory submission. The rule permits additional examination with notice within the 45-day period; only absence of correspondence or notice within that period triggers its deemed-approval provision. An advisory finding is not binding in disciplinary proceedings, though it may be offered as evidence. Changed circumstances that may make an evaluated advertisement misleading trigger prompt resubmission with an explanation and the specified $20 fee.

Rule 7.2(h) requires the lawyer to keep the advertisement or recording for three years after its last dissemination, together with when-and-where records. The official PDF visibly strikes out the older five-year wording. Separately, Rule 7.4(c) requires five years’ retention after the last regular use of background information furnished under that rule. Do not merge those two different records and periods.

Rules 7.2(h), 7.4(c)

Read source: Mississippi Supreme Court, Rules of Professional Conduct, especially Rules 1.6, 7.1–7.7 and 8.5

Results, Testimonials & Comparisons

Rule 7.1 prohibits unjustified, false or misleading expectations about results, claims of improper influence, and comparisons that cannot be factually substantiated. A genuine past result does not establish what another client will recover. Review the context, omitted qualifications and overall impression before using settlement numbers, rankings or comparative claims.

Rule 7.4(d) also rejects factual statements that are unsubstantiated, unfair or actually or potentially misleading, and Rule 7.4(e) requires prompt proof of compliance on reasonable Bar request. Keep the evidence behind a claim available rather than relying on the writer’s confidence.

This guide does not identify a categorical testimonial ban in the reviewed Rule 7 provisions. That is not blanket permission to use any testimonial. A quoted client’s words can still create misleading expectations, and Rule 1.6 separately protects information relating to representation. Obtain an appropriate confidentiality basis, including informed consent where applicable, before using identifying case information; do not assume a public court record alone answers that question.

Rules 1.6, 7.4(d), 7.4(e)

Read source: Mississippi Supreme Court, Rules of Professional Conduct, especially Rules 1.6, 7.1–7.7 and 8.5

Specialization & Certification

Rule 7.6 addresses communications about certification or designation. A lawyer may identify certification by a named organization whose specialty program is accredited by the American Bar Association. The rule also provides a route for a named non-ABA-accredited organization, but requires disclosure of that fact and that Mississippi has no procedure for approving certifying or designating organizations and authorities.

Naming practice areas is not the same as claiming a certified status. Verify the actual credential, the awarding organization and the applicable disclosure before using a badge or specialist heading. The rule separately recognizes qualifying patent-practice and admiralty designations. Rule 7.4’s requirement for factual background material also matters when the campaign claims special expertise.

Rules 7.4, 7.6

Read source: Mississippi Supreme Court, Rules of Professional Conduct, especially Rules 1.6, 7.1–7.7 and 8.5

Firm, Trade & Domain Names

Rule 7.7 permits a private-practice trade name only if it does not suggest a governmental or public or charitable legal-services connection and otherwise complies with Rule 7.1. Its comments caution against misleading institutional names and fictitious personal names that suggest an actual associated lawyer.

The terms legal clinic or legal services have a specific rule context: used with the lawyer’s own name, they depend on a practice devoted to routine services at fees below prevailing community rates. Multijurisdiction firms may use the same name, but identification of office lawyers must show jurisdictional limitations for those not licensed where the office is located.

Do not imply a partnership or other organization that does not exist, subject to the rule’s stated Rule 1.17 exception. Shared office space does not itself create a partnership. Domain names and social profiles should receive the same truthfulness review; a memorable URL cannot cure a misleading firm identity.

Rules 1.17, 7.1

Read source: Mississippi Supreme Court, Rules of Professional Conduct, especially Rules 1.6, 7.1–7.7 and 8.5

Solicitation & Direct Contact

Rule 7.3(a) prohibits in-person, live-telephone and real-time electronic solicitation of a particular prospective client for significant pecuniary gain where there is no family, close personal or prior professional relationship. Written and recorded outreach is not automatically equivalent to live contact, but remains subject to the other requirements.

Rule 7.3(b) bars solicitation when the prospective client has communicated a wish not to be solicited or the approach involves coercion, duress or harassment, even if paragraph (a) would not otherwise prohibit it. The comments warn that further contact after no response to a permitted letter may violate the rule.

For covered targeted communications to someone known to need services in a particular matter, Rule 7.3(c) requires “solicitation material” on the outside envelope or at the beginning and ending of a recorded communication, with the stated relationship exceptions. Its wording also covers electronic communications, but does not provide a complete digital-placement specification. Have counsel resolve implementation for a particular email, message or recording rather than inventing a universal format.

The comments exclude responses to requests from potential clients or their representatives and general personnel or office announcements from the described labeling requirement. Paragraph (d) provides a limited independent prepaid or group-plan exception. It is not permission for a lawyer to create a controlled organization to conduct otherwise prohibited personal solicitation.

Rules 7.3(b), 7.3(c)

Read source: Mississippi Supreme Court, Rules of Professional Conduct, especially Rules 1.6, 7.1–7.7 and 8.5

Channel-Specific Notes

For ordinary websites, Rule 7.5(b)(8) concerns pages viewed in a browser through a search initiated without solicitation. Do not extend that filing exemption automatically to paid placements, targeted messages or other promotional distribution. Substantive content and background-information requirements still need review.

For television, billboards and other visual campaigns, preserve the complete creative and check that required information remains intelligible in the delivered format. An additional statutory disclosure overlay for out-of-state lawyers is documented in the official 2023 Senate Bill 2382 enactment materials; current codification and enforceability remain a source-verification limitation for this guide.

For advertised prices, Rule 7.2(b) generally requires honoring a specified fee or range for at least 90 days unless a longer period is stated. Annually or less frequently published media, including the described telephone directories, require at least one year after publication. Avoid short-lived promotional prices that conflict with the applicable period.

For lead-generation arrangements, distinguish paying reasonable advertising costs or usual referral-service charges from giving value for recommendations prohibited by Rule 7.2(i). Payment labels alone do not establish which category the arrangement fits.

Rules 7.2(b), 7.2(i), 7.5(b)(8)

Read source: Mississippi Supreme Court, Rules of Professional Conduct, especially Rules 1.6, 7.1–7.7 and 8.5 · Mississippi Bar, Lawyer Advertising Rule 7.5, policies and FAQ

Recent Changes & Scope

The official compilation reviewed includes Rule 8.5’s July 1, 2026 amendment and Rule 7.7’s September 24, 2020 amendment. The presence of older amendment dates under Rule 7 does not by itself mean those provisions have expired.

This guide is not a complete statutory survey. Section 11-1-8 was identified as a potentially material out-of-state advertising provision but its current official full text has not been verified. The cited final 2023 SB 2382 text and approval history establish the enactment creating Section 73-3-38, not its current codification or enforceability. Those issues must be resolved before treating this as a current all-in-one guide, especially for multistate campaigns.

This guide does not establish that all cited sources remain current or resolve every relevant court order. Obtain campaign-specific legal review. This guide does not approve an advertisement.

Rules 7.7, 8.5

Read source: Mississippi Supreme Court, Rules of Professional Conduct, especially Rules 1.6, 7.1–7.7 and 8.5

Official Sources

Read the official rules alongside other applicable law and obtain campaign-specific advice.

1. Mississippi Supreme Court, Rules of Professional Conduct, especially Rules 1.6, 7.1–7.7 and 8.5Official source · Checked November 12, 2026
2. Mississippi Bar, Lawyer Advertising Rule 7.5, policies and FAQOfficial source · Checked November 12, 2026
3. Mississippi Legislature, 2023 SB 2382 as sent to Governor, historical enacted textOfficial source · Checked November 12, 2026
4. Official 2023 SB 2382 action history, recording Governor approval April 19, 2023Official source · Checked November 12, 2026