DR 2-102. PROFESSIONAL NOTICES, LETTERHEADS, AND OFFICES

A lawyer or law firm may use or participate in the use of professional cards,

professional announcement cards, office signs, letterheads, or similar professional notices or

devices, that are in dignified form and comply with the following:

(1)

A professional card of a lawyer identifying the lawyer by name and as a lawyer

and giving the lawyer's addresses, telephone numbers, law firm name, and any information

permitted under DR 2-105. A professional card of a law firm may also give the names of

members and associates and may be used for identification.

(2)

A brief professional announcement card stating new or changed associations or

addresses, change of firm name, sale of a law practice, or similar matters pertaining to the

professional offices of a lawyer or law firm. It shall not state the nature of the practice except as

permitted under DR 2-105.

(3)

A sign on or near the door of the office and in the building directory identifying

the law office. The sign shall not state the nature of the practice, except as permitted under DR 2-

105.

(4)

A letterhead of a lawyer identifying the lawyer by name and as a lawyer, and

giving the lawyer's addresses, telephone numbers, law firm name, associates, and any

information permitted under DR 2-105. A letterhead of a law firm may also give the names of

members and associates, and names and dates relating to deceased and retired members. A

lawyer may be designated “Of Counsel” on a letterhead if the lawyer has a continuing

relationship with a lawyer or law firm, other than as a partner or associate. A lawyer or law firm

may be designated as “General Counsel” or by similar professional reference on stationery of a

client if the lawyer or the firm devotes a substantial amount of professional time in the

representation of that client. The letterhead of a law firm may give the names and dates of

predecessor firms in a continuing line of succession.

firm, other than as a partner or associate. A lawyer or law firm

may be designated as “General Counsel” or by similar professional reference on stationery of a

client if the lawyer or the firm devotes a substantial amount of professional time in the

representation of that client. The letterhead of a law firm may give the names and dates of

predecessor firms in a continuing line of succession.

(B)

A lawyer in private practice shall not practice under a trade name, a name that is

misleading as to the identity of the lawyer or lawyers practicing under the name, or a firm name

containing names other than those of one or more of the lawyers in the firm, except that the name

of a professional corporation or association, legal clinic, limited liability company, or registered

partnership shall contain symbols indicating the nature of the organization as required by Gov.

Bar R. III. If otherwise lawful, a firm may use as, or continue to include in, its name the name or

names of one or more deceased or retired members of the firm or of a predecessor firm in a

continuing line of succession. A lawyer who assumes a judicial, legislative, public executive, or

administrative post or office shall not permit his or her name to remain in the name of a law firm

or to be used in professional notices of the firm during any significant period in which the lawyer

is not actively and regularly practicing law as a member of the firm, and during this period other

members of the firm shall not use the lawyer's name in the firm name or in professional notices

of the firm.

(C)

A lawyer shall not hold himself or herself out as having a partnership with one or

more other lawyers or professional corporations unless they are in fact partners.

hich the lawyer

is not actively and regularly practicing law as a member of the firm, and during this period other

members of the firm shall not use the lawyer's name in the firm name or in professional notices

of the firm.

(C)

A lawyer shall not hold himself or herself out as having a partnership with one or

more other lawyers or professional corporations unless they are in fact partners.

(D)

A partnership shall not be formed or continued between or among lawyers

licensed in different jurisdictions unless all enumerations of the members and associates of the

firm on its letterhead and in other permissible listings make clear the jurisdictional limitations on

those members and associates of the firm not licensed to practice in all listed jurisdictions;

however, the same firm name may be used in each jurisdiction.

(E)

A lawyer who is engaged both in the practice of law and another profession or

business shall not so indicate on the lawyer's letterhead, office sign, or professional card, nor

shall the lawyer identify himself or herself as a lawyer in any publication in connection with his

or her other profession or business.

(F)

Nothing contained in this rule shall prohibit a lawyer from using or permitting the

use, in connection with the lawyer's name, of an earned degree or title derived from an earned

degree indicating the lawyer's training in the law.

(G) A legal clinic operated by one or more lawyers may be organized by the lawyer or

lawyers for the purpose of providing standardized and multiple legal services. The name of the

law office shall consist only of the names of one or more of the active practitioners in the

organization, and may include the phrase "legal clinic" or words of similar import. The use of a

trade name or geographical or other type of identification or description is prohibited

anized by the lawyer or

lawyers for the purpose of providing standardized and multiple legal services. The name of the

law office shall consist only of the names of one or more of the active practitioners in the

organization, and may include the phrase "legal clinic" or words of similar import. The use of a

trade name or geographical or other type of identification or description is prohibited. The name

of any active practitioner in the clinic may be retained in the name of the legal clinic after the

lawyer's death, retirement or inactivity because of age or disability, and the name must otherwise

conform to other provisions of the Code of Professional Responsibility and The Supreme Court

Rules for the Government of the Bar of Ohio. The legal clinic cannot be owned by, and profits or

losses cannot be shared with, nonlawyers or lawyers who are not actively engaged in the practice

of law in the organization.