The Connecticut Bar Association Ethics solons have proposed a change to our advertising rules adding language to the commentary to Rule 7.2. The proposal, taken from the American Bar Association model rule, includes a definition of “recommend.” In rule regimes, the devil is often found in the details, and the devil in Rule 7.2 is that it prohibits paying another to recommend a lawyer’s services.
The thesaurus tells us that synonyms for recommend include advocate, back, confirm, endorse, favor, justify, praise, prescribe, propose, suggest, uphold, urge, acclaim, advance, applaud, celebrate, commend, compliment, counsel, enjoin, esteem, eulogize, exalt, exhort, extol, glorify, laud, magnify, plug, prize, sanction, second, steer, value, go on record for, put in a good word for, speak highly of or vouch for. The proposed definition of recommend is a functional one: “(a) communication contains a recommendation if it endorses or vouches for a lawyer’s credentials, abilities, competence, character, or other professional qualities.”
