Rule 7.5 5. Firm Names and Letterheads

Law firms have rules about the names they can use to advertise themselves. A firm's name or letterhead can't be false or misleading, which ties back to the general rule against misleading advertising (Rule 7.1). Lawyers in private practice can use a trade name (a made-up business name instead of just listing the lawyers' names), but that name can't suggest the firm is connected to a government office or a charity legal aid group.

If a law firm has offices in several states, it can use the same firm name in Indiana as long as the name follows the rules above. The firm also needs to make clear which lawyers are not licensed to practice in Indiana, so clients aren't confused about who can actually represent them here.

If a lawyer at the firm holds public office, like a judge or elected official, the firm generally can't keep that person's name on its letterhead or in its firm name while they're away from regular practice. There's an exception for lawyers who serve in part-time roles, like state legislators or city council members, since they usually keep practicing law on the side.

Finally, a firm can only say it operates as a partnership, or any other business structure, if that's actually true. Lawyers can't claim to be partners or part of an organization if that isn't really how they're set up.