LEO: Advertising: Use of Actors/Nonclients in  LE Op. 1119

Advertising: Use of Actors/Nonclients in Television Commercial.

October 14, 1988

You have requested an informal, advisory opinion from the Virginia State

Bar Standing Committee on Legal Ethics ("Committee") regarding videotapes

of proposed television commercials for your firm and have asked whether

these advertisements are in accordance with the provisions of DR:2-101.

The script made for television was not in violation of DR:2-101

provided that your firm has had actual clients whose circumstances and

results generally comport with those represented in the script and

videotapes for the proposed television commercials.

Moreover, the Committee opines that these commercials do not violate DR:

2-101, provided that your firm has had an actual client whose

circumstances and results generally comport with those represented by the

actor in the commercial.

Committee Opinion October 14, 1988