{"meta":{"dataset":"opinions","title":"Legal-marketing ethics opinions, 2015–2026","version":"1.0.0","doi":"10.5281/zenodo.23656749","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23656749","conceptDoi":"10.5281/zenodo.23656748","license":"CC BY 4.0","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/","attribution":"Source: Probative, Legal-marketing ethics opinions, 2015–2026, version 1.0.0, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23656749, licensed CC BY 4.0.","citation":"Probative. (2026). Legal-marketing ethics opinions, 2015–2026 (Version 1.0.0) [Data set]. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23656749","disclaimer":"Not legal advice. This is a plain-English summary of public ethics opinions, kept for marketing planning, and opinions and rules change. Check with your state bar and your own counsel before you run an ad.","notice":"Probative is a marketing firm, not a law firm; not legal advice.","lastChecked":"2026-10-25","url":"https://probativegrowth.com/data/v1/opinions/jurisdictions/ABA.json","humanUrl":"https://probativegrowth.com/data/opinions/","statusCodes":{"P":"primary source","S":"secondary source","D":"ABA model default","U":"open question"}},"key":"ABA","records":[{"id":"aba-496","dataset":"opinions","jurisdiction":"ABA","jurisdictionKey":"aba","jurisdictionName":"American Bar Association","fips":null,"body":"American Bar Association, Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility","number":"496","opinionType":"formal","bindingWeight":"advisory-committee","issued":"2021-01-13","dateNote":null,"title":"Responding to Online Criticism","topics":["reviews"],"researchTopics":["online-reviews"],"holding":"A lawyer may not reveal client information to answer a bad online review; a review alone does not trigger self-defense, so stay silent or reply without client details.","text":"A lawyer may not reveal client information to answer a bad online review; a review alone does not trigger self-defense, so stay silent or reply without client details.","whatToDo":"Do not reply to negative reviews with any client details; either stay silent, ask the site to remove false posts, or post a short reply inviting private contact.","opinionStatus":"unknown","statusNote":"americanbar.org returned HTTP 403, so the ABA's own listing could not be checked for later changes; the Colorado Bar Association page (2026-10-25) lists it as current ABA guidance that disagrees with CBA Formal Op. 136","supersedes":[],"supersededBy":[],"rules":["1.6(a)","1.6(b)(5)"],"url":"https://www.cobar.org/Portals/COBAR/Repository/CBA/Ethics22221/aba-formal-opinion-496.pdf?ver=2021-02-22-123525-717&timestamp=1614022496445","sourceKind":"secondary","quote":"As a best practice, lawyers should consider not responding to a negative post or review, because doing so may draw more attention to it","status":"S","dateRead":"2026-10-25","lastChecked":"2026-10-25","effectiveFrom":"2021-01-13","effectiveTo":null,"era":"2020-2026","sources":[{"label":"American Bar Association, Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility, 496","url":"https://www.cobar.org/Portals/COBAR/Repository/CBA/Ethics22221/aba-formal-opinion-496.pdf?ver=2021-02-22-123525-717&timestamp=1614022496445","kind":"secondary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"As a best practice, lawyers should consider not responding to a negative post or review, because doing so may draw more attention to it"}],"note":"Full text of the ABA opinion read from a copy hosted by the Colorado Bar Association (linked from cobar.org Formal Ethics Opinions page next to CBA Op. 136). americanbar.org returned HTTP 403 to fetch.py, so the ABA's own copy was not read; evidence S because the host is not the ABA."}]}