Can a lawyer join a local volunteer ambulance corps or similar civic group?

Plain-English summary

The Committee was asked whether it is proper for an attorney to join a local volunteer ambulance corps. It answered that lawyers have always been actively involved in volunteer organizations and should be encouraged to continue such activities, with the single qualification that the participation not be used to advertise for or solicit clients, directly or indirectly.

Currency note

This opinion was issued in April 1969, before New Jersey's September 13, 1971 adoption of the Disciplinary Rules (Code of Professional Responsibility), so the Committee was applying the Canons of Professional Ethics. It also predates the 1984 Rules of Professional Conduct and all later revisions, and the law of lawyer advertising and solicitation changed substantially after Bates v. State Bar of Arizona (1977). The solicitation principle it applied is now treated under RPC 7.3. Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance. Verify against current rules before relying on any specific rule or requirement mentioned here.

Common questions

Q: Can a lawyer participate in a volunteer civic organization like an ambulance corps?

A: Yes. The Committee held it proper, and said lawyers should be encouraged to take part in volunteer organizations.

Q: What is the limit on that participation?

A: The Committee's only qualification was that the participation not be used to advertise for or solicit clients, directly or indirectly.

Background and rules framework

The opinion applied the Canons of Professional Ethics' bar on using outside activities to advertise or solicit, while endorsing lawyers' civic and volunteer involvement. In current New Jersey terms, the solicitation limit is governed by RPC 7.3.

Citations and references

Other authorities:

• Canons of Professional Ethics (advertising and solicitation principles)

See also

• NJ ACPE Op. 200: Advertising on Christmas Cards
• NJ ACPE Op. 274: Soliciting Escheat Claimants

Source

• Full text (Justia mirror): https://law.justia.com/cases/new-jersey/advisory-committee-on-professional-ethics/2004/acp151-1.html
• Issuing authority: New Jersey Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Professional Ethics, via the NJ Courts Supreme Court Committees page

Original opinion text

Reproduced from a full-text mirror of the official opinion for research purposes. The linked official source controls.

92 N.J.L.J. 213, April 3, 1969

OPINION 151

Attorney Joining Ambulance Corps

This Committee has been asked whether it is proper for an attorney to join a local volunteer ambulance corps.

Lawyers have always been actively involved in volunteer organizations and should be encouraged to continue such activities as long as their participation is not used to advertise for or solicit clients directly or indirectly.