In Bridgeport, ChatGPT named 4 injury firms. Is yours one of them?

Connecticut is a filing state: file every ad with the Statewide Grievance Committee on or before first use (your website is exempt if its domain is listed), label direct solicitations "Advertising Material" in red, and wait 40 days before soliciting accident victims.

Who enforces it

Statewide Grievance Committee (through the Statewide Bar Counsel), under the Connecticut Superior Court's Practice Book

The rules

Rules of Professional Conduct 7.1 to 7.5 (including 7.4A to 7.4C) and Practice Book Sections 2-28A and 2-28B

Filing or review

Yes. Any lawyer who advertises through any media must file a copy of each ad or communication with the Statewide Grievance Committee before or at the same time as first use, in the format the Committee sets (it may be electronic). The filing includes a transcript for audio or video, a sample envelope for mail, a statement of media, frequency and time period, and a list of the lawyer's law-practice domain names, updated quarterly. The rule states no fee. Filing page

Required labels

Written, recorded or electronic solicitations to people known to need legal help must be labeled "Advertising Material" in red ink on the first page and the lower left corner of the envelope, and at the beginning and end of audio, video or electronic versions (Rule 7.3(e)). Every ad must give the name and contact information of at least one Connecticut-admitted lawyer (Rule 7.2(e)). Any ad that mentions a fee must say whether the client owes court costs and expenses (Rule 7.2(f)).

Contacting accident victims

40 days after the accident or disaster before soliciting an injury or wrongful death matter (Rule 7.3(c)(4)).

Testimonials, results, specialist

Reporting a result can mislead unless it carries a disclaimer that the result depends on the facts of that case (comment to Rule 7.1). A specific fee must be honored for at least 90 days. A lawyer may not state or imply specialist certification unless certified by a board approved by the Rules Committee of the Superior Court or an ABA-accredited organization, and the certifier is named (Rule 7.2(d)). No testimonial-specific rule found.

Online ads

The contents of a lawyer's website are exempt from filing if they sit under a domain name the lawyer has listed with the Committee (Section 2-28A(b)(7)). Electronic ads must be copied every three months and kept three years (Rule 7.2(b)(1)). A distinctive website address or social media username can serve as a firm designation if not misleading. A lawyer may join an internet client-matching service that follows the rules (Rule 7.2(h)). Nothing on AI found.

ChatGPT Ads

OpenAI accepts US law-firm ads from firms licensed where the ad runs, after business verification and ad review. A ChatGPT ad aimed at Connecticut needs your Connecticut license, and it is still lawyer advertising under the rules above.

Sources: jud.ct.gov.

More on how the rules work across states: law firm advertising rules and can lawyers advertise on ChatGPT.