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

Rhode Island is one of the few states that makes you send copies of print, radio and TV ads and of direct solicitations to Disciplinary Counsel within 48 hours of first use, and online ads still need a responsible lawyer's name and address and must be truthful, including any AI-made content.

Who enforces it

Rhode Island Supreme Court, enforced through the Supreme Court Disciplinary Counsel

The rules

Rules 7.1 to 7.5 of Article V of the Supreme Court Rules (Rules of Professional Conduct); filing duties are in Rules 7.2(b) and 7.3(d)

Filing or review

Yes. Rule 7.2(b) says a copy of each print ad (other than yellow pages), a recording of each radio ad and a videotape of each TV ad must be sent to the Supreme Court Disciplinary Counsel before or within 48 hours of first use, and a copy kept for three years with a record of when and where it ran. Rule 7.3(d) requires a copy of each written, recorded or electronic solicitation to a prospective client to be sent to Disciplinary Counsel and kept three years; one copy plus a recipient list is enough for identical mailings. The rule text names print, radio and TV ads and does not mention websites or social posts. Filing page

Required labels

Every communication under Rule 7.2 must include the name and office address of at least one responsible lawyer or firm (Rule 7.2(d)). Ads saying no fee without recovery must conspicuously say if the client still owes costs or expenses (Rule 7.2(e)). Solicitations to people known to need legal help must carry the words 'Advertising Material' on the envelope and at the beginning and end of any recorded or electronic message (Rule 7.3(c)). Testimonials and endorsements must be identified as such, with payment and non-client status disclosed (Rule 7.1(b)). Dramatizations must be identified as dramatizations (Rule 7.1(c)).

Testimonials, results, specialist

Under Rule 7.1(b) a testimonial or endorsement is misleading unless it is identified as a testimonial or endorsement, discloses any payment, and says if the speaker is not an actual client. Rule 7.1 comment 3 warns that reporting past results can mislead. Rule 7.4(d) bars stating or implying you are a certified specialist unless an approved or ABA-accredited organization certified you, it is named, and the court disclaimer that Rhode Island licenses all lawyers in general practice and does not certify specialists is included.

Online ads

Rule 7.2(a) allows advertising by written, recorded or electronic communication, including public media, and the comments recognize the internet and email. The Court's June 17, 2026 Interim Guidelines on generative AI (advisory, not rules) say a lawyer using AI tools to create advertising, in-house or through a third-party provider, remains responsible for the content and must make sure it complies with Rules 7.1 to 7.5 before publication.

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 Rhode Island needs your Rhode Island license, and it is still lawyer advertising under the rules above.

Sources: courts.ri.gov, courts.ri.gov.

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