Advertising rules for lawyers’ services mooted

By LUCIANNE LIMO

Lawyers will soon be able to advertise and market their services once the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Council publishes rules to guide them.

The LSK has already circulated the draft Advocates (Marketing and Advertising) Rules 2014 to members for input and comments.

In the past, lawyers have not been allowed to advertise or market their services in Kenya.

The LSK published the new rules following a High Court order in March last year where it ruled that a complete ban of advertising was unconstitutional.

Justice David Majanja held that Rule 2 of the Advocates (Practice) Rules against direct or indirect touting and advertising of legal services was unconstitutional insofar as it constituted a complete ban on advertising.

According to the draft rules, lawyers will be allowed to advertise their identity, their law firm, and year of admission, location of office, address and website.

The new rules, however, forbid lawyers from directly or indirectly seeking instructions for professional business or anything which can be regarded as calculated to attract business unfairly.

 Lawyers are advised that any advertisement allowed under the rules must be objective, true and dignified.