Card of Law Firm - Containing Non-Lawyer Office Manager's Name
Annotate this Case 107 N.J.L.J. 127
February 12, 1981
Appointed by the New Jersey Supreme Court
OPINION 471
Card of Law Firm - Containing
Non-Lawyer Office Manager's Name
The inquirer is a member of a law firm which employs a non-lawyer office manager. He inquires whether it would be ethical for the firm to permit its office manager to use a business card containing the office manager's name, the designation "Office Manager," and the name, address and telephone number of the law firm.
Although this Committee has never addressed this precise point, similar questions were discussed in Opinion 9, 86 N.J.L.J. 617 (1963); Opinion 296, 98 N.J.L.J. 105 (1975); and Opinion 296 (Supplement), 99 N.J.L.J. 113 (1976). Opinion 9, held it unethical for an attorney to permit his name or that of his firm to be placed on the business card of an investigator. Opinion 296, supra, held that it would be unethical for a law firm to permit a full-time investigator-paralegal to use a business card indicating his name, capacity, and the name, address and telephone number of the firm. Opinion 296, supra, also held that it would be improper for the firm to include on its letterhead the name of a full-time non-lawyer investigative employee.
The dangers foreseen in Opinion 9, supra, and Opinion 296, supra, with regard to non-lawyer investigators included improper advertising, unethical solicitation of employment, aiding the unauthorized practice of law and the use of self-laudatory statements. While all these dangers may be involved even in the well intentioned use of business cards and firm stationery by para- professional investigators, because of the types of persons with whom they deal and the types of tasks they perform, the use of business cards and the signing of firm stationery by non-lawyer office managers would not encounter the same dangers.
Accordingly, we are of the opinion that it is ethical for a lawyer or a law firm to permit a non-lawyer office manager to use a business card indicating the name of the office manager, the designation "Office Manager," and the name, address and telephone number of the attorney or firm, provided that the office manager's name does not appear on the firm letterhead and that the business cards will be used only in conjunction with vendors, suppliers, and other personnel with whom the office manager has direct contact in the administration of the law office. Nothing in this opinion should, however, be read to permit the use of business cards by other paraprofessional employees or, except as specifically provided by Opinion 296 (Supplement), supra, to permit office managers or other nonlawyers to sign letters written on law firm stationery.
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