http://www.barcouncilofindia.org/notices.php?id=11

the link provides the details…pls do check the web sites of some firms…just to get acquainted.

Does this mean that only those particulars which are prescribed can be put up on the website???

But if that is the case… most of the sites maintained by the leading law firms will be violating the circular, since many have free legal advise sections, many also have articles and other stuff section, which are not prescribed!!!

Or is it that this circular does not apply to a ‘firm’ and applies only to a practitioner????

Anyways, thanks to Tanuj for the link!!!

I would just go ahead with designing and launching your website.

In my opinion, what is important is that it keeps within the spirit of the law - i.e., it does not advertise.

If it states the facts, e.g., what work your firm does, how to contact it, etc, that should be ok.

So many firms now have singing and dancing websites, I don’t think the BCI would pick on you.

All this with the proviso that this is not legal advice and the BCI may have a very different view of course.

Good luck, let us know how it goes.

not the BCI wrote:

[quote]I would just go ahead with designing and launching your website.

In my opinion, what is important is that it keeps within the spirit of the law - i.e., it does not advertise.

If it states the facts, e.g., what work your firm does, how to contact it, etc, that should be ok.

So many firms now have singing and dancing websites, I don’t think the BCI would pick on you.

All this with the proviso that this is not legal advice and the BCI may have a very different view of course.

Good luck, let us know how it goes.[/quote]

The question is not weather you are willing to design a website for law firms, the question is,

Weather any information, other than that prescribed by the BCI, being put up on a website, weather amounting to advertising or not, be in contravention of the relevant notification/circular?

As the legal logic (and experience) goes, if advertising was the only concern, the BCI would have framed an open ended policy that except any advertising material, everything else is allowed.

But on the contrary, it is silent on any ‘extra’ content put up on the website, which is informational but not advertising in nature.

And above all it has prescribed a from. This speaks of their intention of restricting any other info except what is prescribed in the form.

Any comments on this. I know the Associates of the Law firms who have such ‘full of life’ websites, will be sitting and watching this thread and refrain from answering!!!

Thanks to all of you for your valuable inputs.

I think the issue is debatable mainly on the point of what is perceived as advertising. There’s a fine line between providing basic information and furnishing that extra bit which may border on advertising. Most law firms get away with putting up a disclaimer – a clever trick – which works.

Having said that, I would rather be cautious while designing my web site.