Formal Opinion 141.
(1969)
Attorney’s Appearance on TV

An opinion has been requested as to whether it would be proper for an attorney to act as host and moderator on a series of televised high school debate shows where he is identified on the program as an attorney, but no mention is made of his law firm.

We believe that ABA Formal Opinion No. 298 is determinative. That opinion, in part, provides as follows:

"In the case of continuing education or public information programs ... produced by the television and broadcasting companies, designed and used as public information programs, lawyers ... may properly appear and be identified as such, either generally or individually, provided, always, that such programs conform to proper standards of the Bench and Bar."

ABA Informal Opinion No. C230(g) states that commercial sponsorship of such a program would not of itself make participation by an attorney improper.

We conclude, therefore, that participation by an attorney in such a series of television shows is proper as long as the programs and the attorney’s participation therein conform to other standards of the Bar.