FTC criticizes proposed NY attorney ad restrictions

Per Digital Video Editing, the Federal Trade Commission says that proposed changes to rules on attorney advertising in New York state are too restrictive and harm consumers.

In comments to the New York State Unified Court System, FTC staffers, with the backing of commissioners, say they are concerned the changes are not specifically tailored to prevent deception and could instead suppress truthful, nonmisleading advertising.

It offered disclosure rather than prohibitions as a better alternative, and said prohibitions on advertising should only be considered if the problem were not resolvable through ‘clear and conspicuous disclosure.

Strange that the FTC may have to protect consumers from lawyers passing restrictions supposedly to protect consumers. Looks to me like ‘well entrenched lawyers’ are passing restrictions to prevent younger lawyers from taking some of their legal work through education based marketing that helps consumers.