Federal Trade Commission Staff Comment Before the Louisiana State Bar Association Rules of Professional

UNITED STATES OF AMERICAFEDERAL TRADE COMMISSIONWASHINGTON, D.C. 20580Office of Policy PlanningBureau of Consumer ProtectionBureau of CompetitionBureau of EconomicMarch 14, 2007Richard Lemmler, Jr., Esq.Ethics CounselRules of Professional Conduct CommitteeLouisiana State Bar Association601 St. Charles AvenueNew Orleans, LA 70130-3404Re: Louisiana State Bar Association Rules of Professional Conduct Committee Request For Comments Regarding Proposed Rules on Lawyer Advertising and SolicitationDear Mr. Lemmler:The staff of the Federal Trade Commission’s (“FTC” or “Commission”) Office of Policy1Planning, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Bureau of Competition and Bureau of Economics ispleased to submit these comments pursuant to the Louisiana State Bar Association Rules of2Professional Conduct Committee’s (“Committee”) Request for Comments to its Proposed Rules3on Lawyer Advertising and Solicitation (“Proposed Rules”). This letter briefly summarizes theCommission’s interest and experience in the regulation of attorney advertising and solicitationand provides the staff’s opinion regarding the anticipated effects of the Proposed Rules onconsumers and competition. The FTC enforces laws prohibiting unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptiveacts or practices in or affecting commerce, which includes primary responsibility for stopping4deceptive advertising practices. Pursuant to its statutory mandate, the Commission encouragescompetition in ...