A majority of solicitors in Liverpool support a full ban on advertising by lawyers, Liverpool Law Society revealed this week.

In a survey that attracted more than 200 responses, 55% of solicitors in the city were in favour of a complete ban to preserve the reputation of the profession, with 45% against. On the option of a partial ban, 57% were in favour, with 27% against.


Solicitors objected most strongly to television advertising, with only 6% of those who supported a partial ban wanting to permit adverts, and 86% voting against them.


McCarthy: profession polarised

More than four-fifths of those who favoured a partial ban wanted to scrap radio adverts and advertising in hospitals and on buses, while almost two-thirds wanted to see an end to mailshots.

However, there was far less objection to more low-key advertising methods, with only one-fifth wanting to see advertising in the Yellow Pages and other directories banned. Almost half of those who wanted a partial ban supported advertising through law firms' Web sites or calendars, and 41% thought leaflets were an acceptable form of advertising.


Norman Jones, chairman of the law society's civil litigation committee, said: 'This survey reflects the very strong feeling in Liverpool on this issue. A lot of people are against advertising as a medium, but if the profession does not go forward with a complete ban, then solicitors feel that advertising in some areas in particular is bringing the profession into disrepute.


'This is a good barometer to show how the profession feels. The poll was about whether perception of the profession is being damaged by advertising, and a lot of people have taken a dim view.'


He added that any advertising ban should apply to all providers of legal services, not just lawyers.


Incoming Liverpool Law Society President Paul McCarthy said: 'The answers given to the main question show that the local profession is almost completely polarised as to whether in principle advertising should be banned.


'We will be sending out letters this week to get further comments from the profession.'


Liverpool has one of the largest local law societies in the UK with around 1,600 members.