Q I wish to provide business cards for my staff to hand out.

What information am I permitted or required to have on there?

A Section 1 of the Solicitors' Publicity Code 2001 requires that all publicity must not be inaccurate or misleading.

You are not required to include any particular information on a business card, but any information you do include should be accurate and not misleading.

Therefore if you use a description for an unadmitted member of staff you must ensure that it does not imply that that person is a solicitor.

Q I am aware that I have to put 'regulated by the Law Society' on letterheads.

Does this include fax headings, compliment slips, bill paper and e-mails?

A The requirement under section 2 of the Publicity Code 2001 relates to your 'letterhead' which is defined as including fax headings.

It does not apply to compliment slips or to bills.

Be aware

The Law Society's professional ethics team has produced a free booklet entitled Do I need a Practising Certificate? Solicitors can obtain a copy by telephoning the number below (leaving a name and address on the information pack line).

Telephone hotline

The professional ethics lines are open for general enquiries between 11am and 1pm, and 2pm and 4pm.

The telephone lines are less busy in the afternoon.

It takes emergency calls outside these hours, tel: 0870 606 2577.

Question of ethics is compiled by the Law Society's professional ethics guidance team.

Send questions for publication to Austin O'Malley, the Law Society, Ipsley Court, Berrington Close, Redditch B98 0TD; DX 19114 Redditch; tel: 020 7242 1222