What What Bar Rules Actually Require for Family Law Testimonials — and What They Don't. for Family Law Testimonials — and What They Don't

Family law creates a unique confidentiality problem that other practice areas rarely face. Your clients' matters involve custody disputes, domestic violence, financial disclosures, and deeply personal family circumstances. Even a positive review can reveal information that ABA Model Rule 1.6 protects.

The core tension: Google reviews help family law firms rank in local search. But soliciting those reviews — or even acknowledging a client relationship — can create ethical exposure if not handled carefully.

Consider what a typical positive review reveals: "Attorney Smith helped me through my divorce and got me custody of my children." That single sentence confirms the reviewer was a divorce client, had a custody dispute, and achieved a favorable outcome. In some jurisdictions, the lawyer who solicited that review has arguably revealed confidential information.

What Rule 1.6 Actually Covers

Rule 1.6 protects "information relating to the representation of a client." Courts and bar associations have interpreted this broadly. The protection extends to:

• The fact that an attorney-client relationship exists
• The nature of the legal matter
• Any information learned during representation
• Outcomes, settlements, or judgments

The rule applies unless the client gives informed consent. This is where documentation becomes critical — verbal permission isn't sufficient for compliance purposes.

Note: This is educational content about bar rules, not legal advice. Verify current requirements with your state bar association.

A signed consent form is the foundation of compliant testimonial use. But not all consent forms actually provide adequate protection. Many template forms lack the specificity bar associations expect.

Elements of Adequate Written Consent

Your testimonial consent form should address:

• Scope of disclosure: Exactly what information the client authorizes you to reveal or confirm
• Placement specifics: Where the testimonial will appear (website, Google, social media, print materials)
• Duration: How long consent remains valid and how the client can revoke it
• Third-party platforms: Acknowledgment that reviews on Google or Avvo may be permanent and outside your control
• No outcome guarantees: Statement that the testimonial reflects this client's experience, not a promise of similar results

Timing Considerations

When you request testimonials matters for compliance. Many state bars restrict attorney-client contact for specific purposes during active representation. In our experience, most family law firms request testimonials:

• After case conclusion and final billing
• During a scheduled follow-up call (30-90 days post-resolution)
• Through automated email sequences triggered by case closure in practice management software

The key is separating testimonial requests from the representation itself. Requesting a review while negotiating custody terms creates coercion concerns that state bars take seriously.

ABA Model Rules provide a framework, but your state bar's specific rules control. Variations are significant enough that what's permissible in Texas may be prohibited in New York.

Common State-Level Variations

Disclaimer requirements: Some states require specific language on testimonials. California Rule 1-400 has historically required "This testimonial or endorsement does not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter." Other states accept simpler "results may vary" language or require no disclaimer at all.

Solicitation restrictions: Florida and certain other states have specific rules about when and how lawyers can request reviews. Some bar opinions distinguish between asking satisfied clients to share their experience (permissible) versus asking for a specific star rating (potentially problematic).

Third-party platform treatment: Bar associations increasingly issue guidance specific to Google reviews and Avvo ratings. Some states treat platform reviews differently than website testimonials because the lawyer has less control over content.

What This Means for SEO

If your family law firm serves clients across multiple states, you need the most restrictive interpretation for any marketing that crosses state lines. Your website is accessible everywhere — the safest approach applies your most conservative jurisdiction's rules to all testimonial usage.

As of 2024, these rules continue to evolve. Verify current requirements directly with your state bar before implementing any testimonial strategy.

Google Business Profile reviews directly impact local search rankings for family law firms. The compliance challenge is balancing that SEO value against bar rule constraints.

What's Generally Permissible

Based on bar opinions across most jurisdictions, family law firms can typically:

• Maintain a Google Business Profile with review functionality enabled
• Allow clients to leave unsolicited reviews
• Request reviews from clients who have given written consent for testimonial use
• Display aggregate star ratings on their website (with appropriate context)
• Use review schema markup that shows ratings in search results

Where Firms Run Into Trouble

Incentivized reviews: Offering discounts or gifts for reviews violates both Google's policies and most state bar rules. The prohibition applies even to nominal gifts.

Selective solicitation: Only asking happy clients for reviews while ignoring dissatisfied ones can create a misleading aggregate rating under Rule 7.1. Document your request process to show it's applied consistently.

Review gating: Directing satisfied clients to Google while sending unhappy clients to a private feedback form violates Google's terms and may violate bar advertising rules about misleading representations.

Schema Markup Considerations

Adding review schema to your website is generally permissible for SEO purposes. However, if you use aggregate ratings in paid advertising, some state bars consider this a specific outcome representation that may require additional disclaimers.

Negative reviews create an acute compliance trap for family lawyers. The instinct to defend your work directly conflicts with confidentiality obligations.

What You Cannot Do

Even if a former client leaves a factually false review, you generally cannot:

• Confirm or deny they were a client
• Disclose any facts about their case
• Reference documents, communications, or case outcomes
• Explain your side of any dispute about representation

Several attorneys have faced bar discipline for responding to negative reviews with case-specific information — even when the reviewer was lying and the attorney was defending legitimate work.

What You Can Do

Compliant responses to negative reviews typically include:

• Generic acknowledgment: "We take all feedback seriously and strive to provide excellent service."
• Policy statement: "Our firm is committed to client confidentiality and cannot discuss specific matters publicly."
• Invitation to private contact: "If you'd like to discuss concerns, please contact our office directly."

This feels inadequate when facing an unfair review. But the alternative — bar discipline for confidentiality violations — is worse.

Proactive Reputation Management

The best defense against negative review impact is building a consistent stream of positive reviews from consenting clients. This dilutes individual negative reviews mathematically while staying within compliance bounds.

Building a testimonial system that's both effective for SEO and bar-compliant requires deliberate process design. Here's what works in practice.

Intake Integration

Add testimonial consent to your engagement materials. During initial consultation, include language explaining that you may request feedback after case conclusion. This primes clients and creates a documented touchpoint, though final consent should come at case conclusion.

Post-Case Workflow

1. Case closure trigger: When a matter closes in your practice management system, queue a testimonial request for 30-45 days later
2. Consent verification: Before any review request goes out, confirm written consent is on file
3. Platform selection: Direct most requests to Google Business Profile (highest SEO impact)
4. Follow-up limit: One reminder maximum — multiple requests create coercion concerns

Documentation Protocol

Maintain records of:

• Signed consent forms with scope and date
• When review requests were sent and to whom
• Any instructions provided about review content

If a bar association ever questions your testimonial practices, this documentation demonstrates good-faith compliance efforts.

Annual Review

Bar rules change. State opinions evolve. Schedule an annual review of your testimonial policies against current bar guidance. Many firms do this alongside their ethics CLE requirements.

For family law firms ready to build review systems that respect both SEO best practices and bar requirements, compliant SEO strategies for family law firms start with understanding these foundational rules.