86 N.J.L.J. 719
                                        December 19, 1963

OPINION 10

Advertising

    A firm of attorneys has been approached to make a gift in connection with the expansion drive of a community hospital. Inquiry has been made as to whether it would be proper for the members of the firm to make a gift jointly to the hospital and to have their names inscribed upon a plaque which would be displayed in the hospital. It is proposed to make the gift as follows:
        "Gift of Mr. and Mrs. A and Mr. and Mrs. B"

    In the making of the gift and upon the plaque there will be no reference to A and B as members of a law firm.
    In the opinion of the Committee, there is nothing professionally improper in the making of a gift in this manner. Even though it may be known throughout the community that two of the donors are members of a law firm, their giving is as individual members of the community and not as attorneys; hence, they cannot be said to be advertising, either directly or indirectly, within the purview of Canon 27 of the Canons of Professional Ethics of the American Bar Association. See Drinker, Legal Ethics 247 (1953) and opinions cited. To hold otherwise would place an unwarranted burden upon attorneys in their relationship to community activities.