Will Clients Hire Attorneys on Groupon Now that State Bars Approve?

Have you ever seen online "daily deals" for legal services?

Maybe not. Online deal websites like Groupon and LivingSocial focus more on deals that consumers can quickly pick up and use.

Deals for restaurants, stores and simple services like massages seem to be popular residents on these daily deals sites. But, can you visualize your firm offering a Groupon?

Apparently, some State Bars can envision law firms and attorneys offering their services on daily deals sites.

The South Carolina Bar has issued a formal ethics opinion that specifically says using "daily deal" websites does not violate ethics rules. The North Carolina Bar is proposing a similar ethics opinion.

Maybe your State Bar will soon be allowing lawyers to advertise on daily deals sites as well.

But, does this mean that you should?

Ultimately, it's up to a firm to decide what marketing strategy is right for their audience. And, of course, a daily deals site would not be the best platform for all firms. Don't expect a throng of prospective clients to buy up your "Groupon deal" if your firm specializes in antitrust law.

Clients may also be wary about hiring attorneys from a Groupon deal. They might wonder why your firm needs to slash prices. Offering a deal might not be the best for the firm's public image.

And, you don't necessarily want to run the risk of irritating current clients. Current clients who are paying your full fee might be a little irritated if they find out you offered your services at half the cost to the general public.

So, is utilizing daily deals for your legal services a good idea? Maybe, though it all depends on your firm and your firm's marketing goals.

Related Resources:

• Another State Bar Proposes to Allow Online "Daily Deals" (Virtual Law Practice)
• Visibility, Design, Content: Successful Law Firm Online Marketing (FindLaw's Technologist)
• Law Firm's Free Divorce Offer Makes Headlines (FindLaw's Strategist)
• Starting a Solo Practice: Top 3 Initial Marketing Moves (FindLaw's Strategist)