The Ohio Board of Professional Conduct has issued an advisory opinion addressing the use of registered service marks by law firms.

The Rules of Professional Conduct permit the use of a registered service mark by Ohio lawyers and law firms, provided the service mark is not false, misleading, or unverifiable, concludes Advisory Opinion 2020-12. 

A service mark identifies a business that provides a service or services compared with a trademark, which identifies the source of goods.

The board specifically found that the use of the word “pro” or “pros” in a service mark is not permissible.

A service mark may communicate a limitation or concentration in a particular field of law, the opinion states. The board also advises lawyers that the use of a service mark must be accompanied by the formal name of a law firm and cannot be used in lieu of a law firm name.