Business cards are essential for law firm marketing . The most effective business card designs for attorneys aren’t just about color palettes and card stock. In addition to featuring great design and layout, law firm business cards also need to recognize an attorney’s ethical responsibilities. However, when done and used right, a business card can be a powerful way to strengthen your networking efforts —and to connect with future clients .
If you’re a lawyer thinking of investing in business cards, you need to consider a few key factors. Read on to learn more about how attorneys can use business cards to their advantage—and what ethical concerns you should consider. We’ll also cover the key details to include to help you stand out from other firms and encourage potential clients to get in touch.
You may be asking, “Do lawyers need business cards?” Yes—for attorneys, business cards are a simple but effective part of a larger marketing plan.
It’s true that today’s online-driven world calls for law firms to use digital marketing strategies like law firm websites and social media . Still, having a tangible way to convey your key professional details is still a valuable way to solidify impressions and connect. This is where business card designs for attorneys come in.
When designed and distributed with ethics in mind (more on that later in this post), a law firm business card can:
Today’s lawyers do use business cards as part of a larger marketing strategy. Law firm business cards are a valuable way to leave a lasting impression on colleagues and potential clients. Still, lawyers must design and distribute them with specific ethical responsibilities in mind.
Before you print up any law firm business cards, it’s important to learn the ethics of legal business cards . The exact rules for lawyer business cards vary depending on where your practice is located. But in general, think of business cards for lawyers in a similar context as lawyer advertising . Essentially, lawyers need to take care to abide by the specific rules in their jurisdiction.
In general, however, ethical considerations for lawyer business cards may include:
To create an effective business card and stay compliant with the rules, you should consult your jurisdiction for the state-level specifics for lawyer business cards.
In addition to considering what you can ethically put on your business card, you should also consider where and when you can leave your business card as an attorney. You may want to have a business card on hand to give to a colleague at a networking event or a potential client who asks you for your card. However, it’s important to beware of situations where leaving a business card could violate your ethical obligations (check the rules for your jurisdiction for the specifics that apply to you).
In general, however, don’t distribute your business cards to strangers who haven’t asked for one. Also, be careful to avoid using your card to directly solicit your services (for more about the rules regarding Solicitation of Clients, see ABA Rule 7.3 ).
Balance is key to effective business card designs for attorneys: You want to make your card readable and visually pleasing while including the details that convey who you are, what you do, and how to reach you, including:
Consistent branding is powerful , and your law firm’s logo is an effective way to quickly and visually represent your firm’s professional image. So, showcase your brand on your business card.
If you have a short tagline, consider including it on your business card. A catchy tagline can further your brand messaging to prospective clients. A few caveats, however:
This may seem obvious, but it’s worth calling out: If your business card doesn’t include a way to reach you, it won’t be effective. The goal is to make it easy for clients to reach you. While you should check the rules for what’s allowed in your area, you’ll likely want to include:
Similarly, if applicable, you may also want to include details like your jurisdiction and/or practice area to make it clear to potential clients where you are licensed to practice law, and if you are in the right practice area for them.
While it isn’t part of your contact information, including your law firm’s name (if it’s not already a clear part of your logo) is just as important. Including your firm name helps enhance your professionalism and credibility while also enhancing the branding on your business card.
While it’s less common for business card designs for attorneys to include a call to action, using an action word can help motivate potential clients to reach out and set your card apart from the competition.
For instance, instead of simply listing an email address ([email protected]), you could include “Reach out for your estate law needs— [email protected] .” Or you could include a QR code to direct people to your website.
This business card features a clean, simple design with all the essential information on one side, with the logo taking center stage on the other.
With lots of white space and an interesting combination of portrait and landscape formats on each side, this business card is simple yet eye-catching.
This business card includes all the critical information on one side, while the law firm logo front and center on the other.
We love the bold background on one of the sides. They’ve also included a QR code, which is a great and efficient way to encourage people to visit your website. The QR code also signals to potential clients that you’re a tech-savvy law firm, and likely to offer more flexible and convenient legal services.
The vertical layout helps this business card stand out from its competitors. It doesn’t hurt that the design is clean and crisp, with great use of white space.
Business cards may be old school, but they’re also classic for a reason: They’re an effective tool when making professional connections, even for attorneys.
While it’s important to first learn and follow any ethical rules for law firm business cards, lawyers can—and should—use business cards as a way to connect with clients and network effectively.
The best business card designs for attorneys are thoughtfully created to capture the recipient’s attention and convey key information. A simple piece of paper serves as a valuable tool to communicate and connect attorneys with clients.
We published this blog post in November 2021. Last updated: April 19, 2023 .
