The Law: Credit to the Profession

After much rumination, the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility has solemnly decided that it will now permit lawyers to take credit cards—under certain rigidly defined conditions, of course. To accept such payments used to be a violation of the old Canons of Professional Ethics. But legal ethics, as is well known, have been changing. The new ruling comes complete with a formal opinion barring any extra charge for clients who use credit cards. Lawyers offering the service may promote it only with a small sign “tactfully displayed” in their offices.