Which advertising claim would breach ethical guidelines?

• A. State truthful qualifications and service areas.
• B. Include client testimonials that are genuine.
• C. Provide fee information transparently.
• D. Guarantee outcomes to secure the client.

Answer: (D)

Advertising by a barrister must be accurate and not promise a result. Guaranteeing outcomes to secure a client crosses ethical lines because it asserts certainty about results that depend on many factors beyond the lawyer’s control. That kind of promise can mislead the public and undermine the duty to be honest and to avoid creating misleading expectations. In contrast, stating truthful qualifications and service areas helps clients understand what you offer; genuine client testimonials can be used if they are accurate and not misleading; and providing fee information transparently supports informed decision-making. So the guaranteed outcome idea is the one that breaches ethical guidelines.