Jonathan Grabb, Ethics Counsel (Florida State Bar): “In Florida, testimonials have very specific requirements. First, you cannot use an actor to give a testimonial in place of the actual person. You must have the person’s informed consent to use their testimonial, and you cannot give them anything of value in exchange for it.
Additionally, you cannot script the testimonial for them. For example, you can’t say, ‘Here’s what I want you to say on camera.’ Testimonials must be in their own words. They can say, ‘I had a great experience,’ or ‘I was extremely happy with the results,’ as long as it reflects their genuine experience. However, statements like ‘My lawyer is the only one who could have accomplished this’ are not allowed.
You also cannot use Google reviews in advertisements without obtaining informed consent. When someone leaves a Google review, they may not anticipate it being used in broader advertising. If you plan to repurpose reviews, ensure you get proper consent, as it relates to the representation and must comply with the rules.”