Originally from Dispute Resolution Journal

Whether members of professional organizations should be permitted to advertise is an issue of major concern today. In this study, equal numbers of union and company representatives and arbitrators (a total of 39) were queried on their attitudes toward labor arbitrator advertising. Support for this practice, as well as topics to be advertised and the effectiveness of promotional efforts, were considered.

Approximately 40 percent of the respondents approved of advertising, with the greatest opposition coming from lawyers representing companies and members of the National Academy of Arbitrators with law degrees. Among the reasons for this opposition was the belief that the profession would be demeaned, the practice would not be effectual, and that advertisers would be commercializing arbitration and engaging in unethical practices.