Farrell Family Law Solicitors placed an advertisement in The Irish Times over the Christmas period which said, 'Unhappy Family Christmas?

Call Farrell Family Law Solicitors for confidential advice.

Open over Christmas and New Year.'

The ad appeared in the newspaper three times last week. However, since then, there have been a number of complaints to the Law Society from members of the public who felt the ad was tasteless and was attempting to make money from people's personal problems.

The Law Society wrote to Angela Farrell, managing partner of the firm, on Friday to advise her that the ad may be in breach of the Solicitors' Advertising Regulations.

"The society has received a number of phone calls from solicitors and members of the public alike, expressing the view that this advertisement is unacceptable and in bad taste, " Law Society directorgeneral, Ken Murphy, told the Sunday Tribune.

According to the advertising regulations, no advertisement promoting a solicitor's practice should appear in a way that is likely to bring the solicitors' profession into disrepute, or that is in bad taste. Under the same regulations, solicitors' ads can not appear on the death notices page of a newspaper, as this could be seen as cashing in on the bereaved.

In 2003, the regulation standards were changed to effectively ban personal injuries advertising, with phrases such as 'no win, no fee', 'free first consultation' and 'most cases settle out of court' outlawed from solicitors' advertisements. There are no specific limits on divorce and family law advertising.

"The advertisement will be placed before the next meeting of the society's complaints and client relations committee later this month, " said Murphy. "The committee will be asked to consider whether or not the advertisement is in breach of the advertising regulations."

Until then, the law firm has been ordered not to publish the advertisement again. If Farrell is found to have breached the regulations, the matter will be referred to the Solicitors' Disciplinary Tribunal, which could find her guilty of professional misconduct.

Angela Farrell was unavailable for comment this weekend.