In less than three months, a major change in telemarketing compliance will take effect, impacting law firms and legal marketing teams across the nation. On January 27, 2025, the FCC’s 1:1 Consent Rule will officially go into effect, requiring significant changes to how consent is obtained for marketing calls and texts. For firms that rely on lead generation and intake services to build their client base, this rule introduces stricter guidelines—and higher stakes. To keep this urgent deadline front and center, Blue Sky Legal has developed a real-time countdown ticker that reminds law firms just how much time remains before compliance is required.

Our countdown ticker isn’t just a visual tool; it’s a reminder to prioritize compliance and take the necessary steps to protect your firm from TCPA violations. Here’s why this rule change is so critical, what it means for your law firm, and how Blue Sky Legal’s approach helps you stay ahead of the deadline.

What Is the FCC’s 1:1 Consent Rule?

The 1:1 Consent Rule mandates that only the "seller" of goods or services—in this case, the law firm itself—can legally obtain prior express written consent to contact a consumer through calls or texts. This means that any third-party lead generator or intake provider working on behalf of a law firm must explicitly name that law firm in their consent forms, rather than using generic language that only names the lead generator or other "partners."

With the FCC’s deadline fast approaching, it’s crucial for law firms to understand that:

• Blanket consent won’t cut it anymore. Consumers must provide specific consent to be contacted by your law firm, not just by a generic “marketing partner.”
• Accountability is shifting. Law firms will be liable for any violations by third-party vendors who fail to obtain compliant consent on their behalf.

This rule is designed to give consumers more control over their personal information and limit the number of unsolicited calls or texts they receive from entities they have not specifically approved. However, for law firms, it adds a layer of complexity to client acquisition and intake processes that must be managed carefully.

Why We Created a Countdown Ticker

At Blue Sky Legal, we understand that staying compliant in a rapidly changing regulatory landscape is a top priority for law firms. With multiple deadlines and complex rules, it’s easy for critical changes to slip through the cracks. Our countdown ticker provides a real-time visual reminder of the days, hours, minutes, and seconds remaining before the rule goes into effect, keeping the urgency front and center.

The countdown ticker helps in several ways:

• Maintains a sense of urgency: Seeing the time tick down reinforces that action is needed now, not later. The countdown is a constant reminder that firms need to implement compliant consent practices well before the deadline.
• Promotes proactive compliance: This visual tool encourages law firms to get ahead of the deadline by auditing their current consent processes, updating agreements with lead generation vendors, and ensuring third-party partners meet the new requirements.
• Encourages immediate action: The FCC’s rule will soon be enforceable, and penalties for non-compliance can be severe. The countdown motivates firms to prioritize their TCPA compliance strategy.

How the 1:1 Consent Rule Affects Your Firm’s Lead Generation and Intake Processes

The new rule impacts every point of consumer telephone contact, including calls or texts that are part of lead generation or intake processes. Law firms relying on these services need to understand that:

• Your firm must be named: Consent language must specifically mention your law firm as the entity authorized to contact the consumer, and third-party vendors should provide proof of this consent.
• Third-party liability: Even if a lead generator or intake provider makes the calls, your firm can still be liable if they do not obtain compliant consent. This places the compliance burden squarely on the law firm to monitor and enforce these rules with all partners.
• Proof of consent: Law firms should require that lead generation vendors use TrustedForm or an equivalent tool to capture and store consumer consent data, offering a clear, documented trail to prove compliance.

What Law Firms Should Do Now to Prepare

With only 82 days remaining (and counting), here are the steps your firm should take to ensure compliance with the 1:1 Consent Rule:

1. Audit Your Current Practices: Review all current consent forms and practices to ensure they meet the upcoming requirements. If consent forms used by your lead generation or intake vendors don’t mention your law firm specifically, this needs to change immediately.
2. Work with Compliant Vendors: Blue Sky Legal partners with intake providers and lead generation services that use TrustedForm certificates to verify and document consumer consent. Ensure that any third-party provider your firm works with has similarly compliant practices in place.
3. Update Contracts: Add language to your agreements with lead generation vendors and intake providers that holds them accountable for TCPA compliance and indemnifies your firm against violations. Make it clear that they must obtain 1:1 consent on your behalf.
4. Monitor Compliance Efforts: Regularly review your partners’ compliance practices and documentation to ensure that they continue to meet TCPA standards. Even after January 2025, ongoing monitoring is critical to reduce the risk of liability.

How Blue Sky Legal Helps Your Firm Stay Compliant

At Blue Sky Legal, we don’t just alert you to upcoming changes; we help you implement the processes needed to stay compliant. Our experience in legal marketing and lead generation gives us the insight to navigate these regulatory shifts, and our countdown ticker is just one of the tools we’ve created to keep firms on track.

Blue Sky Legal offers a full range of client acquisition services that are fully compliant with the latest TCPA requirements. Our team is equipped to:

• Integrate TrustedForm certificates into all lead generation processes, so your firm has clear, verifiable proof of consumer consent.
• Partner with intake providers who follow best practices, providing transparent documentation and record-keeping to safeguard your firm.
• Stay ahead of compliance deadlines by actively monitoring regulatory changes and updating processes to minimize risk for our clients.

Don’t wait until it’s too late. The countdown is on, and Blue Sky Legal is here to help your firm meet the 1:1 Consent Rule requirements with confidence. Reach out to us today to discuss how we can support your compliance efforts and protect your practice in an evolving regulatory landscape.