OpenAI is handing out free ad credits to get advertisers onto ChatGPT. We posted about it here: https://x.com/AnthonyHigman/status/2090513891260244389?s=20
Our post included a hot tip. If you have not created an Ads Manager account yet, do it now. Then leave it turned off and wait. Our prediction is that you will receive a free ad credit email. That tip matters for law firms because legal services are now allowed to advertise on ChatGPT in the United States.
OpenAI has reached the coupon stage of building its ad business. Google, Meta, and TikTok all ran through the same phase. The credit amounts vary. One promotion offered a $50 credit after spending $50 within 14 days. Another showed $100. In France, new advertisers who spend 500 euros can receive 500 euros in credits. Credits expire 90 days after they are allocated and cannot be combined with other discounts. OpenAI has set a target of $2.5 billion in ad revenue for 2026 and expects $100 billion by 2030. The advertiser base is still small, which is why these credits exist.
What This Means for Law Firms
ChatGPT Ads reach users on the Free and Go plans. Those users are often in a conversational mindset. They ask questions and compare options. That context can be valuable for the right firm.
Legal services are now permitted in the United States under OpenAI’s advertising policy version 1.5. Permitted areas include immigration, personal injury, legal claims, and document preparation. A firm must be licensed in the jurisdiction where the ad is shown. Legal advertising outside the United States remains prohibited. Approval is manual and rolled out gradually.
The credits lower the barrier to entry. They let your firm test the platform without a large upfront commitment. The catch is the 90 day expiry. A credit is only useful if you use it. If you receive an offer, plan your campaign quickly.
Compliance still comes first. OpenAI’s approval does not replace state bar rules or the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct. Model Rule 7.1 prohibits false or misleading communications about a lawyer or the lawyer’s services. That rule reaches every element of ad copy. Headlines matter. Descriptions matter. Conversational prompts matter. Superlatives such as “best divorce attorney” are risky. Unverifiable claims about settlement rates are risky.
The conversational format adds a new layer. A user may ask ChatGPT a legal question and then see your firm’s ad. The line between advertising and legal advice can blur. Users may think your ad is part of the AI’s guidance. That perception creates risk, and your firm needs a compliance framework before launch.
Our Take
This is not free money. It is a test budget for a new channel. We are treating it that way, and law firms should too.
The opportunity is real because the platform is young and the advertiser base is small. Early entrants may see lower competition and cheaper clicks. The risk is also real because the approval process is manual and the ethical rules have not changed just because the platform has.
We are not recommending that every firm rush in. We are recommending that every firm be ready. Creating an account now costs nothing. Leaving it idle positions you to receive a credit offer if OpenAI expands the program.
What ADSQUIRE Is Doing
We are preparing our clients for this channel now. That means:
- Creating Ads Manager accounts so clients are positioned for credit offers
- Reviewing eligibility for each firm based on licensure and practice area
- Building compliance frameworks for ad copy that satisfies bar rules
- Aligning geotargeting with each firm’s admitted jurisdictions
- Developing conversational ad copy that informs without crossing into legal advice
- Setting up tracking to measure lead quality, not just lead volume
- Comparing performance against existing channels before scaling budget
- Monitoring OpenAI’s policy updates as the program expands
For law firms, the objective is not to chase every new platform. It is to test new channels with discipline and protect the firm from ethical risk.
Conclusion
OpenAI is offering free ad credits to grow its advertising business, and law firms can benefit if they prepare correctly. The credits lower the barrier to entry, but they come with a 90 day expiry and strict compliance obligations.
Create an Ads Manager account now. Leave it off and wait. When the email arrives, be ready to move. Align your geotargeting with your licensure, write copy that satisfies bar rules, and track results closely. The shift is real, and the time to prepare is now.
