what can a lawyer do on social media

7 ways to use social media for lawyers

• 1: Get the basics right. Like every channel, you need to start by nailing the basics of social media marketing. ...
• 2: Share original graphics with useful facts and stats. Visuals play a critical role in social media marketing as they...
• 3: Monitor conversations around your firm. One of the main uses of social media for lawyers is...

Full Answer

What is the best social media platform for lawyers?

What Is the Best Social Media Platform for Lawyers?

• Facebook. You can share incidents as case studies for the community’s reading and information. People love to be addressed and informed about the matters.
• Instagram. It is the trendy platform with the second largest number of users. ...
• LinkedIn. It is the platform for the serious ones. ...
• YouTube. People are getting famous through YouTube and their videos. ...

Why lawyers should use social media?

• A strong social media program will help your firm/lawyers attract and acquire clients
• Social media can generate leads, raise awareness and help to build credibility and authority in practice areas and industries.
• Social media enables you to reach broader audiences for your thought leadership, extending the reach of the power of your content.

More items...

How to become a social media lawyer?

Media lawyers either work for law firms, in-house or chambers – as such, you should expect to follow the usual path to becoming a solicitor or barrister. Work Experience Work experience with student societies which demonstrate an interest in media or media companies (whether gaming, journalism, theatre or other forms), is important if you ...

How your law firm should use social media?

One way to find an effective social media platform is to look at where the competition is spending their time. However, it is also important to take into consideration the skills and temperament of the person who will be responsible for keeping up with communication on that platform.

Can a lawyer post on social media?

When posting on personal accounts, lawyers still need to act professionally. If lawyers are using social media to conduct business or provide public commentary on a legal issue, they must maintain client confidentiality and avoid creating unintentional attorney-client relationships, amongst other things.

Can a lawyer talk to the media?

Rule 3.6(a) of the Model Rules of Professional Conduct prohibits an attorney from making “an extrajudicial statement that the lawyer knows or reasonably should know will be disseminated by means of public communication and will have a substantial likelihood of materially prejudicing an adjudicative proceeding in the ...

Can lawyers use social media as evidence?

Courts have allowed discovery of social media information when litigants can show its relevance to the case.

What should lawyers post on Facebook?

What Lawyers Should Post on FacebookShare articles and tips in your area of law.Share blog posts from your law firm.Share client feedback and testimonials.Share relevant local and national news.Post answers to frequently asked questions.Share firm events and news.Post motivational and inspirational content.More items...•

What can lawyers say to the press?

(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), a lawyer may make a statement that a reasonable lawyer would believe is required to protect a client from the substantial undue prejudicial effect of recent publicity not initiated by the lawyer or the lawyer's client.

How are lawyers portrayed in the media?

In the movies and on TV, lawyers have been simplified into caricatures like the hero lawyer, the everyman who does the impossible in the name of justice, the bumbling idiot, or the cunning and evil lawyer trying to protect a client in the wrong.

Can lawyers get Deleted Facebook messages?

Federal law does not allow private parties to obtain the content of communications (example: messages, timeline posts, photos) using subpoenas.

Do judges look at social media?

Judges' use of social networks And, like everyone else Page 2 2 on social media, they will read and view the news, comments, photographs, etc., of people who interest them. Some judges incorporate social networks directly into their judicial activity.

Do Facebook messages hold up in court?

Can those comments be used in court? Whether it's Facebook posts and comments, Instagram pictures, Twitter tweets or YouTube videos, the short answer is yes: both public and private social media content can be admissible in litigation.

What do lawyers post on Instagram?

Celebrate your law firm's milestones with colleagues, friends, family, and your Instagram audience. Include the location and celebratory hashtags to get more engagement on your post.

Why is social media important for lawyers?

Social media marketing can help lawyers build an online presence and generate leads that convert into paying clients. When using social media, it's important to remember your goals and create consistent content that is targeted towards the right audience.

Do lawyers use Facebook?

Facebook. With 2.38-billion monthly active users, Facebook is the most popular social media platform in the world—and it's also popular among legal professionals, with overall use of Facebook growing to 63% in 2018, according to the ABA's 2018 Legal Technology Survey Report.

Endorsements and recommendations

These days everything has a star rating – from the local restaurant to a motor mechanic. Law firms are no different. Lawyers should also be very particular about their own social media profile when it comes to other users endorsing or recommending them for particular legal services.

Other reputational risks

As part of their professional ethics, lawyers also have a duty to maintain client confidentiality. That is, unless the information is publically known or a client has expressly given permission, all information about a client is treated as confidential. Lawyers can breach their duty of confidentiality by mistake through their use of social media.

What is the largest lawyer social media platform?

Facebook for Lawyers. Facebook is one of the largest lawyer social media platforms out there with 2.5 billion active users each month. Regardless of your niche, you can absolutely connect with your target client on Facebook.

Why do people use social media?

Interaction is one of the main reasons why people use social media. It isn’t enough to have a social media account for your firm—you must be actively interacting with your audience. Answer their questions, thank them for their client reviews, like their posts, and share their successes (within client-attorney privilege, of course).

Why do businesses use hashtags on Twitter?

Plus, Twitter hashtags make it easy for businesses to share their thoughts on relevant and trending topics, resulting in more exposure. Some businesses create their own Twitter hashtags, so they can keep up with updates from clients and colleagues that use the hashtag in their posts.

What is LinkedIn for?

LinkedIn is all about the connection. For example, you have the opportunity to connect with current clients, potential clients, and potential referral sources, all in one place. LinkedIn also helps you build your credibility by allowing others to give you endorsements and recommendations on your profile.

What are some tools to manage social media?

Tools exist to help you manage your social media accounts. For example, tools like Buffer and Hootsuite allow you to schedule and automate your social media posts ahead of time. You could easily block an hour each week to schedule posts eliminating the need to do so each day.

How many people use LinkedIn?

It’s built for professionals, showcasing your experience, content, and more. LinkedIn currently has approximately 660 million active users.

How much time do people spend on social media?

Around 3.8 billion people currently use social media. These people spend an average of 2 hours and 24 minutes on social every single day. Plus, around 54% of consumers use social media to perform research prior to making a purchase.

1. Norton Rose Fulbright – Crowdsourcing employee content to build its brand

Number one in the index for overall social media engagement, as well as number one for Twitter use and thought leadership, Norton Rose Fulbright has leveraged social sharing among its employees to generate authentic content that tells its global brand story while still resonating with local audiences.

2. DLA Piper – Targeting social media content to the right audience

With thousands of lawyers in more than 40 countries, DLA Piper sits at number two overall, due in part to its cohesive digital marketing strategy. DLA Piper achieves brand consistency by educating its lawyers about good social media practices.

3. Baker McKenzie – Employing social media listening to better understand clients

The top-ranking practice for Twitter use, Baker McKenzie created its Twitter presence over a decade ago. Since then, it has been steadily evolving its social media strategy, transitioning from merely broadcasting information to actively engaging with its followers and presenting a consistent brand voice.

4. White & Case – Leveraging video, ads, and employee content to attract followers

White & Case has worked hard over the past year to improve its presence on LinkedIn, moving up 47 positions from its place in the 2017 index. As a result, it currently ranks at number four overall and number one for LinkedIn.

5. Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe – Engaging followers with interactive content

Named the “Most Innovative Law Firm in North America” three years in a row, Orrick serves the global finance, technology, and energy and Infrastructure sectors. What puts it at number five overall in The Social Law Firm Index is its use of interactive content.

Other things you need to do to get social media right

Those are some of the best examples out there, but what if you’re unsure how to get started? Noted social media attorney Scott Malouf suggests that those new to social media do the following:

What are the rules for lawyers on social media?

Some other rules for lawyers from the ABA regarding social media include: Lawyers must avoid social media comments or responses that could later indicate the establishment of an attorney-client relationship.

Why should lawyers not engage in ex parte communication with judges on social media?

8 and Rule 8.4, lawyers should not engage in ex parte communication with judges on social media or accept them as social media contacts in order to create an appearance of judicial partiality.

Can a lawyer be fired for a social media post?

An inappropriate post or activity can lead to a lawyer getting fired from their job or facing bar discipline or sanctions. The American Bar Association has set new guidelines on the ethical use of social media for its lawyers. Some of the most recent include:

Is social media advertising?

On social media, it can be difficult to determine where the line exists between posts and advertising. According to the ABA’s rules on solicitation of clients, any communication discussing a lawyer’s services through any media may be considered advertising—regardless of whether or not those communications were in a traditional advertising format or on a social media platform.

Is social media ethical?

Social Media Ethics. Social media is an excellent tool for legal marketing, staying abreast of current affairs, and researching cases. But attorneys need to know that nothing on social media is completely private.

Should lawyers think twice before posting?

Hypotheticals. It might be tempting to toss out an interesting case on social media, with names, dates, and a few details changed to protect the privacy of those involved. However, lawyers should think twice before they hit “post.”.

How to use social media for law firms?

The best way to use social media for law firms is to create content that informs, rather than solely promotional content. The more you provide credible and valuable information, the better you’ll be able to showcase your expertise.

How effective is social media in law?

Social media is highly effective for law firms to attract new clients. The American Bar Association found that 35% of lawyers who use social media professionally have been able to gain new clients as a result. Additionally, 49% of respondents in the previously cited Attorney at Work survey have also been able to get new clients through social media.

Why are YouTube videos important for lawyers?

Videos not only make your information much easier to understand but also allow you to inject your personality into the content. This makes them a lot more engaging than other content formats.

Why is visuals important in social media?

Visuals play a critical role in social media marketing as they are more likely to stand out over text content. So your social content strategy should focus on creating visuals that will immediately attract and engage your prospects.

Why is social media important?

One of the reasons why social media has been effective for attracting prospective clients is because it helps you showcase your expertise. You can use it to share valuable information that will help you prove your credibility and win the trust of your target audience.

Why do people use social media?

People use social media to not just connect with their friends and relatives but also to consume content and engage with brands. This makes it a valuable platform to engage your target audience and turn them into prospects.

Why do people reach out to brands on social media?

The Sprout Social Index 2019 found that 47% of consumers reach out to brands on social because they have a product or service question. 40% do so because they have a bad experience, while 31% do so to share their ideas or suggestions. So make the most of social media to engage with your prospective clients.

Leave no room for doubt in regards to licensing and representation

According to ABA Model Rule 1.18 (a), “a person who consults with a lawyer about the possibility of forming a client-lawyer relationship with respect to a matter is a prospective client.”

Confidentiality is key

ABA Rule 1.6 (a) states, “a lawyer shall not reveal information relating to the representation of a client unless the client gives informed consent.”

Choose your connections wisely

In relation to clients, ABA Rule 1.7 states, “a lawyer shall not represent a client if the representation involves a concurrent conflict of interest.” Also, Rule 8.4 states, “it is professional misconduct for a lawyer to knowingly assist a judge or judicial officer in conduct that is a violation of applicable rules of judicial conduct or other law.”.

Use caution when advertising

ABA Rule 7.1 states, “a lawyer shall not make a false or misleading communication about the lawyer or the lawyer’s services.”

Social media ethics for lawyers apply to your staff

In addition to applying the ABA’s rules and recommendations to the social media posts of lawyers, the accounts of any non-lawyer person employed or retained by the firm must also be monitored since the lawyer may be held responsible for the content they share.

Stay in the public realm when viewing content

ABA rule 3.5 (b) states that a lawyer should not “communicate ex parte during the proceeding.”

Keep the personal profile private and avoid oversharing

If there is one tip to help avoid the biggest ethical issues for lawyers that may arise on social media, it would be to keep your personal profile private. In addition to avoiding sharing content that could be viewed as legal advice.