Lately, I’ve been immersed in social media and its impact in the legal realm. The Kentucky Law Update is underway and I am co-presenting with attorney Stuart Adams on the topic of Social Media.
As I tell the attendees, the landscape changes as fast as weeds take over a garden in summer. This article from the New York Times yesterday is just one example of landscape changes.
So while I’m busy telling attorneys how to strategically use social media in their law practice for investigation and networking the session immediately after mine reminds attendees of the ethics related to these tools.
Some old advise rings true even in this digital age: “If it feels wrong, it probably is.” However, as the statistics below show, what feel wrong to Boomers and Xers may not feel wrong to Millennials who are much more comfortable online.
86 percent of lawyers ages 25 to 35 are members of social networks like Facebook, LinkedIn and MySpace, as opposed to 66 percent of those over 46.
Ethical boundaries and water cooler venting meet online in today’s connected world. Thus caution and strategy should be the guiding principles of social media users who also happen to be attorneys. I would recommend the venting to be done in a way similar to my expression of road rage…quiet quarreling within the confines of a rolled up windowed car and no horn honking or fist shaking, just vent out loud alone. No damage is done, and your blood vessels don’t burst with pent-up frustration.
I would and do recommend all attorneys to consider their online social media strategy. These tools are here and they can be used to your advantage with careful planning and execution. Just remember to let the “if it feels wrong…” guide help you form your strategy.
Constance Ard September 16, 2009
