Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

Marketing the Law FirmKickerFeaturesTopicsLaw Firm ManagementSectionsNewsLJN Newsletters

Social Media Use

By Ed Poll
January 30, 2013

The expanding use of social media ' whether it encompasses blogging, a LinkedIn or Facebook page, a Twitter post, or any number of other new iterations ' is perhaps the number-one trend reshaping law firm marketing. Many lawyers can attest that the interactivity on the Internet as epitomized by the give and take between online users of blogs and social networking sites is enriching and valuable on both sides of the virtual relationship. But social media use also vividly illustrates the dilemmas posed by the law's dual nature as a business and a profession.

On the business side, social media can be an effective, low-cost marketing channel ' or a fragmented time-waster if not diligently applied and integrated. As a professional tool, social media facilitates direct engagement among lawyers, clients and prospects ' but also raises the specter of violating the Rules of Professional Conduct through unethical marketing contact and questionable interaction with judges and other counsel. Granted, one of the oldest lawyer jokes concerns the client who wanted a one-armed lawyer who wouldn't constantly temper advice by saying, “But on the other hand ' .” However, social media raises so many “on the other hand” concerns that its promise should not overshadow the need for caution in using its tools.

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
Bankruptcy Sales: Finding a Diamond In the Rough Image

There is no efficient market for the sale of bankruptcy assets. Inefficient markets yield a transactional drag, potentially dampening the ability of debtors and trustees to maximize value for creditors. This article identifies ways in which investors may more easily discover bankruptcy asset sales.

Law Firms are Reducing Redundant Real Estate by Bringing Support Services Back to the Office Image

A trend analysis of the benefits and challenges of bringing back administrative, word processing and billing services to law offices.

Bit Parts Image

Summary Judgment Denied Defendant in Declaratory Action by Producer of To Kill a Mockingbird Broadway Play Seeking Amateur Theatrical Rights

Risks of “Baseball Arbitration” in Resolving Real Estate Disputes Image

“Baseball arbitration” refers to the process used in Major League Baseball in which if an eligible player's representative and the club ownership cannot reach a compensation agreement through negotiation, each party enters a final submission and during a formal hearing each side — player and management — presents its case and then the designated panel of arbitrators chooses one of the salary bids with no other result being allowed. This method has become increasingly popular even beyond the sport of baseball.

One Overlooked Element of Executive Safety: Data Privacy Image

Executives have access to some of the company's most sensitive information, and they're increasingly being targeted by hackers looking to steal company secrets or to perpetrate cybercrimes.