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Lawyers and Social Media

/ 21.May, 2012

As more lawyers use social media (such as this blog) to promote themselves, or their clients’ interests, greater attention is being paid to the potential pitfalls.  The lawyers surrounding George Zimmerman, charged in the death of Trayvon Martin, used social media to put out Mr. Zimmerman’s side of the story, but were criticized for possible ethical violations, and they eventually fired their client.  Lawyers who use social media to promote themselves face concerns of privacy, giving advice that perhaps they should not, ethical questions regarding criticism of judges, and inadvertent clients.

The takeaway is obvious.  While social media can be very useful to lawyers, it needs to be utilized with caution.  As we have repeatedly stated, do not publish anything you would not want to see blown up as an exhibit.

Josh J.T. Byrne, Esquire

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