Latest / Lawyer's Learning Center with DHIA / Social Media for Legal Professionals: Platforms, Strategies, and Ethics
Transcript
- 0:07SPEAKER_00: Welcome to Lawyers Learning Center with DHIA, where we share practical attorney-focused insights to help law firms strengthen their practices, manage risk, and make more informed decisions about professional liability insurance.
- 0:22SPEAKER_00: You'll find related resources in the show notes to help you stay informed in a changing legal and insurance landscape.
- 0:30SPEAKER_00: Now let's dive into today's episode.
- 0:35SPEAKER_00: Social media can be a powerful tool for attorneys and law firms.
- 0:39SPEAKER_00: It can help you build credibility, stay visible in your professional network, strengthen referral relationships, and give people a better sense of who you are before they ever contact your firm.
- 0:50SPEAKER_00: But for legal professionals, social media also raises some important questions Which platforms are worth your time?
- 0:57SPEAKER_00: What should you post?
- 0:58SPEAKER_00: How often should you post?
- 1:00SPEAKER_00: How do you stay helpful without sounding overly promotional?
- 1:03SPEAKER_00: And perhaps most importantly, how do you use social media without creating ethical, confidentiality, or reputational problems?
- 1:13SPEAKER_00: That's what we are talking about today.
- 1:15SPEAKER_00: We are breaking down social media into practical terms, including the strengths of primary platforms, how to choose the right channels for your practice, what legal professionals can post, a simple strategy for staying consistent, common ethical concerns, and a review process to use before anything goes live.
- 1:35SPEAKER_00: This episode provides general educational information.
- 1:38SPEAKER_00: It is not legal or ethics advice.
- 1:40SPEAKER_00: Professional conduct and attorney advertising rules vary by jurisdiction, so please review the rules and ethics guidance that apply where you practice.
- 1:49SPEAKER_00: With that said, let's dive in.
- 1:53SPEAKER_00: Social media is sometimes treated as an optional marketing extra, but for many firms, it has become part of their public-facing reputation.
- 2:02SPEAKER_00: A potential client may encounter your LinkedIn profile, watch one of your videos, read a post, or review your firm's Facebook page before visiting your website or scheduling a consultation.
- 2:14SPEAKER_00: Referral resources may use social media differently.
- 2:18SPEAKER_00: They may already know you, but your posts help keep your name and experience visible.
- 2:24SPEAKER_00: When someone in their network needs legal assistance, consistent visibility can make it easier for them to remember your firm.
- 2:31SPEAKER_00: That's why social media should not be viewed only as a lead generation tool.
- 2:35SPEAKER_00: It can support at least four broader goals: credibility, by demonstrating familiarity with the legal questions affecting your audience, education, helping people better understand complicated legal issues, relationship goals by remaining connected with clients, colleagues, and referral partners, and visibility, making your firm easier to discover and remember.
- 2:58SPEAKER_00: The goal is not to become an influencer or follow every new trend.
- 3:02SPEAKER_00: The goal is to build a useful, credible presence in the places where your audience already spends their time.
- 3:09SPEAKER_00: That brings us to the first strategic question: which platform should you use?
- 3:15SPEAKER_00: You don't need to be active everywhere.
- 3:17SPEAKER_00: In fact, trying to be everywhere can make consistency harder.
- 3:21SPEAKER_00: A better approach is to choose one or two primary platforms, get consistent, and grow from there.
- 3:28SPEAKER_00: The right choice depends on your practice area, audience, communication style, and ability to create content consistently.
- 3:35SPEAKER_00: For many attorneys and professional services firms, LinkedIn is the most logical place to start.
- 3:41SPEAKER_00: It is especially useful for business-to-business practices, corporate and transactional attorneys, professional referral relationships, recruiting and employer branding, speaking engagements and professional events, and commentary on industry or regulatory developments.
- 3:56SPEAKER_00: LinkedIn works well when attorneys share practical insight rather than simply promoting the firm.
- 4:02SPEAKER_00: So instead of posting, our firm provides employment law services.
- 4:06SPEAKER_00: Contact us today.
- 4:07SPEAKER_00: Share useful educational articles, consumer-oriented legal information, or answer frequently asked questions to educate your audience.
- 4:16SPEAKER_00: This not only helps them, but also positions you and your firm as a knowledgeable and valuable resource.
- 4:22SPEAKER_00: LinkedIn is an excellent platform for community involvement, allowing a firm to participate in online communities without turning every interaction into a sales pitch.
- 4:31SPEAKER_00: Facebook may be more relevant for firms serving individuals, families, local businesses, or community-based audiences.
- 4:39SPEAKER_00: It can be a useful platform for community involvement, firm announcements, educational articles, event participation, general interest videos, or consumer-oriented legal information.
- 4:50SPEAKER_00: A family law, estate planning, criminal defense, or small business practice may find that Facebook reaches a different audience than LinkedIn.
- 4:58SPEAKER_00: Facebook can also help humanize the firm, but humanizing a firm does not require oversharing.
- 5:04SPEAKER_00: Photos of community events, charitable initiatives, staff milestones, or speaking engagements can show personality while maintaining professional boundaries.
- 5:14SPEAKER_00: Then you have Instagram.
- 5:15SPEAKER_00: Instagram is highly visual.
- 5:17SPEAKER_00: It may be useful for firms that can communicate ideas through short educational videos, graphics, carousels, brief explanations, attorney introductions, and behind-the-scenes firm culture.
- 5:30SPEAKER_00: The key is usefulness.
- 5:32SPEAKER_00: A nice graphic may attract attention, but the information it contains still must be accurate, clear, and relevant to your target audience.
- 5:41SPEAKER_00: YouTube can be valuable for attorneys who are comfortable on video and can explain subjects in greater depth.
- 5:47SPEAKER_00: Videos may answer common questions, discuss legal processes in general terms, or address misunderstandings within a practice area.
- 5:56SPEAKER_00: Video also helps prospective clients get familiar with an attorney's communication style.
- 6:00SPEAKER_00: Longer video content can be repurposed into short clips for YouTube shorts or reels for other platforms, or even into a podcast episode.
- 6:10SPEAKER_00: The transcript of the long video can also become a draft for website articles, social posts, or email content.
- 6:16SPEAKER_00: However, video content requires the same discipline as written content.
- 6:21SPEAKER_00: Speaking conversationally does not remove professional obligations.
- 6:26SPEAKER_00: An off-the-cuff statement can still be misleading, reveal protected information, or be interpreted as advice.
- 6:32SPEAKER_00: It's important to plan, set guardrails, and review the final product before publishing.
- 6:39SPEAKER_00: Then you have real-time platforms such as X or Threads that can help you follow industry conversations, comment on developments, and connect with journalists or other professionals.
- 6:50SPEAKER_00: The challenge with these is speed.
- 6:52SPEAKER_00: These fast-paced platforms encourage immediate reactions, but legal professionals often benefit from doing the opposite: slowing down, reviewing the source, considering confidentiality, and checking the applicable rules before responding.
- 7:06SPEAKER_00: Reddit, discussion forums, and private professional communities can help legal professionals observe the questions people are asking in their own words.
- 7:15SPEAKER_00: These platforms typically respond better to genuine participation than overt promotion.
- 7:20SPEAKER_00: A useful contribution answers the question being discussed instead of redirecting every conversation to the firm services.
- 7:28SPEAKER_00: Before participating in Reddit or other online communities, review the community's guidelines.
- 7:33SPEAKER_00: Disclose relevant affiliations when appropriate.
- 7:36SPEAKER_00: Avoid suggesting that general comments are individualized legal advice.
- 7:41SPEAKER_00: Do not invite or encourage the disclosure of confidential details.
- 7:45SPEAKER_00: And be cautious about direct messages from people seeking assistance.
- 7:49SPEAKER_00: A firm can participate in an online community without making every interaction a sales opportunity.
- 7:55SPEAKER_00: On these conversational online platforms, treating every post and comment as a legal representation of your law practice can help protect your reputation.
- 8:04SPEAKER_00: One of the biggest barriers to social media isn't choosing a platform, it's figuring out what to say once you get there.
- 8:11SPEAKER_00: A helpful way to simplify content planning is to use four categories.
- 8:16SPEAKER_00: Category one is educate.
- 8:18SPEAKER_00: Educational content explains legal issues in plain language so that your audience can make confident decisions and ask better questions.
- 8:26SPEAKER_00: Some content topic ideas are unpacking common misconceptions, explaining confusing legal terms in plain language, providing general explanations of a legal process, sharing questions the clients should consider, posting about changes in laws or regulations, or answering frequently asked questions.
- 8:45SPEAKER_00: A useful phrasing pattern for educational content is: here are three factors businesses may want to discuss with counsel when reviewing this issue.
- 8:54SPEAKER_00: That is more responsible than follow these three steps and your business will be protected.
- 8:59SPEAKER_00: The first invites informed discussion.
- 9:02SPEAKER_00: The second phrase can sound like a promise or individualized directive.
- 9:06SPEAKER_00: The goal of educational content is to help your audience understand the legal subject without attempting to resolve their specific legal situation.
- 9:14SPEAKER_00: Category two is prepare.
- 9:16SPEAKER_00: Preparation-focused content helps people recognize what information or documentation they may need before speaking with an attorney.
- 9:24SPEAKER_00: Preparation content could include documents to gather before an initial consultation, information to preserve after an incident, questions to ask when reviewing an agreement, records businesses should retain, or topics to include in a succession planning conversation.
- 9:39SPEAKER_00: By helping your audience feel more confident approaching their legal matter, this content can also make the initial attorney-client conversation more productive.
- 9:48SPEAKER_00: Category 3, demonstrate perspective.
- 9:50SPEAKER_00: Attorneys can discuss patterns, developments, and lessons learned without discussing identifiable client matters.
- 9:57SPEAKER_00: For example, one occurring challenge in contract disputes is that the parties remember the negotiation differently.
- 10:03SPEAKER_00: Written summaries of key discussions can reduce uncertainty later.
- 10:07SPEAKER_00: The focus is on general professional observation, not the details of a particular representation.
- 10:13SPEAKER_00: Perspective-based content is powerful because it helps attorneys demonstrate judgment, not merely repeat legal definitions.
- 10:21SPEAKER_00: The fourth category is to humanize.
- 10:24SPEAKER_00: People want to know who they may be working with.
- 10:26SPEAKER_00: Appropriate human interest content could include community involvement, professional milestones, celebrating new team members, sharing volunteer efforts, bar association involvement, speaking engagements, firm traditions, or even relevant books, resources, or events.
- 10:43SPEAKER_00: The goal isn't to manufacture personality, it is to let the firm's actual values, people, and culture become visible beyond the front doors of the office.
- 10:52SPEAKER_00: A social media plan does not need to be complicated.
- 10:56SPEAKER_00: It needs to be sustainable.
- 10:58SPEAKER_00: Here's a simple five-step framework.
- 11:00SPEAKER_00: Step one, choose one audience.
- 11:03SPEAKER_00: Avoid trying to speak to everyone in one post.
- 11:06SPEAKER_00: That will only dilute your message and it won't land with your intention.
- 11:11SPEAKER_00: A business attorney might choose small business owners, in-house counsel, human resource leaders, or other attorneys who could become referral sources.
- 11:18SPEAKER_00: All those audiences have different questions.
- 11:21SPEAKER_00: A post becomes more useful when it's written just for one of them.
- 11:26SPEAKER_00: Before drafting a post, complete this sentence.
- 11:29SPEAKER_00: This post is for someone who.
- 11:31SPEAKER_00: Starting a draft knowing that this post is for a small business owner preparing to hire their first employee can bring focus to the entire post.
- 11:41SPEAKER_00: Step two, choose one objective.
- 11:44SPEAKER_00: Decide what you want the audience to receive and take away from the content.
- 11:48SPEAKER_00: Do you want them to understand a concept, recognize a risk, ask a better question, download a resource, attend an event, or remember the firm's area of expertise.
- 11:58SPEAKER_00: One post generally does not need to accomplish all six.
- 12:02SPEAKER_00: Pick one objective.
- 12:04SPEAKER_00: And if it won't dilute your intended key point, incorporate another.
- 12:08SPEAKER_00: For example, if you want your audience to understand a concept, you can post that messaging goal and also offer a free resource to download so that they can learn more.
- 12:18SPEAKER_00: Step three, create a repeatable series.
- 12:21SPEAKER_00: Recurring series reduces the pressure of inventing new ideas every single time.
- 12:26SPEAKER_00: You can start a social media series for one-minute risk review, mistake to avoid, what business owners should know, or whoever your target audience is, legal in plain English, the question clients often forget to ask.
- 12:40SPEAKER_00: A series or consistent post topic also helps the audience know what to expect.
- 12:45SPEAKER_00: One post doesn't have to include everything in it.
- 12:48SPEAKER_00: It just needs one valuable takeaway for your audience as they scroll.
- 12:52SPEAKER_00: Step four is work from larger content.
- 12:55SPEAKER_00: A firm doesn't need to create every social post from scratch.
- 12:59SPEAKER_00: One substantial resource can become multiple pieces of content.
- 13:03SPEAKER_00: For example, a presentation on preventing employment disputes can become one LinkedIn article, three short posts, a checklist, a one-minute video, a podcast segment, an email topic, or a QA post.
- 13:16SPEAKER_00: This is not simply reposting the same message, it's adapting a core idea for different formats and audience needs.
- 13:23SPEAKER_00: Final step is measure meaningful actions.
- 13:27SPEAKER_00: Likes can be very encouraging, but they're not the only measure of value.
- 13:31SPEAKER_00: Depending on your goals, stronger indicators may include saves, shares, comments with substantive questions, website visits, resource downloads, event registrations, consultation requests, referral conversations, or mentions of contact during client intake.
- 13:48SPEAKER_00: Ask new contacts how they discovered your firm.
- 13:51SPEAKER_00: A simple intake question may reveal that someone followed the firm for months before reaching out.
- 13:57SPEAKER_00: Social media is often a trust-building process, not a one-post transaction.
- 14:03SPEAKER_00: Now we come to the most important part of the conversation: ethics and professional considerations.
- 14:08SPEAKER_00: The rules that govern lawyers offline still matter online.
- 14:13SPEAKER_00: Social media doesn't create an ethics-free space simply because the communication feels casual.
- 14:19SPEAKER_00: Let's go over a few major considerations.
- 14:21SPEAKER_00: First is confidentiality.
- 14:23SPEAKER_00: ABA Model Rule 1.6 addresses information relating to the representation of a client.
- 14:29SPEAKER_00: Social media discussions can create problems even when a client is not named.
- 14:34SPEAKER_00: A combination of facts, timing, jurisdiction, industry, or outcome may allow someone to identify the matter.
- 14:41SPEAKER_00: Before sharing a case-related story, ask, could the client recognize this?
- 14:45SPEAKER_00: Could the opposing party recognize it?
- 14:47SPEAKER_00: Could someone combine this post with public information and identify the matter?
- 14:51SPEAKER_00: Did the information arise from the representation?
- 14:54SPEAKER_00: Is client consent required, and would consent actually resolve any concern?
- 15:00SPEAKER_00: Changing the client's name is not necessarily enough.
- 15:03SPEAKER_00: A safer approach is to create educational content from fully generalized principles or hypothetical situations that do not reproduce the distinctive facts of a real matter.
- 15:14SPEAKER_00: Accuracy and misleading claims.
- 15:16SPEAKER_00: Statements about a lawyer or firm services must not be false or misleading.
- 15:21SPEAKER_00: Be cautious with phrases such as we always win, the best attorneys, guaranteed results, we will get you the maximum recovery.
- 15:30SPEAKER_00: Specialist or expert, where restricted, no risk.
- 15:34SPEAKER_00: Or this strategy will protect your business.
- 15:37SPEAKER_00: While these phrases are catchy, they could overpromise or make absolute claims.
- 15:42SPEAKER_00: Testimonials, awards, comparisons, and descriptions of past results may also be subject to jurisdiction-specific requirements.
- 15:50SPEAKER_00: Disclaimers can provide context, but a disclaimer should not be treated as permission to make an otherwise misleading claim.
- 15:58SPEAKER_00: Another consideration is attorney advertising.
- 16:00SPEAKER_00: Some jurisdictions may treat social media posts, profiles, paid placements, or direct messages as attorney advertising.
- 16:08SPEAKER_00: Depending on the applicable rules, considerations may include required identification, disclaimers, record retention requirements, responsible attorney identification, past result disclosures, or paid endorsement or testimonial rules.
- 16:22SPEAKER_00: A safe practice is to have a written review process based on the rules in every jurisdiction where the firm markets or practices.
- 16:30SPEAKER_00: Solicitation and direct messages.
- 16:32SPEAKER_00: A public educational post is different from directly contacting someone known to need legal services.
- 16:39SPEAKER_00: Direct messages can feel informal, but they may still raise solicitation concerns.
- 16:45SPEAKER_00: Be particularly cautious when contacting someone following an accident, arrest, employment dispute, family crisis, or other event that may create an immediate need for legal services.
- 16:56SPEAKER_00: Also consider what happens when someone contacts the firm first.
- 17:00SPEAKER_00: A person may disclose sensitive information before a formal attorney-client relationship exists.
- 17:06SPEAKER_00: Your social media process should direct matter-specific inquiries into the firm's approved intake and conflicts procedures.
- 17:14SPEAKER_00: A useful DM response might be: thank you for reaching out.
- 17:17SPEAKER_00: To protect your information and help our team determine whether we can assist, please avoid sending case details through social media.
- 17:23SPEAKER_00: You can contact our office through our secure intake process at attorney.com/slash intake.
- 17:29SPEAKER_00: Another consideration is represented parties, witnesses, jurors, and judges.
- 17:34SPEAKER_00: Online platforms can easily blur professional boundaries.
- 17:38SPEAKER_00: A follow, connection request, reaction, message, or profile view may seem casual, but the recipient's identity and the purpose of the interaction matter.
- 17:48SPEAKER_00: ABA-related guidance has warned that attorneys may not contact represented people through social networks or use a false identity or pretext when contacting parties or witnesses.
- 17:59SPEAKER_00: Before using social media for investigative purposes, attorneys should review the applicable ethics rules, court rules, bar opinions, and platform behavior.
- 18:09SPEAKER_00: Consider whether the action will generate a notification or communication and whether someone is represented.
- 18:16SPEAKER_00: Trial publicity.
- 18:17SPEAKER_00: Posting about an active matter can affect more than confidentiality.
- 18:21SPEAKER_00: Public statements may create concerns involving jurors, witnesses, opposing parties, court orders, public perception, the fairness of a proceeding, or the attorney-client relationship.
- 18:32SPEAKER_00: A post does not have to reveal a secret to create risk.
- 18:36SPEAKER_00: Firms handling active or high-profile matters should establish clear rules about who may speak publicly and who must approve case-related communications.
- 18:46SPEAKER_00: Supervision is another major consideration.
- 18:49SPEAKER_00: Social media is often managed by marketing employees, outside agencies, junior attorneys, or other non-lawyer personnel.
- 18:57SPEAKER_00: The law firm should define who develops content, who verifies legal accuracy, who conducts ethics review, who approves posts, monitors comments, responds to direct messages, how errors are corrected, and how content and approvals are retained.
- 19:13SPEAKER_00: This is especially important when a marketing partner is measured primarily by speed, engagement, or growth.
- 19:20SPEAKER_00: The firm's professional obligations cannot be set aside to appease an algorithm or outside vendor.
- 19:26SPEAKER_00: Finally, personal and professional accounts.
- 19:29SPEAKER_00: A statement doesn't automatically become private or personal because it appears on an attorney's individual account.
- 19:36SPEAKER_00: Audiences can connect to the attorney with the firm, clients, and matters.
- 19:40SPEAKER_00: Privacy settings can also change.
- 19:42SPEAKER_00: Screenshots can be shared, and content can move beyond its intended audience.
- 19:47SPEAKER_00: Attorneys don't have to remove all personality from their personal accounts, but they should understand that the line between personal and professional identity may be thinner online than they may think.
- 19:57SPEAKER_00: Before publishing on social media, use a quick review process that we organized into the pause review, a simple pre-publication checklist for law firms.
- 20:08SPEAKER_00: P is for protect confidentiality.
- 20:10SPEAKER_00: Does the post contain information related to a client, prospective client, matter, colleague, or internal firm issue that should not be shared?
- 20:18SPEAKER_00: A.
- 20:19SPEAKER_00: Assess accuracy.
- 20:20SPEAKER_00: Is every factual statement supportable?
- 20:22SPEAKER_00: Does the post avoid guarantees, unsupported comparisons, or language that can create unjustified expectations?
- 20:29SPEAKER_00: If you're commenting on a recent legal development, have you reviewed the underlying authority rather than just relying on the headline or another person's summary?
- 20:38SPEAKER_00: You understand the audience.
- 20:40SPEAKER_00: Who will see this?
- 20:41SPEAKER_00: Could the content be interpreted as individualized legal advice?
- 20:45SPEAKER_00: Could it reach people in jurisdictions with different advertising requirements?
- 20:49SPEAKER_00: S.
- 20:50SPEAKER_00: Study the rules.
- 20:51SPEAKER_00: Have you checked the advertising, solicitation, confidentiality, communication, and professional conduct requirements that apply?
- 20:59SPEAKER_00: If the topic involves an active matter, have you also considered court orders and trial publicity rules?
- 21:05SPEAKER_00: E.
- 21:06SPEAKER_00: Escalate when unsure.
- 21:07SPEAKER_00: If the post creates uncertainty, dig deeper.
- 21:11SPEAKER_00: A delayed post is usually easier to manage than a screenshot of something that should have never been published.
- 21:18SPEAKER_00: If your firm is beginning or rebuilding its social media presence, here is a manageable approach.
- 21:24SPEAKER_00: First, select one primary platform.
- 21:26SPEAKER_00: For many business-focused practices, that may be LinkedIn.
- 21:30SPEAKER_00: For a consumer-focused or community-based practice, Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube may be good options.
- 21:36SPEAKER_00: Second, identify three audience questions.
- 21:40SPEAKER_00: Start with the questions clients or referral partners already ask.
- 21:44SPEAKER_00: Existing questions are often better content sources than trending topics because they reflect actual audience needs.
- 21:51SPEAKER_00: Third, publish consistently but realistically.
- 21:55SPEAKER_00: It's better to post one useful item each week than to publish daily for two weeks than disappear for three months.
- 22:02SPEAKER_00: Consistency builds familiarity.
- 22:04SPEAKER_00: Volume without purpose creates noise.
- 22:07SPEAKER_00: Fourth, establish the approval process before problems occur.
- 22:12SPEAKER_00: Don't wait for a questionable post to decide who has final authority.
- 22:16SPEAKER_00: Document the process, including content ownership, legal and ethics review, response procedures, password and account access, comment moderation, intake escalation, and correction and removal procedures.
- 22:30SPEAKER_00: Fifth is to review the strategy after several months.
- 22:34SPEAKER_00: Look beyond follower counts.
- 22:36SPEAKER_00: Which topics generated meaningful conversations?
- 22:40SPEAKER_00: Which posts were saved or shared?
- 22:42SPEAKER_00: Did referral partners mention them?
- 22:44SPEAKER_00: Did people visit the firm's resources or bring up content during intake?
- 22:48SPEAKER_00: Use that information to improve the next round of content.
- 22:56SPEAKER_00: Social media can make a law firm more visible, more approachable, and more useful to the people it serves.
- 23:03SPEAKER_00: But the strongest legal content rarely comes from chasing a trend.
- 23:07SPEAKER_00: It comes from understanding your audience, explaining difficult subjects clearly, and contributing something genuinely helpful while maintaining the same professional judgment you would in any other client-facing communication.
- 23:20SPEAKER_00: Choose your platforms intentionally, create content that answers real questions.
- 23:25SPEAKER_00: Build a process and cadence that your firm can maintain.
- 23:28SPEAKER_00: And before posting, remember to pause, protect confidentiality, assess accuracy, understand the audience, study the rules, and escalate when unsure.
- 23:39SPEAKER_00: You don't need to be everywhere.
- 23:41SPEAKER_00: You need to be credible, consistent, and responsible wherever you choose to participate.
- 23:53SPEAKER_00: Thank you for listening to Lawyers Learning Center with DHIA.
- 23:57SPEAKER_00: We hope today's episode provided you with useful ideas and insights to strengthen your practice, serve your clients effectively, and manage risks with greater confidence.
- 24:08SPEAKER_00: If you found this episode helpful, subscribe, share it with a colleague, or leave a review so more legal professionals can find the show.
- 24:16SPEAKER_00: For more resources related to today's topic, visit the links in the show notes or go to dhia.comslash podcast.
- 24:24SPEAKER_00: Until next time, keep learning, keep growing, and keep moving your practice forward.