iWitness: Winning the Internet

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It is no longer surprising to find your mother or second-grade gym teacher on Facebook, nor should we be surprised by the population rise in attorneys on Facebook. Bar associations have also become engaged and vocal in the social media world, frequently updating their ethics and professional responsibility rules to address marketing on the Internet and using social media to generate client leads. For example, see the recent amendments to ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct 1.18, 5.5, 7.1, 7.2, and 7.3.

A law firm is a brand, and social media can keep it first in your clients’ minds, current and prospective alike. Grow your audience by posting regularly, being mindful not to overwhelm your followers or bombard them with information irrelevant to them. Done well, social media can establish you or your firm as experts in your areas of practice. Given the reputation of attorneys for being dry, boring, and robotic, social media can be an opportunity to show your audience another side of your firm.