Law Society of England & Wales Issues Social Media Guidelines

In late December the Law Society of England & Wales issued a practice note setting out a number of guidelines for solicitors concerning social media.

The note, clearly aimed at tyros in the social media scene (which will likely include most lawyers, whether there or here, I’d guess), begins by asserting that social media offer the professional benefits of marketing, interaction with clients, networking, and public education, and present risks such as “the blurring of the boundaries” between professional and personal lives. As well, social media activity is seen as possibly testing the principles of integrity, independence, and maintaining public trust.

Much of what follows in the note seems trite and trivial from the perspective someone who’s been as involved with social media as I have been; but, as I say, the target appears to be lawyers who are only now considering putting a toe into the water, and for them this may have some value, if only as a formal recognition by the Society that media such as Twitter and Linkedin exist and may be useful for lawyers.

Perhaps most value can be found in the ultimate recommendation that a firm considering engaging in social media should “consider having a policy in place” (I would have said, simply, “should”) that addresses a number of key points such as “strategy”, rules of “engagement”, training and the like. At the end of the day, the note might be described as a recommendation that lawyers and firms think before they act publicly, which is no bad thing.

[hat tip: @jordan_law21]