![Featured book book image](http://www.lawbizblog.com/I"m proud to say that San Bernardino County Law Library is featuring my recent book on its site.....jpg)
LawBiz® Legal Pad On the Road!: Free Advertising
Ed's wife reminds him that there's no such thing as a free lunch, but today Ed shares tips that will promote your firm and services at little expense.
Restricting the use of social media - Is the ABA on the right path?
There is a great deal of heat generated thus far over the ABA looking into the issues of internet marketing/advertising/promotion ... They have not overtly yet taken a position, only solicited commentary for the ethics commission to consider.
Yet, many bloggers and commentators believe that the ABA is seeking to destroy the marketing advantage gained in the social media by sole and small firm practitioners.
The mood of the country, as seen in the recent election, appears to be that less is more. (Though I believe that that is true only as an electioneering slogan -- just wait until "they" get into power.) Translating that feeling, though, into the legal world and we want fewer rules to regulate our conduct.
Yes, there are enough rules already on the books to protect the innocent and govern the "guilty." But, new technology does require a new look ... perhaps even a loosening of the current ad hoc rules. Frankly, I'd rather have the ABA review these issues than the many states who tend to take a far more restrictive stance than does the ABA.
Conference You Must Attend - Or Fall Behind
The Business of Lawâ is continuously changing— from fee structures, to marketing strategies, to client preferences. In today’s economic climate, law firms have no way to catch up once they fall behind.
- The Outlook for Mid-Sized Firms
- Trends and Practices in the Future of the Legal Profession
- Alternative Fees
- Succession Planning and Business Survival
- Marketing in the
- And much more…
There will be a buffet style lunch and a post-event reception, allowing the chance to network with other leaders in the legal profession. Also included in your registration will be 4 webcasts and membership in the LawBizÒ Forum, a community for lawyers with on-going networking and dialogue on challenges we all face in the management of law practice.
Don’t miss this opportunity! The event takes place in
Isn’t it time you took The Business of LawÒ into your own hands? Register for the 2nd Annual Midwestern Law Firm Management Conference today!
Can’t wait to see you there!
Revenge and Social Media
See today's (Dec 1st) article in the Wall Street Journal (Personal Journal) entitled "The Dark Side of 'Webtribution.'" This is truly scary where revenge as a motive with little thought to consequences can impact and perhaps destroy someone's reputation. Because hitting the "send" button is soooooo easy and too often "anonymous," the temptation is huge to lash out at someone for a perceived wrong (whether correct or not). And the internet cannot be erased! We know from the print media that "retractions" are seldom effective, even when made. On the internet, the stain is permanent.
Lawyers should inquire about a witness' social media presence
There is a current discussion about a lawyer's obligation or responsibility to make inquiries into a witness' social media pages, and the information contained therein. I don't think anyone is suggesting that the information is not discoverable. But, the Philadelphia Bar has opined in its Professional Guidance Committee Opinion 2009-02 (March 2009) that deceit sanctioned by or authorized by the lawyer to get the information is not permitted.
The essence of the facts are: "...The inquirer proposes to ask a third person, someone whose name the witness will not recognize, to go to the Facebook and Myspace websites, contact the witness and seek to “friend” her, to obtain access to the information on the pages. The third person
would state only truthful information, for example, his or her true name, but would not reveal that he or she is affiliated with the lawyer or the true purpose for which he or she is seeking access, namely, to provide the information posted on the pages to a lawyer for possible use antagonistic to the witness. If the witness allows access, the third person would then provide the information posted on the pages to the inquirer who would evaluate it for possible use in the litigation."
