Introduction to Social Networking

Social Networking: An Introduction
Mary Jenkins, Law Librarian & Director
Cincinnati Law Library Association, October 27, 2009

The Outline:

Social networks/media: definitions
Intro to general sites
Intro to law/lawyer-specific sites
Opportunities
Risks
Getting started
Additional resources

What are social media?
Social media are media designed to be disseminated through social interaction, created using highly accessible and scalable publishing techniques. Social media supports the human need for social interaction, using Internet- and web-based technologies to transform broadcast media monologues (one to many) into social media dialogues (many to many). It supports the democratization of knowledge and information, transforming people from content consumers into content producers. Businesses also refer to social media as user-generated content (UGC) or consumer-generated media (CGM).
Source: Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_media

What can social networking do for me?
Essentially social networking can help you:
Increase your odds of being found among zillions of others;
Give you a giant platform for enhancing your reputation;
Meet others; and
Learn about companies and potential openings.
BUT… IT DOES NOT SUBSTITUTE FOR QUALITY OR CONTACT
Andrea Kay, Make the most of social networking experience

http://networkmarketermlm.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/social-media-map.jpg

Steven Leckart: http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2009/08/28/the-venn-diagram-of.html

Quick explanatory videos:
Social Media in Plain English
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpIOClX1jPE
Social Networking in Plain English
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6a_KF7TYKVc

Survey says:
New survey data reveals that more than 70 percent of lawyers are members of an online social network - up nearly 25 percent over the past year - with 30 percent growth reported among lawyers aged 46 and over.
Networks for Counsel Survey of almost 1,500 lawyers commissioned by LexisNexis® Martindale-Hubbell®

“No inherent risk”
50,000 legal professionals are already blogging.
Almost 1 million people in the legal profession are using social networking sites to share information and manage their connections.
20,000 legal professionals are using Twitter and other microblogging services to collaborate, communicate, and meet new people.
This is not to suggest social media use makes you immune from a state bar’s ethical rules of professional conduct. However, there’s no heightened and inherent risk stemming from using the tools themselves. As a member of the legal profession, you must always be on guard – no matter what the communication device looks like.
“A Lawyer Can Have a Facebook Page”, Social Media Law Student, Oct. 4, 2009, http://socialmedialawstudent.com/twitter/a-lawyer-can-have-a-facebook-page/

General sites

Facebook
LinkedIn
Plaxo
Twitter

Facebook

Plaxo

Twitter

Before we move on…
What is the value of these sites?
How would I make the most of
my profile on these sites?

Law-specific sites
LawLink
Legal OnRamp
Lawyrs.net
Martindale-Hubbell Connected

LawLink

Legal OnRamp
Legal OnRamp is a Collaboration system for in-house counsel and invited outside lawyers and third party service providers. There are lawyers participating from over 40 countries, and a rapidly growing collection of content and technology resources.
Basic services are free, so all members are expected to contribute to the community as a whole. If you are a law firm lawyer wishing to participate, please fill out the application questions in full, and specify what knowledge you would like to share with the Community.

Legal OnRamp:“learn, share expertise, collaborate, succeed”

Lawyrs.net

Martindale.com

What is Martindale-Hubbell Connected?
Martindale-Hubbell Connected is a global online community designed specifically for legal professionals. It enables lawyers to quickly connect, network, communicate and collaborate with trusted and authenticated colleagues.
http://bit.ly/3yKIA5

Risks
Top 10 Things You Should Not Share on Social Networks howstuffworks.com
1: Anything You Don't Want Shared
2: Password Hints
3: Your Password
4: Personal Finance Information
5: Your Address and Phone Number
6: Photos of Your Kids
7: Company Information
8: Linking Sites
9: Social Plans
10: Personal Conversations

Risks
Be prepared: write policies -- See examples at http://socialmediagovernance.com/policies.php
20 things law firms need to have in their social media guidelines
Lawyer’s Guide for Engaging in Social Media
Firms develop guidelines for attorney social networking

Opportunities

A great equalizer for solo and small firm lawyers
Helps lawyers and prospective clients to find each other
Raises a lawyer or law firm’s profile in a particular legal area
Educates the public through free legal information
Allows lawyers to keep abreast of the latest developments
Helps lawyers share their information and ideas with their peers
Allows the public to share their experiences
Helps law firms and lawyers stay “top of mind” with existing clients
Creates a two-way dialogue between legal profession and the public

Source: Michael Carabash , “Social Media and the Law”, Dynamic Lawyers

What were they thinking?!
Attorney serving as juror blogged about the trial
Magistrate tweets about his cases
Evidence of partying on Facebook leads to denial of continuance
Judge and lawyer befriend each other on Facebook during trial
Texting during deposition is the same as passing notes
Using a 3rd party to friend a witness via Facebook to solicit info
Attorney charged with posting ad seeking ‘secretary with benefits’

Now what?

Think through your goals
Decide on your commitment and a schedule
Start simply with professional contacts (LinkedIn,

M-H Connected)

Try social networking on a personal level but be restrained (Facebook)
Dip your toe in professionally with Twitter or a blog or a prospective client site
Link between your sites for automatic updating

For more information
For further reading, see this list:
How to Earn Respect in Social Media
Ins and Outs of Social Networking for Lawyers: How Tough Is It to Cast Your Profile into Infinity?
Legal Versus Social: 7 Steps To An Amicable Relationship
Self-Marketing Is Key to Being a Top Lawyer
How Social Media Can Actually Work
Survey: Substantial Growth in Online Social Networking by Lawyers
Social Networking Sites Carry Ethics Traps and Reminders
Social Media and the Law
Plugged In Lawyer, multiple issues
5 Ways Law Firms Can Market With Social Media
Lawyer’s Guide for Engaging in Social Media
Lawyers & Social Networking
Legal Marketing in a Web 2.0 World
Search #socialmedia on Twitter
Friends with Benefits: A Social Media Marketing Handbook: book available for purchase, along with many others plus titles in the law library’s collection
Contact me for guidance if desired: mjenkins@cms.hamilton-co.org

In the CLLA library:
Through the client's eyes : new approaches to get clients to hire you again and again
KF311 .E92 2008
The 2009 solo and small firm legal technology guide : critical decisions made simple
KF320.A9 N45 2009
Smart policies for workplace technologies : email, blogs, cell phones & more
HF5549.5.P39 G84 2009
The lawyer's guide to collaboration tools and technologies
KF320.A9 M54 2008

Contact me
For more information or to discuss or do a walk through:
Mary Jenkins, Law Librarian & Director
Cincinnati Law Library Association
513.946.5300
mjenkins@cms.hamilton-co.org
IM/Twitter/Skype: jenkinscinci
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/maryjenkins
Ning: http://lawlibraries.ning.com/profile/MaryJenkins