Skip to main content
UploadLanguage (EN)Support
BusinessMobileSocial MediaMarketingTechnologyArt & PhotosCareerDesignEducationPresentations & Public SpeakingGovernment & NonprofitHealthcareInternetLawLeadership & ManagementAutomotiveEngineeringSoftwareRecruiting & HRRetailSalesServicesScienceSmall Business & EntrepreneurshipFoodEnvironmentEconomy & FinanceData & AnalyticsInvestor RelationsSportsSpiritualNews & PoliticsTravelSelf ImprovementReal EstateEntertainment & HumorHealth & MedicineDevices & HardwareLifestyle
Brian Focht, profile picture
Uploaded byBrian Focht
PPTX, PDF1,402 views

The Ethics of Social Media Part 1: Social Is Necessary

This document discusses the ethical implications of social media for legal professionals. It begins by highlighting a case where a plaintiff's attorney was sanctioned $542,000 and the plaintiff was sanctioned $180,000 for telling the client to delete information from their Facebook page. It then discusses the importance of social media for law practices today, noting that attorneys can no longer ignore social media. Finally, it emphasizes that while social media is powerful, the existing ethical rules still apply when using social media.

Law◦Technology◦
Related topics:
Law Firm•
Downloaded 43 times
THE ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS OF SOCIAL MEDIA Brian C. Focht Stiles Byrum & Horne, LLP www.thecyberadvocate.com
THE ETHICS OF SOCIAL MEDIA PART 1: THE IMPORTANCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA TO THE MODERN LAW PRACTICE
THE ETHICS OF SOCIAL MEDIA $542,000
THE ETHICS OF SOCIAL MEDIA Lester v. Allied Concrete Co., Nos. CL08-150, 09-223 In wrongful death case, plaintiff’s attorney routinely told client to “clean up” his Facebook page The “dirt” = photo of plaintiff, after wife’s death, holding a beer and wearing a t-shirt reading “I [heart] hot moms.” Plaintiff deactivated account, denied having a facebook page in discovery
THE ETHICS OF SOCIAL MEDIA Lester v. Allied Concrete Co., Nos. CL08-150, 09-223 Result: Attorney sanctioned $542,000 Plaintiff sanctioned $180,000 $10.6 million verdict cut in half
Social Media Marketing Brand Awareness Relationship Management Global Knowledge Base IMPORTANCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA Attorneys can no longer afford to ignore the uses and applications of social media.
Ignore at your peril, because even if you’re not using social media: For more info, I highly recommend reading: “ThePerilsofBeingaSocialMediaHoldout”byKevinO’Keefe IMPORTANCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA
WHAT IS SOCIAL MEDIA, EXACTLY? What makes Social Media different? Reach Accessibility Immediacy
TYPES OF SOCIAL MEDIA Collaborative Projects Blogs & Microblogs Content Communities Social Networking Sites (“SNS”)
THE POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA 1.19 billion 549 million 259 million 232 million 4 billion videos viewed daily
THE POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA 30% U.S. Adults Who Get Their News from Social Media Source: Pew Research Center
THE POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA @cnnbrk - 14.7 million followers @CNN - 11.2 million followers @nytimes - 10.4 million followers @BBCBreaking - 8 million followers
THE POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% LinkedIn Facebook Twitter 62% 22% 6% 98% 33% 14% Use of Social Media By Lawyers 2011 2013
THE POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% LinkedIn Facebook Twitter 37% 19% 7% 56% 35% 19% Use of Social Media By Law Firms 2011 2013
THE ETHICS OF SOCIAL MEDIA One Essential Theme: THE RULES STILL APPLY!
THE ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS OF SOCIAL MEDIA Brian C. Focht Stiles, Byrum & Horne, LLP bfocht@sbhlaw.net www.thecyberadvocate.com