Post on 04-Aug-2020
Social Media
Clients, Lawyers, Judges and Juries in 2014
Eastern District Federal Public Defenders’ ConferenceMay 16, 2014
Bo ThompsonRaleigh
Why should lawyers and judges talk about using social media?
There is a broad audiencefor social media posts:
Current clients (individual, corporate) Prospective clients
Opposing parties & their lawyers Current partners & associates & colleagues
Former employees Summer clerks and interns (1Ls today were born in 1991)
Judges Jurors
Courthouse staff The lay public
The press/news media Your professional liability carrier
The State Bar
Defining Social Media
Social Media – Definition
Facebook over time
End 2004 1MEnd 2005 5.5MEnd 2006 12MApr. 2007 20MOct. 2007 50MEnd 2009 350MEnd 2010 608MEnd 2011 845MSept 2012 1.01B
Facebook:
Facebook averaged 584 million active users each day in September 2012
In the same time frame, ~604 million Facebook users accessed the site from a mobile device each month.*
Technological advances promote social media ease & use
The legal landscape haschanged over time
Social Media categories1. Clients’ use and potential evidence
2. Lawyer use as marketing
3. Judges’ use and familiarity
4. Jurors’ use
http://www.snapchat.com
Social Media categories1. Clients’ use and potential evidence
2. Lawyer / law firm use in marketing
3. Judges’ use / familiarity
4. Jurors’ use
Lawyers are using social media from the first moment they are licensed to practice in N.C.
Lawyer Post
Another lawyer’s post dealing with current and prospective clients
Another post about current clients and pending cases
Another post about pending litigation
A post about a pending matter
Current proceedings
A post about pending litigation
Social Mediain the Courtroom
Social Media categories1. Clients’ use and potential evidence
2. Lawyer / law firm use in marketing
3. Judges’ use / familiarity
4. Jurors’ use
Ex parte communication
Ex parte communication
Social Media categories1. Clients’ use and potential evidence
2. Lawyer / law firm use in marketing
3. Judges’ use / familiarity
4. Jurors’ use
Jurors & social media
Once it’s out there, it’s out there…
Current clients (individual, corporate) Prospective clients
Opposing parties & their lawyers Current partners & associates & colleagues
Former employees Summer clerks and interns (1Ls today were
born in Judges Jurors
Courthouse staff The lay public
The press/news media Your professional liability carrier
The State Bar