Issue link: https://epubs.iltanet.org/i/21725
MEREDITH WILLIAMS BAKER DONELSON Ethical Risks and Pitfalls of Social Media Each day seems to bring a new online tool, and new advances introduce new opportunities to build your virtual footprint. At a law firm, social media can help drive T 6 business initiatives and support professional development efforts. In basic business terms, social ILTA’s Greatest Hits ILTA White Paper oday, social media encompass a broad sweep of online activity, all trackable and traceable. These networks include not only the blogs you write and those you comment on, but also social networks. media can be considered an inexpensive form of large-scale advertising. Of course, social media are not used by law firm personnel exclusively for business. Merely expressing opinions about anything having to do with the law requires employees to operate under certain limitations. Statements in public forums may inadvertently create an attorney-client relationship and may also violate the rules prohibiting law firm advertising. The wrong communication may be construed as exposing firm or client secrets,