Social Media Marketing and Ethics Blog for Lawyers

Almost every major consumer product now invites customers to follow its product on Facebook or Twitter – but the explosion of social media can be a double-edged sword for businesses, warns Karen L. Stevenson of Buchalter Nemer on behalf of the ABA’s Business Law Section. When consumer complaints go viral, companies may find it hard […]

When Mark Zuckerburg sought funding from Boston venture capitalists to expand Facebook in 2004, the New England firms declined.  According to the Daily Business Review, they’ve been regretting their decision ever since. Following their decision to ignore Facebook’s request to provide capital for the world’s most-popular social networking service, Boston venture capitalists sat idly by […]

A federal judge has dismissed a class action against Facebook that claimed the site’s “Friend Finder” feature violated users’ rights to control the use of their names and likenesses, the Daily Business Review reports. Northern District Judge Richard Seeborg granted Facebook’s motion to dismiss, with leave to amend, finding that the plaintiffs had not adequately […]

United States Magistrate Judge Howard Lloyd of the Northern District of California compelled Facebook to produce electronically stored information (“ESI”), not merely “provide access” thereto on a commercial website that allowed it to restrict class action plaintiffs from reviewing those materials properly, Forbes reports. The court’s order granting the plaintiff’s Motion To Compel Production occurred […]

Should teachers be communicating with students through social media sites? The State of Missouri says “no,” and a newly enacted law is stirring a debate between the benefits and pitfalls of social media on the ability of teachers to effectively communicate with their students. Missouri recently enacted the Amy Hestir Student Protection Act, a 35 […]

If divorce is war, Facebook is ammunition.  According to First Coast News, Facebook and other social networking wesbites are being used in approxiamtely 80% of divorce cases. Family law attorneys are quickly understanding the benefits of social media for collecting evidence about their client’s former spouse’s activities outside the court room.  Often times, the spouse’s depiction on their […]

Facebook scammers are using the Casey Anthony social media hype to hijack Facebook accounts, PC World reports. Facebook and twitter users are taking to social media like wildfire to voice their outrage (or agreement) with the Casey Anthony verdict.  If you’re you are one of the millions of Internet users who’ve signed onto Facebook over […]

After a bitter fight with her child’s father, a woman offered $1,000 on her Facebook wall to anyone who would murder her ex-boyfriend, PoliceLink reports. Even more remarkable, her offer was accepted on her Facebook wall shortly thereafter. Police said the plot was hatched in late May, when [London] Eley got into an argument with ex-boyfriend Corey White […]

You know that guy or gal who is all too happy to meet you at a networking cocktail hour? You know the one, within seconds of meeting you they’re telling you all about their business, handing you their card, and asking when you can do lunch.  This type of “in your face” interaction is not […]

Using social media to promote your practice has proven benefits, but may consume too much time if not used properly.  So what can you do to maximize your time on social media and avoid “social media burnout”?  Client development coach, consultant, and attorney Nora Riva Bergman offers the following insightful tips, followed by commentary from […]