The Impact Of Social Media On The Practice Of Law

Social media is the newest revolution that it is taking the world by a storm. Thanks to social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn, many people can network and communicate effortlessly. Well, this revolution has spread to the law niche with some federal or state court opinions being influenced by social media.

Effect On Age

Currently, most lawyers can't ignore the effect of social media in the practice of law. Older lawyers who opt to stay out of social media have higher chances of losing clients. Even worse, there might be malpractice lawsuits waiting to happen because these lawyers have failed to keep up with the social media gospel. Younger lawyers, on the other hand, can become quite cocky because they are well-versed in social media that they fail to follow the ethics practiced in law.

Effect On Choosing Jurors

During litigation, lawyers can use social media to seek more information about the jurors who are deciding the fate of their clients. A juror’s social media profile can reveal information that was tough to find through the first round of questioning. Lawyers can use the opinions expressed by the jurors on social media to decide whether to keep the particular juror or not.

Effect In Evidence And Discovery

Thanks to social media, lawyers, judges and jurors can find information regarding a person's whereabouts, conduct or events, and much more private data. It's a good way to locate witnesses who are looking to escape the process. Using information gathered from social media has become a very common practice during discovery and examination of witnesses.

There are a few cases where witnesses were impeached or rejected according to the postings on their social media platforms. On the other hand, social media is a great place to gather evidence regarding any case. Most people post videos or photos without an idea of the effect it might have in any criminal proceedings. Therefore, by combing through these videos lawyers can find evidence that can either acquit or convict a client.

Effect On Marketing

Just like other businesses, lawyers worldwide are also using social media to market their services. Most people go online to find contractors and service people, and that has been adopted by lawyers. By searching for a lawyer in your location online, you can find websites of many exceptional lawyers regardless of the field.

In conclusion, there are numerous advantages and limitations of the effect of social media on the practice of law.