Social Media Law
There are many ways that legal, ethical issue laws are broken on social media. The article focuses on how technology is constantly changing and how this will affect attorneys. Individuals in licensed professions, therefore, have to be competent by watching their social media activity since it may impact their ethical duties. For example, lawyers must be careful when they are trying to gain private information on social media even though privacy rights are not enabled. The state of New York does not allow lawyers to use false information to obtain client data. However, they can use the reasonable means to get the documents they need. Another thing that lawyers should watch is the language they use on social media. They should not use terms that are derogatory to other lawyers or judges. An Illinois lawyer was fired from her role as a public defender for referring to a judge as ‘Clueless.’ She made these statements in a post on her blog. Whatever an individual posts online when they are in the law practice must be ethical. A lawyer from Texas asked for leave after the death of a relative. They later posted pictures on social media showing her week, which she spent drinking and partying. The judge who was dealing with her case fired her after seeing a video online. Lawyers must be competent when using social media networks like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn, among others. They should under no circumstances, try and add jurors as friends in cases that they are involved in. It may allow them to gain more information about their views, behaviors, and ways of thinking. Lawyers should be awa`re of opinion pieces and relevant rulings made by local and state bar associations.
Works Cited
“Social Media: Ethical Obligations for Lawyers in the Modern Era II.” Findlaw, technology.findlaw.com/modern-law-practice/social-media-ethical-obligations-for-lawyers-in-the-modern-era.html