In the 2009 ABA Legal Technology Survey Report respondents are asked whether their firms maintain a presence in an online community/social network such as Facebook, LinkedIn, LawLink, or Legal OnRamp. Twelve percent of respondents reported affirmatively, up from 4% in the 2008 survey.  However, when asked if they personally maintain a presence in an online community/social network such as Facebook, LinkedIn, LawLink, or Legal OnRamp, 43% of respondents answered affirmatively, nearly triple the rate of 15% in 2008. 

Internet technology is blurring the line between the personal and professional,  and the current economy has further complicated the landscape.  According to the Law Shucks Layoff Tracker, 12,542 people have been laid off by major law firms (4,874 lawyers / 7,668 staff) since January 1, 2008.  Increasingly tech savvy attorneys will face the scrutiny of equally savvy recruiters.  A CareerBuilder.com  study discovered that 22 percent of hiring staff use social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook to help screen candidates. 

Whether you are job hunting, looking for your next opportunity or your next client, technology can be an ally in the increasingly competitive legal market - or your worst enemy.  Many people began social networking for fun then realized later the business and professional applications of the medium.  Others may have ventured into an online community to network then discovered friends online.  Regardless of how you started, the potential for negative professional consequences makes it important for lawyers to practice safer social networking while enjoying the power of this technology. To maintain a professional online identity consider the following options:

1.    Review the privacy settings of all of your social networking applications and update them accordingly. Website privacy policies are often changed or updated. Consider scheduling calendar reminder for a quarterly or bi-annual review.

2.    Develop a social networking strategy. LinkedIn and Plaxo are marketed as professional networking tools while Facebook and Twitter are used both casually and professionally.  There are also legal specific networks for connecting with peers, like The Oklahoma Bar Circle, LegallyMinded, Legal OnRamp, and more.

3.    If allowed in the terms of use, create multiple accounts on social networks with one each for personal and professional use.

4.    If you use Facebook for both personal and professional matters then create categories for personal and professional contacts that limit what each can see.  See 10 Privacy Settings Every Facebook User Should Know by Nick O'Neill of the unofficial Facebook blog for the instructions.

5.    Google yourself regularly.  You might be surprised at what you find out there.

Whether a personal or professional account, never publish ANYTHING online that you wouldn’t want to see as a headline in the daily newspaper. How are you keeping it professional in cyberspace?  Let us know by sending an e-mail to ltrc@abanet.org or check us out on Twitter.

Additional Resources

·         Protect Your Reputation: 10 Facebook Privacy Settings to Know

·         Control Your Online Reputation: Google Profiles

·         The Many Uses of Online Reputation Management for Lawyers

·         Online reputation management

·         Top Tech Tips for Your Resume from the ABA Legal Technology Resource Center (Online Video Presentation - Requires Flash Player)

·         How to Sell Yourself: Developing the Perfect Pitch (Complimentary Audio Download for ABA Members)

·         New Edition of Legal Career Guide Offers Crucial Job-Hunting Advice for Young Lawyers [Book Review] by Larry Meyer for Law Practice Today April 2009