In this day and age, the internet not only provides an excellent source for researching, the new social networking sites (like Facebook, Twitter and Myspace) are giving people more opportunities to exchange ideas and information with one another. The question becomes, when lawyers are communicating with prospective clients via these social networking sites, are they in danger of committing legal malpractice?
It is best for lawyers to establish a code of behavior before engaging in communication over these social networking sites. There is an expectation of privacy when information is being exchanged; however, once that information is uploaded onto the internet, it is available for anyone to see. A few of the dangers of posting on Facebook and other social networking sites are the potential to disclose client confidences, the potential to discuss pending matters, and walking the fine line of being informative without turning off clients or followers.
When a lawyer receives a scenario from a potential client and discusses the client’s options, these discussions can be considered legal advice which can also imply a lawyer-client relationship. The best way to avoid any confusion about this lawyer-client relationship is to hold any legal discussions in a more formal manner rather than conducting discussions over social networking sites. If you received improper legal advice over a social networking site, call our office today and discuss your options.
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Joining the PTI news there was also a news item recently from Maharastra. The internet wires were clipped for the Maha netas. The step may work well for politicians but not necessarily for the rest of the world. Lawyers and attorney can really benefit from social networking sites. Here is one article http://www.lawisgreek.com/indian-law-how-lawyers-and-interns-can-use-social-media-effectively/
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