Lawyers and Social Media: the Ethics of What We Say

Lawyers and Social Media: The Ethics of What We Say

December 14, 2021 from 12:00-1:15 p.m. 

Via Zoom

In this age of mass communication, there are many contexts in which lawyers make statements that are public, or that reach the public domain.  Whether it is in the context of law firm websites, on social media, or in client press statements or press conferences, the occasions for recorded, public written or oral statements by lawyers can be quite frequent.  This seminar will review the intersections between the unique and complex laws governing speech – such as defamation liability, the First Amendment, and anti-SLAPP legislation – and a lawyers’ potential liability for statements made to the media or by any publicly accessible post.  Discussion will include issues of applicability of Rule 8.4 of the Maine Rules of Professional Conduct , which might sometimes bear upon a lawyers’ statements made publicly or in publicly-accessible venues like many social media sites.

Speaker: Russell B. Pierce, Esq. Norman, Hanson, & DeTroy LLC

CLE credit is approved for one hour of ethics.