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MySpace evidence inadmissible 

Published: May 3, 2011

Tags: evidence, MySpace, social networking

Prosecutors failed to sufficiently authenticate pages posted on a woman’s MySpace account that were introduced to show that she had threatened a witness in a murder case, Maryland’s highest court has ruled in reversing a conviction.

ABA ethics proposals could impact small firm lawyers 

By: Sylvia Hsieh
Published: April 28, 2011

Tags: ABA, ABA Ethics Commission 20/20, American Bar Association, cloud computing, ethics, social media, social networking, solo practice, technology

The ABA Ethics Commission 20/20 recently met to discuss a package of proposals that are likely to affect small and solo law firms.

Judge issues no contact order for Facebook after harassment 

Published: April 28, 2011

Tags: debt collection, Facebook, MarkOne Financial, social media, social networking

In an unusual motion, a Florida state court judge has ordered a debt collector not to contact an individual, her family or friends over Facebook or any other social networking site.

Ethics: Beware pitfalls of blogging about cases 

By: Correy Stephenson
Published: March 23, 2011

Tags: blogging, blogs, ethics, Facebook, professional responsibility, social media, social networking, Twitter

Writers are often encouraged to write about what they know. But for lawyers seeking a topic for a blog post, Facebook update or Tweet, should that include writing about their own clients and cases?

Possibility of ABA Internet regs worries small firm lawyers 

By: Ed Poll
Published: March 3, 2011

Tags: ABA, American Bar Association, blogs, ethics, Internet regulations, listserv, social media, social networking

Many attorneys and law firm marketers have sounded alarms that the American Bar Association’s Commission on Ethics 20/20 is examining legal ethics issues arising from lawyers’ use of Internet-based client development tools.

Family law in 2010 

By: Correy Stephenson
Published: January 10, 2011

Tags: birth certificate, child abduction, child support, custody, Defense of Marriage Act, divorce, DOMA, e-mail, Facebook, First Amendment, iPhone apps, no-fault divorce, Prop 8, relocation, same-sex adoption, same-sex custody, same-sex marriage, Skype visitation, social networking, technology

2010 was a busy year for family law and its practitioners. The economy – last year’s biggest story – continued to play its part, with family lawyers trying to run as tight a financial ship as possible.

But other issues crowded the headlines, from technology’s increasing role, particularly in divorce cases to ongoing litigation over same-sex relationship issues nationwide.

Here is a look at some of the top news in 2010.

Trial Strategy: Should lawyers monitor jurors online? 

By: Correy Stephenson
Published: December 21, 2010

Tags: ethics, Facebook, juries, jurors, social media, social networking, Twitter

With more than 500 million people on Facebook, it should come as no surprise that jurors are players in the world of social media. And it seems that each week, a story surfaces about a juror tweeting her plan to convict a defendant, or posting on Facebook that he plans to find for the plaintiff – before deliberations even begin.

Social networking offers value for women lawyers 

By: Correy Stephenson
Published: December 20, 2010

Tags: Avvo, Facebook, LinkedIn, practice management, social media, social networking, Twitter

Social media offers many benefits for lawyers, including expanding their contact base to providing greater opportunities to showcase their expertise.

Family law attorneys are missing evidence on social networking sites 

By: Allison McAndrew
Published: November 15, 2010

Tags: 20 Things Lawyers Need to Know in 2011, divorce, evidence, Facebook, social media, social networking, Twitter

The undeniable popularity of Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and other social networking sites has opened up a potential treasure trove of legal evidence, especially in divorce cases where a person’s whereabouts, “friends” and employment status are often relevant.

But many divorce lawyers are missing the boat.

Get more out of LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook 

By: Sylvia Hsieh
Published: November 15, 2010

Tags: 20 Things Lawyers Need to Know in 2011, ethics, Facebook, LinkedIn, social media, social networking, Twitter

Many lawyers still aren’t making the most of their professional presence on social media sites. Sprucing up your profile on LinkedIn, adding some personal flair on Twitter or creating a Facebook page for your firm are a few ways to get more out of your online presence.