We all have heard the message more than once that social media is becoming essential for lawyers and law practice. But do we believe it?
How many lawyers (show of hands) participate in social media beyond some Facebook convos with their high school buddies? How many think that social media may be of some utility in certain other practice areas, but certainly not in theirs?
The April issue of Arizona Attorney Magazine will have some content regarding social media—in regard to employment issues for your clients and in regard to why you should be blogging yourself. But then I looked over at LinkedIn.
You know LinkedIn, that most buttoned-down and business-oriented of all the social media—the place where even the most traditional lawyer should feel at home. This ain’t Tumblr (which I like too; follow me here). And on LinkedIn, I specifically looked at the State Bar of Arizona’s page.
Yes, the State Bar has a LinkedIn page, where there is the occasional great Q&A string. But so far, not many Arizona lawyers have availed themselves of the community offered. Have you?
My inquiry about lawyers and social media is fueled not just by the only-moderate response to the Bar’s LinkedIn group. In addition, online last night I spotted an event that tells me we better get going on this social media thing. (And yes, I saw the event on Twitter.)
Up northwest at the Seattle University School of Law, a social media panel is occurring today, Wednesday, perhaps while you’re reading this blog. The teaser for the “Social Media Panel” is a simple one: “Want To Know How Social Media Can Really Benefit Today’s Law Student and Lawyer? Attend This Event And Learn How LinkedIn Can Work For You!”
More information is here.
The session will open with a one-hour session on maximizing the use of LinkedIn for career searches.
Hold up: One HOUR? I’ve never had any training on LinkedIn, and I suspect it has far more functionality than I could imagine. I am beginning to wish I were in Seattle.
Then the law students’ day continues with this: “A panel of local attorneys and entrepreneurs will discuss strategic ways to use social media in the legal profession and the impact of social media on the legal community.”
That panel will include Kevin O’Keefe, CEO and Publisher of LexBlog, Inc.
In case you don’t know, Kevin O’Keefe is the author of the great blog “Real Lawyers Have Blogs” (guess how he feels). It’s housed on his LexBlog Network (he’s the CEO). More about Kevin is here. And you can follow him on Twitter (@kevinokeefe).
So here we have a law school providing its students instruction and guidance on social media. Assuming the event is jammed, students are voting with their butts and their time on what direction they see law practice heading: the way of social media.
Would such a seminar be helpful to Arizona lawyers and law students? I think so. But what do you think? Shall we (or I) begin to explore the possibility?
Here’s how you can tell me: Start a new conversation on the Bar’s LinkedIn group. Or send me a tweet (@azatty). Or even post a comment below.
Inquiring—and social—minds want to know.
Follow @azatty
February 8, 2012 at 2:21 pm
I would like to see a seminar on social media dedicated to something besides using SM as a marketing tool to clients. That topic has been done to death already and ignores the variety of uses for applications like Twitter, Facebook, Google +, and LinkedIn.
February 8, 2012 at 3:54 pm
Agreed.
February 8, 2012 at 4:11 pm
Let me know when you want me to come to AU or ASU to conduct a 2 hour workshop for the law students, followed by one hour social with local lawyers. Law School Placement office pays my flight and one night hotel and I will comp my time. I guaranty you some law students will get jobs as a result and certainly learn how to use social media to grow professionally and to network as a means of obtaining gainful employment and to network as a means of growing business.
February 8, 2012 at 4:26 pm
Will do, Kevin. We have three law schools in AZ (including the newest, the Phoenix School of Law), so I’ll connect with them and see what they think. I suspect one will be interested.
February 14, 2012 at 12:10 pm
I’m a follower of Kevin’s blog and I want him here (in Tempe or Phoenix). I’d pay to go to both the law student and lawyer portion of his program. (I’ve been practicing in AZ for 27 years.) It’s amazing how little lawyers know about it and think that passing social media off as ridiculous fluff is the way to handle it. But please Kevin—if you go to the trouble to come to Arizona, please combine your law school presentation with something for the AZ Bar too.
February 14, 2012 at 12:41 pm
Thanks – agreed. I’ll be starting Bar/law school inquiries on this possibility this coming month.
November 12, 2013 at 4:40 pm
[…] Seeing that I was going to be at Seattle University Law last night and seeing the type of program Seattle U put together, Tim Eigo, Editor at Arizona Attorney Magazine, blogged why not a similar program in Arizona? […]