The Ethics of Networking both Online and Off: Building your Book of Business One Relationship at a Time
Program Number
Program Date
CLE Credits
Traditionally, networking was considered going to networking events where loads of people were just handing out business cards. And to many lawyers, they would rather have a root canal than attend one of those! That is an outmoded definition of networking that this program endeavors to destroy. Networking is about creating relationships. And, while we will discuss some best practices of attending networking events, we will also discuss networking online on social networking sites as well. Regardless of whether you are networking in person or networking virtually, these activities are fraught with potential to violate almost all of the ethics rules. For example, during in person networking and while networking online, while conversing with others, you could hypothetically breach the following rules: Rule 1.6 Confidentiality of Information; Rule 1.7 Conflicts of Interest: Current Clients Rule 1.9 Duties to Former Clients Rule 1.18 Duties to Prospective Clients But thats only a small part of the ethics rules that could be contravened while networking both online and off. Your business card is subject to the rules on communications concerning lawyers services (Rules 7.1 & 7.2) as are your profiles on social networking sites. And networking online contains other ethical issues that you must be aware of including making sure that you are not presenting the image of practicing law where you are not licensed (Rule 5.5 unauthorized practice of law), or making extrajudicial statements (Rule 3.6 Trial Publicity) when you are talking to others online. And these are only a few of the Rules of Professional Conduct we will be discussing. Networking, both on and off-line, is still one of the most effective ways to build your book of business, provided that you stick to some best practices and do not breach the ethics rules that we, as lawyers, are subject.
Available in States
- California
- Georgia
- New Jersey
- New York
- Texas Self Study
Program Categories
- Administrative Law & Regulations
- Communications and Media Law
- Constitutional Law
- Ethics & Professionalism
- Federal Courts
- In-House Counsel
- Professional Development
- Social Media Law
- Workplace training
PROGRAM CREDITS
- Legal Ethics : 3 Credit
