Social Media and the Legal Profession February 17, 2012

The International Bar Association (IBA) has published a report, The Impact of Online Social Networking on the Legal Profession and Practice, the gives insight into the potential impact of online social networking on the legal profession and practice.

The objectives of the survey are:
• to consider the impact of online social networking on the legal profession and practice;
• to analyse whether there is a need for bar associations, societies and councils to come together to address this global issue and develop guidelines regarding the use of online social networking within the legal profession and practice; and
• to ascertain whether there is a need for the IBA to work with member bar associations, societies, councils and law schools to devise guidelines and toolkits regarding the use of online social networking within the legal profession and practice.

Survey questions were included that gauged how the bar felt about judges use of social media generally, during trial and juror use.