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Lawyers (and Everyone): Watch Your Facebook!

At a recent American Bar Association panel, Texas Judge Susan Criss told an amazed group about how she “caught” lawyers lying to her through Facebook. She has been using the social medium to reconnect with old friends and help with her campaign.

According to the ABA Journal online, she talked about the lawyer who asked for more time for a case because her father died. Sure enough, on Facebook the lawyer was bragging about her week of carousing, getting drunk, etc. Another lawyer apparently groused on Facebook about not looking forward to arguing a motion in her court. She got this guy back in her courtroom.

I have actually seen lawyers who post things like, “I can’t believe what this client thinks they deserve in this case,” and stuff like that. Even if you don’t name the client, that stuff comes dangerously close to the line. And yeah, if you lie, as a lawyer that’s kind of really bad. Especially lying to the folks in the black robes.

Many of us old folks have come to really enjoy finding friends from childhood, etc., on Facebook, much to the chagrin of our teenage kids. But just remember, as I try to every day when I write on here, whatever you put on the Internet, is there. Forever. Even if you delete it, someone may have already copied it. So think twice. I should follow my own advice a little more often! Have a great weekend everyone.