This post is from back in February, but Josh Camson from Social Media Law Student has a two part post on best practices for social media use by law students: part one here and part two here.
The advice is not just “use social media” or “don’t use social media”. It’s a little more nuanced than that. However, it seems a bit defensive still, especially when talking about Facebook. Josh’s basic idea is to protect yourself against damage to your reputation on Facebook and Twitter, and use Linkdin to build a network.
I think Josh misses an opportunity in social media for law students to differentiate themselves. They could use Twitter, Facebook, Linkdin, a blog, and any number of other tools to build a strong personal brand. Instead of a nameless, faceless GPA and resume, you could have a whole wealth of additional facets to yourself as a job candidate. Instead of a couple writing samples on the same old topics, you could have a whole backlog of writing on something you’re passionate about.
Employers are going to continue googling you. At some point, simply not having embarrassing photos on Facebook is not going to be a positive. Even BigLaw firms will, one day, catch up and reward, even demand that you have done something other than beat the median in your classes. Josh’s point that Linkdin recommendations are infinitely easier to check than your references is spot on. Now expand that philosophy to your skills, experience, and passions.
What Career Services Office Advisors Should be Telling Law Students About Social Media – Part One, Part Two (via The Shark)
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John,
Thanks for the post! I agree completely with what you’re saying. What I wrote is definitely a starting point. I think places like Solo Practice University (which I can’t afford to attend yet) and things of that nature are where we can learn to really brand ourselves as law students and eventually lawyers. As the BigLaw model changes and possibly even dissipates, the personal branding of each lawyer and law student will be extremely important. We should be pushing ourselves and our peers to produce more and better content and expand beyond the four corners (pun intended) of the law buildings.