---
title: "Social Media for Lawyers: Rules, Platforms, What to Post"
description: "Social media for lawyers: the ABA rules and ethics (7.1–7.3), no legal advice in comments, which platform fits which practice area and what to post."
url: https://evgenymaximov.com/blog/social-media-for-lawyers/
---

# Social Media for Lawyers: Ethics Rules, the Right Platform for Your Practice Area and What to Post

Most advice on social media for lawyers starts with tactics. Start with the rules, because one careless comment can create a client relationship or break an advertising rule. Then pick one platform, make one long video, and cut clips from it for the rest.

By **Evgeny Maximov** · 9 min read · 23 Oct 2026

**Key takeaways**

**Short answer:** social media for lawyers starts with the rules. The ABA Model Rules on false or misleading communications (7.1), advertising (7.2), solicitation (7.3), prospective clients (1.18) and confidentiality (1.6) apply to posts, comments and DMs, and each state has its own version. Within them, pick one platform that matches who hires you, give general education instead of case advice, and make one long video a week on YouTube, with clips cut from it for LinkedIn, Instagram and the rest.

- A comment that answers a specific legal problem can start a client relationship.
- Never post client details, even from a public record.
- Choose the platform by who hires you, not by what is trending.
- Film once. Cut many. Don't make separate content for every platform.

## What are the ethics rules for lawyers on social media?

I'm not a lawyer, and this is not legal advice. I'll describe the ABA Model Rules in plain words. Each state adopts its own version, so always check your own bar before you post. Here is what each rule means for a post:

| ABA Model Rule | What it covers | What it means on social media |
|---|---|---|
| **7.1** Communications about a lawyer's services | no false or misleading statements, including leaving out facts that make a statement misleading | no guaranteed outcomes, no "we always win", past results need context |
| **7.2** Advertising | lawyers may advertise, but may not pay someone to recommend them | don't pay a creator or a page to "recommend" you unless your bar allows it |
| **7.3** Solicitation | no live person-to-person solicitation for pay (in person, a live call or a video call) of someone who needs a lawyer for a specific matter | don't call or video-call strangers who posted about their problem. Under the Model Rule DMs and chat are not "live", but some states treat real-time online chat like in-person contact |
| **1.18** Prospective clients | duties to a person who consults you about a possible case | if a post or ad invites people to describe their case without a clear warning, and they do, they can become prospective clients, and you owe them confidentiality |
| **1.6** Confidentiality | client information stays protected | no client stories without informed consent; careful with hypotheticals |

Two public sources worth reading. ABA Formal Opinion 480 (2018) deals with blogging and public commentary. It says the duty of confidentiality covers information related to a representation "whatever its source", even if it is in a public record. And the New York State Bar's Commercial and Federal Litigation Section has published social media ethics guidelines. They say a lawyer's profile may be subject to advertising and solicitation rules, and that lawyers must correct misleading information that clients or others post on their pages when they control them.

Those guidelines also say lawyers may not use the word "specialist" in practice area headings unless certified by the appropriate body. ABA Model Rule 7.2(c) has a similar limit: no claim of being a certified specialist without naming the certifying body. Other details differ a lot by state, and a post that is fine in one state can be a problem in another.

Sources: [ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 7.1](https://www.americanbar.org/groups/professional_responsibility/publications/model_rules_of_professional_conduct/rule_7_1_communication_concerning_a_lawyer_s_services/) [7.2](https://www.americanbar.org/groups/professional_responsibility/publications/model_rules_of_professional_conduct/rule_7_2_advertising/), [7.3](https://www.americanbar.org/groups/professional_responsibility/publications/model_rules_of_professional_conduct/rule_7_3_direct_contact_with_prospective_clients/) and [1.18](https://www.americanbar.org/groups/professional_responsibility/publications/model_rules_of_professional_conduct/rule_1_18_duties_of_prospective_client/) with their comments; [ABA Journal on Formal Opinion 480](https://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/lawyers_confidentiality_public_comment), May 2018; [NYSBA ComFed Social Media Ethics Guidelines](https://nysba.org/comfeds-2019-social-media-ethics-guidelines/) (2019, advisory). Checked October 2026. General information for the US, not legal advice.

## Can a lawyer give legal advice in comments?

This is the question that gets lawyers in trouble, and the answer from the New York guidelines is: general answers, yes; specific advice, no. A specific reply could create an attorney-client relationship, and it could reveal privileged information. So make a habit of one reply pattern:

**A safe reply to a legal question in the comments**

- Say you can't give advice on a specific situation in public.
- Give the general rule in one sentence.
- Point to your video that explains it, or to the office.
- Move any details to a private, proper consultation.

For example: "I can't advise on your case here. In general, the deadline depends on your state. I explain how to check it in this video. Call the office if you want to talk." Short, kind and safe.

Also: don't discuss a client's matter, even a famous public case you worked on, without checking your rules. And don't promise results. "We'll get you the money you deserve" is the sort of line that breaks Rule 7.1.

## What is the best social media platform for lawyers?

The ABA's 2024 Legal Technology Survey Report, summarized in an ABA news release, found that about 80% of firms keep a social media presence. Of those, 78% use LinkedIn, 53% Facebook, 22% Instagram and 18% X. The summary does not list YouTube, so it can't tell us how many firms use it.

I'd add one more filter. Where does your buyer look when they need you? Here is the rule of thumb I use. It is my reasoning from our client work, not research. The main platform is where your long videos live; the last column is where you post short clips cut from them:

| Who hires you | Where they look | Main platform (long videos) | Where to post short clips from them |
|---|---|---|---|
| **People in a legal problem** (immigration, employment, accident) | search for the exact problem | YouTube | YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, TikTok, Facebook |
| **Business owners** (corporate, IP, contracts) | referrals, reputation, a name they have seen | LinkedIn plus YouTube | LinkedIn posts with a clip; a link in your email newsletter |
| **Other lawyers** (referral practices) | peers and bar events | LinkedIn | LinkedIn: clips from your talks at bar events |
| **Families planning ahead** (estate planning) | search, plus a friend's name | YouTube | Facebook and Instagram Reels |

The more urgent and personal the problem, the more your future client searches, and the more a YouTube video helps. The more the client hires on reputation, the more LinkedIn matters. Pick one base, run it for 90 days, and then add. Comparing platforms for a B2B buyer is in [YouTube vs LinkedIn vs Instagram](https://evgenymaximov.com/blog/youtube-vs-linkedin-vs-instagram-b2b/), and the LinkedIn side is in [our LinkedIn video strategy](https://evgenymaximov.com/blog/linkedin-video-strategy/).

Source: American Bar Association, [news release on the 2024 Legal Technology Survey Report](https://www.americanbar.org/news/abanews/aba-news-archives/2025/03/aba-survey-on-legal-tech-trends/), March 2025. The figures are for firms that reported a social media presence. Checked on the ABA page in October 2026.

## What should a lawyer post on social media?

Content that is useful and safe is the same content. Here are seven ideas, in the order I would film them:

1. **The first-meeting question.** The one every client asks in the first ten minutes.
2. **How the process works.** Steps, timing, what the client does. Not legal advice for one case.
3. **A myth versus the reality.** "You don't need a lawyer for X" if false, say why.
4. **What to do in the first 24 hours.** General steps and a phone number on screen. Check your state's rules first.
5. **A public ruling explained.** Facts from the court record, no client details.
6. **Who you are.** Why you chose this field, how the office works. Trust before the call.
7. **A client story, only with consent.** Anonymized, approved in writing, no promise of a similar result.

Video ideas by practice area are in our guides for [personal injury](https://evgenymaximov.com/blog/personal-injury-lawyer-marketing/) and [estate planning](https://evgenymaximov.com/blog/estate-planning-attorney-marketing/). The full video strategy is in [law firm marketing with video](https://evgenymaximov.com/blog/law-firm-video-marketing/), which covers the long-form YouTube side in more depth than I do here.

**See the whole system first.** The free Business YouTube Playbook shows how one long video becomes trust, clips and calls. No opt-ins. [Read the Playbook](https://evgenymaximov.com/blog/business-youtube-playbook/)

## Why make one long video first and cut clips after?

Because social media posts are rented attention. A clip lives for a few days, and then the feed moves on. A long YouTube video can be found through search for months or years, and the clips are free to cut from it. Our typical rhythm is a batch of four long videos filmed in one day, which gives about twenty Shorts. That is the same pattern I describe in [how often to post](https://evgenymaximov.com/blog/how-often-to-post-on-youtube/).

![Diagram: one long YouTube video at the top with arrows to LinkedIn, email, podcasts, YouTube Shorts, X, TikTok and Instagram](https://evgenymaximov.com/img/fig-one-video-every-platform.webp)One long video feeds every platform. More in [how we repurpose videos](https://evgenymaximov.com/blog/repurpose-youtube-videos/)

This also fits the ethics rules. You review one script and one cut, not forty separate posts. You can read every claim once, check it against your bar's rules, and the clips inherit the same wording.

## What is our experience with regulated professions?

I'll be upfront: we haven't run a law firm's channel yet. The closest clients are a reputation management company, a business that sits next to legal services, and an orthodontist, where the buyer is anxious, the decision is expensive and the profession has its own advertising rules. Our orthodontist client learned that one patient from YouTube paid for half a year of production, and the story is in [orthodontic marketing](https://evgenymaximov.com/blog/orthodontic-marketing/). I can't tell you a number for lawyers, and nobody honest can.

## What do real lawyer videos on social media look like?

Two sets of examples, both from real lawyers who teach in public. First, short explainers of 3 to 8 minutes that work as social clips, each about one narrow question:

- [How to take Legal Action against your Slumlord](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeZwHs2aH6k) (Eric Castelblanco, tenant lawyer, 7M views). A 3-minute step-by-step. This one is far above what a local firm should expect, but it shows the format.
- [7 Illegal Rental Agreement Clauses That Could Make Your Lease Unenforceable](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFaMdi-zwpQ) (Attorney Robert Flessas, 214K views).
- [3 Rules for a Successful Immigration Interview!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNjVQDF3qTE) (Hacking Immigration Law, 171K views).
- [How To Prove Workplace Retaliation](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQxmEMcQOlE) (Ottinger Employment Lawyers, 65K views).

![Four short lawyer explainer videos: tenant law 7M, rental clauses 214K, immigration interview 171K and workplace retaliation 65K views](https://evgenymaximov.com/img/fig-social-media-for-lawyers-ref-1.webp)Reference videos: short lawyer explainers. YouTube data on 23 October 2026

Second, longer explainers and Q&As that can anchor a YouTube channel, one topic per video:

- [Top 3 Reasons People Lose Employment Lawsuits](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXlxrVY3Yrk) (Ed Hones, 134K views).
- [What Does a Corporate Lawyer Do & Do You Need One?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnis4ac1-M0) (Brett Cenkus, 230K views).
- [Immigration Lawyer Answers Immigration Questions](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKh9WaKnihU) (WIRED, 1.1M views). A lawyer answers questions from social media for a large publisher's channel.
- [Green Card Process Explained](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdyA4dtHl-U) (El Green Card Abogado, 40K views). A law-office channel, one process in one video.

![Four longer lawyer explainer videos: employment 134K, corporate 230K, immigration 1.1M and green card 40K views](https://evgenymaximov.com/img/fig-social-media-for-lawyers-ref-2.webp)Reference videos: longer lawyer explainers. YouTube data on 23 October 2026

Views show demand, not how many clients each video brought. WIRED's channel and the tenant-law video are far larger than any local firm's, so they show the format, not a result you should expect. I haven't checked these videos against any bar's rules. Each lawyer is responsible for their own state.

## How do you start this month?

1. **Read your bar's advertising and social media rules.** Print the parts on testimonials, past results, specialist claims, labels and disclaimers.
2. **Pick one practice area and one platform** from the table above.
3. **Write the ten questions** your clients ask in the first meeting.
4. **Film two of them as long videos** with a phone, and have a partner read the script for rule problems.
5. **Cut clips and post them** with your reply pattern ready for the comments.
6. **Ask every new client what they watched.**

If you want a team to film, edit and publish this without taking your week, here is [how our done-for-you YouTube service works](https://evgenymaximov.com/services/b2b-youtube-agency/). You give feedback on every video before it goes live, and it starts from $3,000 a month.

## FAQ

**What are the ethics rules for lawyers on social media?**

The ABA Model Rules that matter most are 7.1 (no false or misleading statements about your services), 7.2 (advertising, and no paying for a recommendation), 7.3 (limits on live solicitation of prospective clients), 1.18 (duties to prospective clients) and 1.6 (confidentiality). Each state adopts its own version, so check your state bar before you post.

**Can a lawyer give legal advice in social media comments?**

General information is usually fine, but specific advice is risky. The New York State Bar's Commercial and Federal Litigation Section guidelines say a lawyer may give general answers to legal questions on social media, but should not give specific legal advice, because it could create an attorney-client relationship. A safe reply gives the general rule and invites the person to contact the office.

**Can lawyers talk about their cases on social media?**

Be careful. ABA Formal Opinion 480 says the duty of confidentiality covers information related to a representation whatever its source, even if it is in a public record. Do not post client details, and be careful with hypotheticals that someone could trace back to a client.

**What is the best social media platform for lawyers?**

It depends on who hires you. In the ABA 2024 Legal Technology Survey Report, summarized in an ABA news release, 80% of firms had a social media presence, and 78% of them used LinkedIn, 53% Facebook, 22% Instagram and 18% X. The survey summary does not mention YouTube, which is where people search for answers.

**How do I choose a platform for my practice area?**

Ask where your buyer looks. People in a legal crisis search, so YouTube and short clips work. Business clients often hire through referrals and reputation, so LinkedIn and YouTube fit. This is a rule of thumb, not research, so test one platform for 90 days.

**What should lawyers post on social media?**

Answer the questions clients ask in your first meeting, explain how a process works, correct a common myth, comment on public court rulings without client details, and show who you are. Educational content is usually the safest under advertising rules.

**Can lawyers use client testimonials on social media?**

It depends on the state. Rule 7.1 bars false or misleading communications, and many states add rules about testimonials, past results and disclaimers. Get the client's written consent, never promise outcomes, and check your state bar's rules first.

**Do lawyers need disclaimers on social media posts?**

Often yes. Many states require disclaimers or labels on content that counts as attorney advertising, and a short note that the content is general information and not legal advice is common practice. Your state bar's rules decide the wording.

**How often should a lawyer post on social media?**

Pick a rhythm you can keep. Evgeny Maximov's agency suggests one long video a week and a few clips cut from it, filmed in one batch a month. A steady weekly rhythm matters more than posting daily.

**Why make a long video first and clips after?**

A long video on YouTube is found through search for months, and clips from it feed LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok and Shorts. One filming session can produce several long videos and about twenty clips, so you film once instead of for every platform.

**Does Evgeny Maximov's agency work with law firms?**

The agency has not run a law firm's channel yet. The closest clients are a reputation management company and an orthodontist, both with regulated, high-trust offers. The agency starts from $3,000 a month for a done-for-you YouTube channel, with a 7-day money back guarantee.

![Evgeny Maximov](https://evgenymaximov.com/img/evgeny-avatar.webp)
**Evgeny Maximov**

Founder of a done-for-you YouTube agency for high-ticket founders. Making content since 2014. [More about me](https://evgenymaximov.com/about/)

## Want one filming day to feed every platform?

We turn your expertise into long YouTube videos and clips. You film about one day a month and give feedback before anything goes live. 7-day money back guarantee.

[Get a free niche review →](https://evgenymaximov.com/?utm_source=blog&utm_content=social-media-for-lawyers#book)
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[**Law Firm Marketing With Video: YouTube Strategy for Lawyers** Strategy](https://evgenymaximov.com/blog/law-firm-video-marketing/) [**Personal Injury Lawyer Marketing: Videos That Get Calls** Strategy](https://evgenymaximov.com/blog/personal-injury-lawyer-marketing/)