Isn’t it a Contradiction that Lawyers Don’t Do Twitter?

Two things are certain in life: firstly, lawyers are the ultimate networking beast. Secondly, Twitter is the ultimate online networking tool.

So as a matter of course you would expect that the lawyer and Twitter would be inseparable bedfellows. However, nothing could be further from the truth. As The Tweeting Lawyer noted in an earlier post, available here, commentators suggest that only 10% of law firms in the UK are actively using Twitter.

To me this is a real contradiction in terms. Nonetheless, the reasons for the lawyer’s non-take-up of Twitter are as follows:

1. Lawyers hold fears about client-confidentiality, privacy and data protection.

2. They feel that Twitter is for young people and that it isn’t a professional’s game.

3. Lawyers are conditioned to read and interpret the law, not to seek innovation and process improvement or to do what they see as simple administrative tasks.

4. Lawyers are too busy and concerned about doing billable hours.

5. Senior practitioners say they’re from a different age and that they’re out of it.

These explanations are valid and understandable; however it doesn’t have to be that way. Twitter is the future and a strong return on investment can be garnered from the proper time and resources being put into this invaluable digital tool.