Effective Law Firm Media Policies

All law firms, no matter how big or small, should have a written media policy. During this session, lawyers will learn what a comprehensive media policy should include, the ethics rules implicated by speaking to the media, and how to craft detailed protocols for handling media queries for an interview or comment. The faculty offers guidance on how lawyers can handle queries about firm clients and cases and for third-party commentary on cases or legal issues that the firm is not handling but has practice area or subject-matter expertise. As a bonus, the faculty also addresses what firms need to know about social media policies.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify the importance of media policies and what they should include
2. Review the Ethical Rules of Professional Conduct implicated in media relations for lawyers
3. Determine who should speak to the media on the firm's behalf and the protocols for handling media queries/conflicts
4. Establish best practices for ethically handling: (1) calls about firm clients and cases; (2) commentary on cases or legal issues that the firm is not handling but someone has subject matter expertise; and (3) judicial gag orders
5. Discuss what you need to know about outside counsel media policies and why they matter