‘Legal trainer? I’ve heard it all now’

The above was posted in a comment about me on a Saturday evening. The writer (a solicitor who should have known better) hastily deleted it. However, not before I had taken a screenshot. The comment is also of interest because it is from someone who works at a firm which regularly posts on social media about their client care, high standards and quality of service.

My immediate reaction when I read the comment was one of offence. I am on social media a fair bit and have a YouTube channel. Accordingly, I expect (and indeed, sometimes invite) controversial comment. I am well equipped to handle such exchanges. However, the comment above questioning my credentials as a legal trainer goes to the heart of what I do. I describe myself on my LinkedIn profile as a ‘conveyancing expert, property solicitor, legal trainer’. This is how I make my living. Accordingly, someone questioning my professional competence caused me some disquiet.

However, when I thought about the matter, I realised that I am more than qualified to describe myself as a ‘legal trainer’ (which is, by the way, a description recognised by LinkedIn for job searches).

·        I have a Cambridge law degree

·        I have been qualified as a solicitor for 30 years

·        I have a teaching qualification (something which many people describing themselves as a ‘trainer’ do not have)

·        I have taught thousands of solicitors, support staff and students over the last 20 years

So, I realised that I needed to get over myself and stop taking personal offence.

However, the post got me thinking more widely about how careful professionals should be on social media. The fact that the above comment was deleted is an indicator that the writer thought the better of the comment. But I already have a screenshot so deleting it does not necessarily undo the problem. Of course, it is not the worst comment that somebody could post by very long way. But it would have been better for the writer to stop, read and delete rather than posting.

Solicitors regulated by the SRA are obliged to act in a way that upholds public trust and confidence in the solicitor’s profession and to act with integrity. Similar professional responsibilities are imposed on licensed conveyancers by the CLC and other professionals will be similarly bound. What this means for us is that our professional duties and the expectations placed upon us go beyond the workplace. Now that many people are working at home, the lines between work/home and private/professional are even more blurred.

I should declare some ‘form’ here. I have not been on social media for that long and as someone who is very opinionated and willing to share those opinions (often whether people want them or not) I have tried to self-regulate when on social media. However, what I thought was an innocuous response to a tweet resulted in me being thrown off Twitter for 24-hours a couple of months ago. When I looked back at my tweet, I could see the problem. I had thought my response was okay in the context of the stream of tweets. But, of course, that is often the problem with social media. There is no context. A one-liner taken out of context can be pretty damaging.

I am no social media expert; far from it. But the deleted comment got me thinking about some of the basics which all people, and certainly those who have professional or regulatory responsibilities, should keep in mind when posting on social media.

·        assume that everyone will read your comment, post or tweet – even your employer

·        take particular care if your social media account is promoting you in a work context

·        by all means delete something quickly that is ill-advised; but assume that someone has already taken a screenshot

·        avoid having to delete something that is ill-advised by reading and re-reading anything that you wish to post – could your comment be misinterpreted? If in doubt, delete; do not post it

·        take time between typing a comment and posting it, avoid ‘shooting from the hip’

·        if you are relaxing or enjoying a glass of wine, put your phone away – these are the times when you will be off your guard

·        assume there is no context for your comment or post – how does it read as a stand-alone statement?

·        if you are on the receiving end of a criticism or complaint, do not rise to the bait, remain courteous

·        a derogatory statement about a person or their business could be actionable – look up the case of the client who commented about a legal firm on Trust Pilot if you are not aware of it (it cost the client £25,000)

Social media is a great resource for people to interact and grow their professional profile. But we must all be careful to ensure that one ill thought out comment does not land us in hot water. This is something which I need to remind myself every day. I am sure that I do not always meet my own standards, by I do try.