ABA Survey : Social media shows growing acceptance among lawyers

56% of lawyers personally maintain a presence in an online community/social network such as Facebook, LinkedIn, LawLink, or Legal OnRamp. This compares with 43% in the 2009 and 15% in the 2008.

Such are the findings of the American Bar Association’s Legal Technology Resource Center Survey of ABA member lawyers in private practice about the technology in use at their firms.

Why do lawyers maintain a presence on social networks?

• Professional networking (76%)
• Socializing (62%)
• Client development (42%)
• Career development (17%)
• Case investigation (6%)

What social networks do lawyers use?

• LinkedIn (83%)
• Facebook (68%)
• Plaxo (18%)
• Martindale.com Connected (4%)
• LawLink (2%)
• Twitter (2%)
• Avvo, LegalOnRamp, and LegallyMinded (1% each)

Thanks to the ABA’s Legal Technology Resource Center for the survey and its director, Catherine Sanders Reach, for the summary of the survey’s findings in Law Technology News.