Misgivings About Facebook
No way. I said I wouldn’t do it. I’m not going to get pressured into opening a Facebook account. I know friends whose lives revolve around Facebook and there is no way I’m going to get suckered into spending my waking hours reading posts as to where someone plans to spend the day, or what someone ate for breakfast yesterday. My life is too hectic for that. No way. No way. Anyway, who's going to be interested in the comings and goings of an over-worked immigration attorney? Yikes, once in awhile it's hard to get even a yawn from my family when I get home.
Caving In to Social Pressure
A week ago or so, I caved in. I’m not really sure why the social pressure got to me. Did I feel like an outcast? A weirdo? Anti-social? Did it make me feel friendless or unlikable not to have a Facebook account? After all, Facebook claims to have facilitated more than 100-billion “friendships” worldwide. Could it be that I felt out of touch with the rest of the world? Indeed, Facebook claims that more than 2.7 billion times every day its users post comments as well as extending “Likes” to new “Friends” and new websites. And there's more: Facebook says its users upload more than 250 million photos every day. How can you not be part of all that?
Now What?
So, now I have a Facebook account. When I pushed the last registration button the skies didn't open nor dead heavenly trumpets sound. Do I really feel as if I’m more a part of the human community. Anyway, now that I have a Facebook account, or FB (eff-bee) for short, what do I do with it? I guess I have to find the time to review numerous posts and comments and make my own. Many of my lawyer friends have Facebook accounts. Some are connected because they are real-life friends and they are comfortable having colleagues see what they post on Facebook. They share immigration news and articles and make each other laugh with comments that only immigration attorneys would fully comprehend. I can do that – post funny articles on Facebook. Hmm … is that it?
All the World's a Marketplace
A friend suggested that I try to market our law firm in Facebook. That seemed a novel idea, but it's not exactly new. Seems that Facebook is already a major venue to market products and services. Almost all of the big corporations and businesses are on Facebook. Indeed, many law firms are extolling their virtues on Facebook. That’s it – attorneys can post links to their own articles or to news articles on their Facebook page and comment on them as well. Why not generate positive PR for our firm – maybe even some revenue – while Facebooking?
Fuzzy Lines Between the Personal and the Professional
As I click and explore the potential of Facebook, I've encountered an interesting dilemma: Is there a way to separate my personal and professional life? The boundary between my private life and work can be potentially blurred by Facebook. Lawyers need to decide whether to maintain a separation or to personalize their professional lives. Personalizing the professional can have a humanizing effect, allowing stereotypically stiff lawyers to come to life in a friendly and approachable manner. I’ll need to think about this a little more.
Facebook Is Part of the Web, Where Secrets Can't Be Kept
The fuzziness extends to how to communicate and discuss legal issues with my Facebook “friends” and not form attorney-client relationships. I can’t be an attorney to a million people. Just as important is that fact that Facebook is a part of the Web and on the Web no secrets can be kept. As an attorney I hold many secrets regarding the lives of many people. If and when I engage in a discussion, though I may not name names or cite specific situations, I do fear that former or current clients could feel a little compromised if I discuss a legal circumstance that is close to home for them. Lawyers are bound ethically and legally to guard confidential client information. I must be – and will be – especially astute and careful when I deal with these matters on Facebook.
Winning Hearts and Changing Minds with Facebook
While I am becoming aware of the inherent risks of employing this new social media venue, I'm also becoming aware of the social benefits of this forum – social, as in society. Social media can win the hearts and minds of people and therefore have a significant impact on social policy. If I can influence policy for the good of the people I serve – as long as a I am careful in managing the inherent risks – then taking this plunge into the social media abyss may be worth it.
Join the Discussion and Perhaps “Like” Lazaro Immigration Law
So, from me in this new venture, you can expect to find discussions of the latest legal developments in immigration law, how the law can affect our lives, and what we can do to use everyday law to empower ourselves and maybe those less fortunate around us. Through our discussions, we may be able to help the young, immigrant “dreamers” stay in the United States, stop the government from illegally deporting families, re-unite a man and his wife, save our youngsters from the crueler aspects of this world and make it a better place. Please find Lazaro Law in Facebook and let’s begin the discussion. Who knows? With Facebook's help, I just may actually find myself a little bit more in touch with humanity. Maybe the pressure to join will have been worth it.
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