Did You Hear About the Lawyer Who Went Viral?

Avoid Going Viral for the Wrong Reasons

You’ve seen the videos. There always seems to be at least two or three showing a disgruntled attorney blowing off steam in their car, dissing the case they just lost on TikTok, or capitalizing on some in-courtroom absurdity. The thumbs go up. The calls come in from the press. But then the bar complaint letters start to fly—or worse, a once promising career goes viral in the worst way.

With the rise of the LinkedIn Influencer and the Instagram Reel, the pressure is real, and it’s on, especially for lawyers trying to build a personal brand. Social media can be an irresistible cocktail of reach, relatability, and relevance. For attorneys, it’s also a proverbial magic trick full of ethical traps, reputational tricks, and career-ending spills.

The Spotlight Effect (And Its Lack of Effectiveness)

Social media is the land of extremes: hot takes, rush-to-judgment, juicy drama, and virality-inducing vulnerability.

Law, on the other hand, is the land of nuance, decorum, privacy, and good old-fashioned professionalism. When these two universes collide, predictably, things don’t always go well.

Think on these examples for a minute:

• A criminal defense lawyer gets suspended for posting videos of emotional client meetings (Let’s just call that: Breaking Confidentiality).
• A corporate lawyer gets cited in a motion the next day after disagreeing with a judge’s ruling.
• A firm associate becomes “TikTok famous” for their law-related humor, but loses their job for discussing firm issues. (Translation: Clicks aren’t always equal to clients, or keeping your license.)

The Problem With “Just Be Yourself”

Most social media “rules” boil down to one simple principle: “Just be yourself.” And that’s not wrong—being you is necessary. But for lawyers, it’s not enough.

Your audience is not just followers—it consists of potential clients, opposing counsel, judges, bar committees, employers, and even jurors. The higher the stakes, the more the lines blur between “just my personal opinion” and professional conduct.

Navigating such lines as a lawyer takes a delicate balance of:

• Being visible, but not performative
• Being relatable, but not unfiltered
• Being authentic, but still respectful of the profession

Remember this: A lawyer’s authenticity matters—but so does judgment.

5 Steps to Show Up Without Selling Out (Or Getting Disbarred)

If “don’t post anything” isn’t realistic—and “post whatever” is irresponsible—what’s the path in the middle? Here are five concrete steps that lawyers can use to craft a smart, safe, and strong social media presence.

#1: Thought Leadership, Not Hot Takes

You don’t need to be controversial to be interesting. Show your work, don’t just flex. Use your voice and legal expertise to offer observations on new legislation, provide helpful legal info or insight, and break down common misconceptions without slamming judges or clients.

What to Say: “What the New FTC Noncompete Ban Could Mean for Startups”

What Not to Say: “This judge clearly doesn’t understand employment law.”

#2: Educate, Don’t Litigate

Avoid the temptation to take calls online or get in verbal fights with trolls. Use your voice to clarify the law, empower the public, and build your reputation as a lawyer who educates.

What to Say: “Here’s What Most People Get Wrong About Miranda Rights”

What Not to Say: “My opposing counsel is a clown—and here’s why.“

#3: Personal Stories (Sometimes) Are a Good Idea

Don’t get us wrong: authentic personal stories from your own life are great. Sharing past mistakes, career lessons, your path to law, etc., are all fantastic ways to connect and make your brand more human.

However, the line is drawn when it comes to clients, ex-clients, or past matters. Client confidentiality doesn’t end once the fact is in the public record. Treat anonymized cases and client stories with EXTREME care online (Bonus tidbit: You can often say the same thing about your “lessons learned” without disclosing anyone’s identity).

What to Say: “When I Failed the Bar Exam (and What It Taught Me About Resilience)”

What Not to Say: “One time, a client lied to me, and it ruined the whole case.”

#4: Consistent Professionalism ≠ Boring

Just because you need to be professional online doesn’t mean you can’t share your values, interests, or sense of humor. Don’t let “professional” become code for robotic, toneless, or “influencer-lite.”

What to Say: “Three Things I Wish More Lawyers Admitted About Burnout”

What Not to Say: “This firm I worked for was a toxic mess. Let’s unpack the madness.“

#5: Posting For Clients, Not Colleagues

If your goal is to build a reputation and earn referrals from clients and other attorneys, then posting for colleague approval is fine. But ask yourself before you post: Is this useful for my actual clients?

Client-centered content can still be eye-catching, dynamic, and even provocative. It just can’t be confusing, unhelpful, or inhumane.

The Stakes are Real—But So is the Upside

Let’s be real here: One viral post can derail your career or seriously set it back. But avoiding social media entirely is no longer a solution, either. Instead, the path to success is posting with care, clarity, and consistency. The lawyers who post with compassion and purpose don’t just get attention—they build trust. And that’s the ultimate goal.

Food for Thought: It’s Okay to Go for Virality, But Always Aim for Trust

Virality is a lottery. Reputations are not. 

That viral lawyer might get famous for a minute. But what about the lawyer who shows up day in and day out with content that’s credible, relevant, and restrained? They get business, referrals, and respect. And in the long game of the legal profession, that’s a much higher ROI, wouldn’t you agree?