Quick and Legal: How to Make Social Media Less Scary for the Legal Dept

TOPIC QUESTIONS

Q1) How can big companies advocate for less regulation to reflect realities of social media engagement?

Q2) Should you train legal in SM and what does it look like?

Q3) How do you create SM policies / strategies that legal will accept?

Event Details

Event Date:
2010-05-25
Event Time:
12PM - 1 PM EST

Participants:
50
Tweets:
563

Embed:

Moderator

Lucretia Pruitt

twitter: @lucretiapruitt

web: http://thesocialjoint.com

BIO: An ex-programmer and CIS professor, in early 2003 Lucretia M. Pruitt left the glamorous world of academia for the fast-paced world of being a stay-at-home-Mom. But once a geek, always a geek. Her blogging habit started back in 1998 and she's had one or more ongoing blogs since. After years wading about in Social Media she discovered Twitter and the unique environment enticed her to jump into Social Media both feet first. Around the same time, ...more

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lot is going on today #SCRMSummit and #socbizsummit and #sm61 ...
Posted by: @AxelS - 05/25/2010 01:28:02 PM
RT @AndrewMueller: Strategy and rules of engagement for social media are only extentions of existing values and processes #sm61 // Agreed!
Posted by: @nigellegg - 05/25/2010 01:25:01 PM
Happy I had a chance to sit in on this week's #sm61, if only for a bit. Nice job, @LucretiaPruitt for a great conversation.
Posted by: @rebeccawissler - 05/25/2010 01:22:01 PM
Had to step out, back now but wanted to thank all of you for great conversation. Thx @LucretiaPruitt in particular, gr8t job #sm61
Posted by: @JohnFMoore - 05/25/2010 01:19:01 PM
Thx! @RepuTrack™ @J_Fuji @McCreadyM @ajmunn @techguerilla convo and RT thanks, & props to @ucretiapruitt for being excellent #sm61 host
Posted by: @McCreadyM - 05/25/2010 01:14:01 PM
RT @AndrewMueller: Strategy and rules of engagement for social media are only extentions of existing values and processes #sm61
Posted by: @davidabrock - 05/25/2010 01:12:03 PM
@J_Fuji @McCreadyM @ajmunn @techguerilla convo and RT thanks, and props to @ucretiapruitt for being the excellent #sm61 host
Posted by: @RepuTrack - 05/25/2010 01:11:02 PM
be sure to get the conversations you missed http://hashtagsocialmedia.com/event/61 fully archived every week and searchable. #sm61
Posted by: @jasonbreed - 05/25/2010 01:10:01 PM
@GetResults - no worries! It was 100% my pleasure. Smart & savvy folks in #socialmedia chat! #sm61
Posted by: @lucretiapruitt - 05/25/2010 01:08:04 PM
@J_Fuji agreed. Of concern is "legal" liability w/ saying sorry, coming in the way of realizing SM's power to forgive (cc: @ajmunn) #sm61
Posted by: @RepuTrack - 05/25/2010 01:08:04 PM
@ckieff let me know - in 140 world or larger. #sm61
Posted by: @GetResults - 05/25/2010 01:07:03 PM
@GetResults : today, Montreal feels like Florida. It is HOT #sm61
Posted by: @karimacatherine - 05/25/2010 01:07:03 PM
@lucretiapruitt BTW, thanks for hosting and keeping things moving. Didn't mean to leave you out before' #sm61
Posted by: @GetResults - 05/25/2010 01:07:03 PM
@elhoust : Great to see you today! Thanks for the Retweet as well. #sm61
Posted by: @karimacatherine - 05/25/2010 01:07:03 PM
@elhoust agree and thanks for the mention . . . #sm61
Posted by: @MaryAnnHalford - 05/25/2010 01:07:03 PM
Thanks, y'all. Very interesting chat. #sm61
Posted by: @hurriednotes - 05/25/2010 01:07:03 PM
@ckieff Haha -- mine too! but so worth it. Very much enjoyed yr contribution to #sm61.
Posted by: @McCreadyM - 05/25/2010 01:07:03 PM
@GetResults we'll have to have that, legal system discussion some day- lol #sm61
Posted by: @ckieff - 05/25/2010 01:07:03 PM
@McCreadyM - right back at you!! What an awesome group - I'm so here next Tuesday (and the next!) Thanks! #sm61
Posted by: @lucretiapruitt - 05/25/2010 01:07:03 PM
Thx @lucretiapruitt @rebeccawissler @MaryAnnHalford @karimacatherine @AndrewMueller @JohnFMoore @CoryOBrien @wileyccoyote Gr8 chat! #sm61
Posted by: @elhoust - 05/25/2010 01:06:04 PM
@Marc_Meyer thanks to@marc_meyer @lucretiapruitt and @jasonbreed for another interesting chat #sm61
Posted by: @techguerilla - 05/25/2010 01:06:04 PM
@karimacatherine you, as well, how's life north of the border? #sm61
Posted by: @GetResults - 05/25/2010 01:06:04 PM
Thanks for RT's! @EdHartigan @lucretiapruitt #sm61
Posted by: @McCreadyM - 05/25/2010 01:06:04 PM
Thanks again you guys - I'm getting off the #sm61 hashtag now, but see ya next week for #sm62 w/ @scobleizer This was a total pleasure
Posted by: @lucretiapruitt - 05/25/2010 01:06:04 PM
@McCreadyM @LucretiaPruitt @karimacatherine @hurriednotes thank you all for an excellent convo! my brain hurts! #sm61
Posted by: @ckieff - 05/25/2010 01:06:04 PM
Looks like a good convo over there at #sm61 @j_fuji @jasonbreed @johnfmoore
Posted by: @MeltwaterBuzz - 05/25/2010 01:06:04 PM
@lucretiapruitt - good topics, good people, and you get good grain exercise, thanks #sm61
Posted by: @GetResults - 05/25/2010 01:06:04 PM
@GetResults : Great to see you! #sm61
Posted by: @karimacatherine - 05/25/2010 01:05:05 PM
@karimacatherine - absolutely!! :) Happy to know you're still out there! See you next week at #sm62? #sm61
Posted by: @lucretiapruitt - 05/25/2010 01:05:05 PM
@Marc_Meyer @jasonbreed : Great chat. Thanks #sm61
Posted by: @karimacatherine - 05/25/2010 01:05:05 PM
@RepuTrack thanks! #sm61
Posted by: @GetResults - 05/25/2010 01:05:05 PM
Let me know what you think of my case study of Nestle: http://bit.ly/9Ov6fP #sm61
Posted by: @ckieff - 05/25/2010 01:05:05 PM
Thnx 4 RT's 2: @andrewmueller, @jescarter, @hurriednotes, @McCreadyM, @karimacathering, @JohnFMoore, @lucretiapuritt, @ckieff here at #sm61
Posted by: @GetResults - 05/25/2010 01:05:05 PM
great conversation #sm61 thanks @MaritaR
Posted by: @AxelS - 05/25/2010 01:05:05 PM
@ckieff - is still ongoing as we speak http://is.gd/coNcE - they're working on it http://is.gd/cnnxv #sm61
Posted by: @lucretiapruitt - 05/25/2010 01:04:03 PM
Great convo today led by @lucretiapruitt! Great insight from everyone as well! #sm61
Posted by: @jasonbreed - 05/25/2010 01:04:03 PM
@karimacatherine errr, you flatter me my dear #sm61
Posted by: @techguerilla - 05/25/2010 01:04:03 PM
#socbizsummit If you guys have more time, the Social Business Summit is in full swing http://www.customerthink.com/sbs10as #sm61
Posted by: @AxelS - 05/25/2010 01:03:02 PM
@ckieff : Each company will found out,on there own, the cost of not understanding social media. #sm61
Posted by: @karimacatherine - 05/25/2010 01:03:02 PM
@Marc_Meyer Indeed. The breadth of topics that sm touches (and can create a spirited discussion around) just proves how impt it is! #sm61
Posted by: @J_Fuji - 05/25/2010 01:03:02 PM
@Marc_Meyer - thank you and @jasonbreed for letting me come participate! Can't wait for next week too! Y'all rock. #sm61
Posted by: @lucretiapruitt - 05/25/2010 01:03:02 PM
Many thanks to @lucretiapruitt for an outstanding discussion! #sm61
Posted by: @McCreadyM - 05/25/2010 01:03:02 PM
@lucretiapruitt I don't know the whole Pampers story- anyone got a link to a good case study? #sm61
Posted by: @ckieff - 05/25/2010 01:03:02 PM
@karimacatherine - seriously!! With such great examples, we should all know that we're at risk! #sm61
Posted by: @lucretiapruitt - 05/25/2010 01:03:02 PM
@lucretiapruitt : Great to catch up since that Allergy tweet :) #sm61
Posted by: @karimacatherine - 05/25/2010 01:02:03 PM
@karimacatherine Nestle was being responded to. Poorly, but it was reacted to. #sm61
Posted by: @ckieff - 05/25/2010 01:02:03 PM
@RepuTrack Yeah, the mea culpa can be powerful (see: Boeing). Lawyers should be edu'd in sm crisis mgmt as well as mitigation :) #sm61
Posted by: @J_Fuji - 05/25/2010 01:02:03 PM
@GetResults - thanks for making me excercise my brain a lot today! see you next week #sm61
Posted by: @lucretiapruitt - 05/25/2010 01:02:03 PM
RT @RepuTrack: Silence actually hurts more than openly admitting you made a mistake - win by rolling up the sleeves to resolve #sm61
Posted by: @ajmunn - 05/25/2010 01:02:03 PM
As we wind down, IMO @lucretiapruitt was as gracious & engaging a host as we have had. Awesome topic & great discussion #sm61
Posted by: @Marc_Meyer - 05/25/2010 01:02:03 PM

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Moderator

@GetResults - no worries! It was 100% my pleasure. Smart & savvy folks in #socialmedia chat! #sm61

@McCreadyM - right back at you!! What an awesome group - I'm so here next Tuesday (and the next!) Thanks! #sm61

Thanks again you guys - I'm getting off the #sm61 hashtag now, but see ya next week for #sm62 w/ @scobleizer This was a total pleasure

@karimacatherine - absolutely!! :) Happy to know you're still out there! See you next week at #sm62? #sm61

@ckieff - is still ongoing as we speak http://is.gd/coNcE - they're working on it http://is.gd/cnnxv #sm61

@Marc_Meyer - thank you and @jasonbreed for letting me come participate! Can't wait for next week too! Y'all rock. #sm61

@karimacatherine - seriously!! With such great examples, we should all know that we're at risk! #sm61

@GetResults - thanks for making me excercise my brain a lot today! see you next week #sm61

Thanks for letting me come join you guys this week! I learned a lot myself! Tune in next week for @scobleizer hosting #sm62 :) #sm61

@ckieff - Pampers/P&G crisis recent example... that one flew under the radar for a bit for them #sm61

@jakrose - yeah, a little too simple for most attorneys... trusting often leads to mounting legal defense :\ #sm61

@EdHartigan - thanks Ed!! This was an utter blast for me! Can't wait for next week when @scobleizer is hosting! #sm61

RT @Marc_Meyer: Hiding behind legalese when screwing up in the social media world doesn't really protect you from flash mobs #sm61

@techguerilla - hadn't thought of that aspect... most good CFOs I know were lawyers first. Good balance #sm61

@ckieff - I was thinking of the Motrin crisis - no one there noticed until NYT started calling on Monday morning #sm61

Great Point!! RT @MaryAnnHalford: @lucretiapruitt but a good legal department is always plugged in beyond 8 - 5 #sm61

RT @ajmunn: U don't have to substantiate what you don't say is not always best policy. Often what you don't say is scrutinized as much #sm61

@GetResults - unfortunately, someone needs to be aware of crisis - right now, few companies staff 24-7 except for tech support :\ #sm61

@GetResults - but don't most SM crises occur in the middle of the night on the weekend? Most legal depts 8-5 M- #sm61

@ckieff - so on that page with you - response does NOT have to mean reaction, just acknowledgement #sm61

@jakrose - agreed. But how do we find the "right amount" of time between crisis and response? #sm61

@wvpmc - totally agreed! Viewing Legal as partner in Soc Med success is best approach #sm61

RT @wvpmc: @lucretiapruitt legal is not the enemy - their perspective is a key element of sound SM policy essential if a crisis arises #sm61

@ckieff - fast response time is crucial in Social Media, but traditionally, slower, measured response is standard in Legal world #sm61

So is there a difference on creating SM policies if you have in-house legal or if you outsource? #sm61

@GetResults - so it's not so much approval as it is process? Legal does have to sign off, right? #sm61

@rebeccawissler - wow! Didn't know that in-house counsel were ahead of the game there... good to know! #sm61

@amoyal - no seriously - the folks over on #socialmedia chat are making me think hard!! It's awesome! #sm61

@ckieff - but is there a "too little, too late" part of this? e.g. http://is.gd/cnnxv after the fact social media response #sm61

@GetResults - isn't that the truth? Not wanting to be associated with the "experts" due to negative impressions #sm61

Q3: How do you create SM policies/strategies that legal will accept? #sm61

Look at the time! You guys are making me think so hard I almost missed the cue for next question! But we can head into it! :) #sm61

Q3: How do you create SM policies/strategies that legal will accept? #sm61

@rebeccawissler - love that! But is law firm behavior different than say, internal corporate legal dept? #sm61

@J_Fuji - I'm with @ambercadabra on that one - there ARE social media experts - they just don't like admitting it ;) #sm61

@karimacatherine - the BP example is a great one. Shows that the traditional legal stance of "no comment" is not effective in SM #sm61

@ScottSchablow - using the case study is always more comfortable than *being* the case study, isn't it? :) #sm61

@ckieff @GetResults - I see you guys talking about SM "experts" but I missed part of that! I'll go back later - sounds fun! #sm61

@ScottSchablow - using the case study is always more comfortable than *being* the case study, isn't it? :) #sm61

@GetResults - there are a lot of lawyers already blogging/tweeting/etc - but what about those who won't? #sm61

@GetResults - agreed about SM & Legal being echo of early PR-crisis & Legal - lessons there #sm61

@techguerilla - oh yeah... lack of precedent is always terrifying. Groundbreaking usually means all win or all lose #sm61

@ckieff @GetResults @jescarter @CoryObrien @rebeccawissler - by "use" do y'all think blogging? or tweeting? what medium is best? #sm61

@karimacatherine - that is awesome to hear! I keep hoping to hear more stories like that - there are some amazing lawyers on Twitter #sm61

Okay, so we think Legal should be versed in Social Media - but does training include using? or just understanding? #sm61

@chrisbrogan - ha!! Could be - but in a good way I'm certain! ;) He passed it on to my brother (the judge) #sm61

@techguerilla - privacy lawyer who hadn't used twitter? Was he at least familiar with it? #sm61

@karimacatherine so you totally get my world - my brother is a District Court judge, so is uncle! ;) #sm61

@Marc_Meyer @ckieff - legal response is just that, response - real-time is a nightmare #sm61

@GetResults - interesting point about politicians who use SM to campaign, but don't legislate around it! #sm61

@Marc_Meyer - I had my dad (lawyer/litigator) read @chrisbrogan & @julien's Trust Agents - still waiting to hear his opinion! #sm61

@hurriednotes - ethics & legal sadly not always together. One is simply based on legislation, not on morality :( #sm61

@ckieff - hah! Yeah, well... I'm the only non-lawyer in my family, so I'm biased! ;) Let's keep them and educate them! #sm61

Q2: Should you train legal in SM and what does it look like? #sm61

We're ahead of the game, but let's put Question #2 out there! #sm61

@hurriednotes - exactly... So far? No major investigation or lawsuits - but suspect it will hit fan at some point #sm61

@MaritaR - thanks! http://xeeurl.com/A02355 is something I will definitely be reading more closely after our chat today! #sm61

RT @GetResults: @karimacatherine everyone has to be educated - legal, management, every employee using SM, otherwise risk soars #sm61

@elhoust - but how do we expect there to be lawyers & legislators who "get" social media when industry so young? #sm61

#sm61

@hurriednotes - in those circumstances, company is saying "we didn't run the contest, just provided the materials" #sm61

@hurriednotes - was less about tweeting - more about blogging - companies letting bloggers run own "contests" w/o backing them w/legal #sm61

RT @GetResults: @Marc_Meyer I am always leery of letting legal form bus decisions - better to let them review, advise on risk #sm61

@GetResults - but doesn't legal usually have to get involved *after* the "intern" has already used Social Media if done incorrectly? #sm61

@karimacatherine - no worries! Jump right in! We're currently on Q1 - but it's evolving fast! :) #sm61

@techguerilla - have seen that quite a bit -- without naming names, many companies pushing liability to independent bloggers #sm61

@JohnFMoore - should guidelines be written by legal? or cleared by them? #sm61

@CoryOBrien - can legal system be fluid tho? How many years does it take to enact legislation that reflects current technology? #sm61

@Marc_Meyer - good point - education of legal dept of what constitutes social media engagement is important #sm61

Love that RT @McCreadyM: Q1:Legal needs to quantify the risks of engagement so organizations can compare to benefits #sm61

@J_Fuji - definitely they have reasons for wanting reasoned, patient responses. Bottom line? Safety of company #sm61

@ckieff - I'm actually on same page with you - I think the laws will change very slowly - but only if someone(s) push for change #sm61

@J_Fuji - definitely they have reasons for wanting reasoned, patient responses. Bottom line? Safety of company #sm61

@ckieff - I'm actually on same page with you - I think the laws will change very slowly - but only if someone(s) push for change #sm61

RT @ckieff: A1: use risk analysis to determine what can be done quickly, and what requires more thoughtful approach. #sm61

@J_Fuji - the legal department? or the customers? #sm61

@JohnFMoore - aren't the "rules" (read: laws) ever changing to meet the needs of current society? #sm61

@techguerilla - good point - current example for me is the P&G reactions to this http://bit.ly/cHQaWB #sm61

@JohnFMoore - perhaps regulations isn't the right word - maybe we mean tort law? What's your opinion? #sm61

I've been watching the struggle of Legal depts to adapt to realities of SocMed while still dealing w/ antiquated liability laws #sm61

Q1: How can big companies advocate for less regulation to reflect realities of social media engagement? #sm61

Okay guys... let's get this ball rolling!! Today's #socialmedia chat is all about bringing SM & Legal on the the same page. Ready? #sm61

Q1: How can big companies advocate for less regulation to reflect realities of social media engagement? #sm61

Okay guys... let's get this ball rolling!! Today's #socialmedia chat is all about bringing SM & Legal on the the same page. Ready? #sm61

Gearing up for today's #socialmedia chat about SM & Legal using TweetGrid http://tweetgrid.com/ #sm61

RT @Marc_Meyer: A little less than 30 minutes out till todays #socialmedia tweetchat on Blending SM & #Legal dept @ 12 EST #sm61

I get to host today's #socialmedia chat on Blending SM & #Legal dept @ 12 EST #sm61 http://bit.ly/9XNxUE Are you coming? Add to the mix!