SRA Social Media Compliance & Risk Training

We start with what the SRA actually says—not what people think it says. The seven SRA Principles apply online just as they do in the office, but what does that mean in practice? We work through:

• The SRA's approach to regulating social media (and yes, they are watching)
• How the "public trust and confidence" principle applies to your personal accounts
• The equality, diversity and inclusion requirements that catch people out
• What "acting with integrity" means when you're posting at 10pm on a Friday

Most lawyers know not to name clients on LinkedIn. But the risks that actually cause problems are usually more subtle:

• Confidentiality breaches that happen without anyone mentioning a name
• Geotagging that reveals where you were and who you might have been meeting
• Defamation and contempt risks from sharing or commenting on content
• The blurred line between personal opinion and professional reputation
• Screenshots are forever, even when the original post isn't

• We look at actual SRA disciplinary cases involving social media. Not to frighten people, but because understanding what's happened to others is the most effective way to avoid making the same mistakes.
• These aren't hypothetical scenarios. They're lawyers who thought they were expressing personal views, commenting in private spaces, or just having a bad day. The tribunal didn't see it that way.

Every participant leaves with a simple framework they can apply before posting anything:

• Would I say this in court, in front of a client, or to my boss?
• Does this align with my firm's professional standards?
• Could this be taken out of context or misinterpreted?
• Am I protecting client confidentiality?
• Have I fact-checked before sharing?

This isn't about scaring people off social media. It's about helping them use it well. Used properly, social media offers genuine opportunities and we will discuss these:

• Building professional networks and referral relationships
• Establishing thought leadership in your practice area
• Supporting your firm's brand and business development
• Staying current with legal developments and sector news
• Connecting with clients and communities you serve

The goal is confidence, not fear.

David has spent over 30 years in legal marketing and communications, including 11 years at Leigh Day managing everything from day-to-day social media to crisis communications during regulatory scrutiny. 

This isn't compliance training delivered by someone reading from a slide deck. It's a conversation between professionals, drawing on real experience of how social media actually works in legal practice.

The content is informed by:

• The SRA Standards and Regulations (Principles, Code of Conduct for Solicitors and for Firms)
• The SRA's topic guide on social media and offensive communications
• The SRA's guidance on unsolicited approaches
• The Law Society practice note on social media (updated October 2025)

But it's delivered in plain English, with practical examples, and with the understanding that your people need to know how to do their jobs, not just recite regulations.

Don't wait for a complaint to find out your policy is outdated.

• The Policy Review: We review your current social media policy against the latest SRA guidance (October 2025).
• The Risk Audit: We identify 'high-risk' accounts within your firm.
• The Training: We deliver the session that closes the gap.