How should a barrister ensure ethics when making social media statements about ongoing matters?

• A. Post only favorable outcomes without discussion.
• B. Share information freely as long as it is not confidential.
• C. Ensure posts are professional, truthful, non-disparaging, and do not reveal confidential information or mislead the public.
• D. Avoid all social media activity about ongoing matters.

Answer: (C)

On social media, a barrister must treat posts about ongoing matters as part of professional conduct: keep them professional, truthful, non-disparaging, and never reveal confidential information or mislead the public. This protects the client’s interests, maintains the integrity of the proceedings, and preserves public confidence in the administration of justice. A post should be accurate, avoid discussing privileged evidence or strategy, refrain from guarantees about outcomes, and avoid insinuations that could prejudice the matter. The other options either misrepresent the case, disclose confidential information, or are unnecessarily restrictive, so the balanced approach that emphasises professionalism, truthfulness, confidentiality, and fairness is the correct standard.