How should a barrister handle social media posts about ongoing matters?

• A. Posts are professional, truthful, non-disparaging, and do not reveal confidential information or mislead the public.
• B. Share confidential communications to demonstrate transparency.
• C. Post unverified rumours to attract attention.
• D. Disclose client identity in every post to show openness.

Answer: (A)

When a barrister communicates about matters before the court, the priority is upholding professional duties: accuracy, respect, and protection of confidentiality. Social media posts can influence public perception and even affect the fairness of proceedings, so statements must be reliable, not disparaging, and must not reveal any confidential information or create a misleading impression. This safeguards the client’s interests, maintains the integrity of the profession, and avoids compromising court processes.

Sharing confidential communications would breach the duty of confidentiality and could harm the client’s position. Posting unverified rumours threatens truthfulness and can mislead the public, potentially prejudicing the case. Disclosing client identity in every post intrudes on privacy and could breach confidentiality, exposing the client to harm or undue attention.