Most of us wouldn’t expect the law to play nicely with short-form, video-based social media. When we think the law, we think weighty deskbooks, well thought-out legal arguments, and taking the time to get things right—not typically the things that generate quick hits of dopamine on social media. Yet, a number of legal professionals have found a way to make TikTok work for them.
In the new issue of Washington State Bar News, you can read our cover story to learn about a new trend that’s helping lawyers go viral on the social media platform TikTok.
“On #LawTok, the popular hashtag used by lawfluencers on TikTok, content creators vlog their morning routines (to the ‘Suits’ theme song, obviously), dissect high-profile cases, post ‘OOTDS’ (outfits of the day), offer LSAT hacks, discuss burnout, share what they eat for lunch at the office, and joke about esoteric legal doctrines …,” writes Litigation Associate Rachel Hay. “And, for the skeptics, #LawTok is not all ‘brain rot.’ Instead, this all-out frenzy of unfiltered legal (and legal-adjacent) content, available at the swipe of a finger, is upending and democratizing the American law school model as we know it. Law students today need not necessarily pay for an overpriced Quimbee subscription or parse through dense Examples & Explanations to better understand personal jurisdiction or Bush v. Gore. Instead, the algorithm is reflexively curating this information for students on their ‘For You’ pages and in their suggested searches in real time, influencing how they understand the conventions, ethos, and aesthetics of what it means to be an attorney.”
While those lawyers are finding a home on a digital platform, other lawyers are planting their feet on the stage. In this issue, we also have a look at a battle of the bands with a legal twist: Law Rocks Seattle.
“Law Rocks began in London in 2009 as a way for members of the legal profession to showcase their musical alter egos while raising money for causes they care about. The concept struck a chord—quickly spreading to Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and a dozen other cities around the world … ,” writes WSBA staffer Noel Brady. “This year’s Seattle show drew hundreds of attendees and six bands composed of attorneys, judges, and legal staff from around the region.”
Also in this issue: get caught up on a new IRS memo that clarifies theft-loss relief, read the heartwarming story of a lawyer’s clients helping one another, learn about the South Asian Bar Association of Washington, and check out the other regular columns and features.
