The Bar Council of India (BCI) has released a new circular banning lawyers, law students and interns from setting up reels and promotional videos within the bounds of the courtroom flanks a stricter set of guidelines for judges’ ethical use of social media platforms.
The transfer is a day after allegations of “disruption of proceedings” inside a Supreme Court court by the litigant by hurling papers, abusing language and interrupting the proceedings, leading to concerns over the maintenance of discipline and dignity in court rooms.
Per the new guidelines, attorneys and law students can no longer photograph, videotape or promote reels from the court, courtroom corridors, Bar rooms, the chambers, or any other judicial premises that will disrupt the decorum of the legal profession. The circular also prohibits the use of advocates’ bands, gowns and robes for promotional posts or social media performances.
The BCI also condemned the practice of turning court trials into “gossip fodder for online entertainment. It stated that such action falls short of professional conduct and could result in disciplinary action.
In order to enhance compliance, the BCI has mandated each State Bar Council and Bar Association to designate a ‘Social Media Ethics Nodal Officer’ to address complaints in the context of digital misconduct. It has additionally introduced a new clause in the advocacy induction process that stipulates new advocates’ commitment to upholding ethical norms relating to social media, artificial intelligence (AI), digital platforms and data privacy. Current practitioners are also being encouraged to sign the declaration.
The corporate world, however, is not excluded: the circular clarified that educational legal content will continue to be allowed. Attorneys can still take the time to publish short forms of legal explanations, podcasts, videos, and posts to social media, provided they are accurate, don’t impart confidential information, don’t solicit clients, and don’t promise the illusory legal result.