Father working in front of his computer with his son. Photo: Evgeny Atamanenko/Shutterstock.com

Law firms and attorneys have used social media since COVID-19 self-isolation to connect with clients and other audiences.

But some are also using the platforms to entertain, believing their fellow attorneys, clients and the public want more than just the latest law firm news. They believe their peers want something more personal.

Hogan Lovells Washington, D.C., partner Sean Marotta and Connecticut lawyer Jay Ruane, of Ruane Attorneys in Shelton, are delivering just that.

Both are talking about what it's been like working from home with young children.

Marotta of Hogan Lovells, which is No. 7 on the Am Law 200 list, has long had a presence on Twitter as a partner in the firm's appellate practice. But the father of 3-year-old and 18-month-old boys decided to expand his Twitter commentary after COVID-19 forced him to work from home with his sons always nearby.

Marotta, an attorney for about 10 years with more than 8,000 Twitter followers, has been getting rave reviews for his posts about life at home with his children. He said he tweets about 20 times a day, usually on the humorous side.

"I had one tweet about being in the home office and having my 3-year-old barge in and tell me to decorate the cookies with me now and then go back to my work," he said.

Marotta continued: "It's a really great way to connect with a lot of people—young parents—who are in the same circumstances. Obviously, I am a professional attorney and have to show a professional face on Twitter, but clients are people too, and they experience the same pressures."

Marotta said tweeting also helps me "build our brand. It shows we are real people. If you think about the best way to connect with clients, part of that is being authentic and being the real you. Having two kids is the real me."

For Ruane, social media has always been a part of his practice.

Ruane received an ALM Trailblazer Award for social media marketing as the head of FirmFlex, which represents attorneys throughout the country.

With many people telecommuting, Ruane joined in the fun. He put together, via Facebook, a list of historical places in Connecticut that people can drive to and admire with their children from their car. "We did this because we know people would be stuck at home with their kids," he said.

Ruane links to sites such as the Mark Twain House in Hartford, where children can learn about the state's rich history without ever getting out of their vehicle.

Ruane said, "We are giving you the ideas and you have to make something out of it."

Read more:

Not Alone: How Law Firm Is Turning COVID-19 Isolation Into Team-Building Event