The death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers triggered worldwide protests over police brutality and racial injustice. After widespread arrests, some solo practitioners and boutiques began posting their willingness to provide free legal representation to peaceful protesters.

Social media posts present an opportunity and a risk, however. By leveraging an international audience, lawyers say they reach more people, but they've also received threats.

Derrick Morgan Jr., a sports attorney at eight-lawyer Saeed & Little, said the idea for his May 30 tweet announcing the firm would provide pro bono services for protesters arrested in Chicago, Indianapolis and Louisville, Kentucky, was sparked by his own protest the same day in Chicago.

Morgan noted protesting felt natural to him because his family has always been politically engaged, but he thought he could do more for those in need with his legal background.

"Many of my ancestors in my family weren't afforded the same opportunities as me," Morgan said. "I don't think I'm special by any means. I'm in a place to make a difference. If I'm able, why not step up when I have the opportunities and resources to do so?"

After running the idea by his boss, Morgan said he posted the announcement on Twitter and was immediately inundated with retweets and notifications.

"It's been a mixed bag," he said of the responses to the firm's tweet. "A lot of people are very much so supportive of it, a lot of people wanted to help, and we've received a lot of backlash, countless death threats, which are interesting."

"I didn't expect people calling our phones and threatening our lives and pulling our address and saying they were sending people to our houses and calling us derogatory names," Morgan added.

Other lawyers say their social media posts attracted largely well-wishers, supporters and some impacted protesters. But they too received backlash, which sometimes stemmed from a misconception over who qualifies for their pro bono services.

Kidd Corvey & Simpson partner Chad Simpson said his firm made it "pretty clear we were talking about peaceful protests" when it announced on Twitter it would provide pro bono services. However, "some people misunderstood what we were saying."

Some took it as an endorsement for looting, but Simpson said the post reached a wider audience unattainable through traditional means.

"To us, the quickest way to reach people is a social media account. There's traditional ways like newspapers and traditional media, but it doesn't reach the eyeballs like social media," he explained.

Social media also represents a cheaper and perhaps more ethical means of announcing pro bono services for a misdemeanor or ordinance violation.

"Any 'better way' [of contacting arrested protesters] will likely run afoul of the Florida Rules of Professional Conduct," Winter Haven solo practitioner Andrew Darling wrote in an email. Last month, Darling announced on Twitter his willingness to provide free legal services to protesters arrested in the Orlando area.

"Since the protesters that I am willing to represent pro bono are those charged with misdemeanors, city or county ordinance violations, it does not make sense for me to spend substantial resources to attract pro bono clients," he said.

In Miami, Eduardo Maura of Ayala Law in Miami offered pro bono representation and said on Twitter that five attorneys "are willing to offer their time to help victims of policy brutality."

While lawyers aren't utilizing paid advertisements, they are spending valuable time and resources on their new pro bono clients.

The tangible risk is that a pro bono matter could cost the firm $5,000 to $10,000, starting from verifying the protester's case number through representation, Morgan noted.

Despite the added unpaid workload and social media attacks, lawyers said announcing their pro bono services on social media was worthwhile.

"That's a part of doing our job and protecting the Constitution and making sure everyone has effective representation," said Kimbrough Legal founder Tycha Kimbrough, who along with other Texas-based attorneys is representing protesters.

Kimbrough said she does not put much stock in criticism about supporting looters and other accusations lodged at her. "I'm unfazed and unbothered by those remarks. I believe I need to continue what I'm doing to serve my community."