Are you a member of the LinkedIn professional network? Are you a light, moderate or heavy user of LinkedIn? What benefit does LinkedIn have for lawyers? And what ethical issues are raised when lawyers use LinkedIn?

Let's address these questions regarding the LinkedIn network—the de facto online location for storing, connecting and building business relationships. Unlike Facebook, which is dominated with personal information for friends and family, Linked­In has become the preferred digital presence for employees and executives of businesses—and now attorneys too.

Before assessing the practical ways for attorneys to use LinkedIn to enhance their practice—and the ethical considerations—let's review the history of this professional networking tool.