The Modern Law Library

The court of public opinion: Why litigation PR is a critical component of a case

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A lawyer’s duties do not begin and end at the courtroom door. They extend beyond the courtroom to the proverbial court of public opinion. In this era of instantaneous exchanges, there should always be an effective litigation communications plan in place before a case is filed, or worse, it goes awry.

As both an attorney and a public relations consultant, author James F. Haggerty has shared how to properly handle the media aspects of litigation in the third edition of his book, In the Court of Public Opinion: Winning Strategies for Litigation Communications. If your case might be subject to public scrutiny, Haggerty lays out which procedures should be put in place to use public attention in the best possible manner when litigating your side of the case.

In the Court of Public Opinion book cover

Skillfully weaving intriguing case studies, personal stories and critical analysis, Haggerty explains how public relations during lawsuits should be handled with the same seriousness and care as any other aspect of the case. This new edition includes significant new updates on attorney-client privilege and the impact of social media.

In this new episode of the Modern Law Library, Olivia Aguilar of ABA Publishing speaks with Haggerty about how litigation PR has changed since the second edition was published, the importance of planning ahead, and why he thinks communications can level the playing field in a case.

Podcast listeners can purchase In the Court of Public Opinion through the ABA web store.


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In This Podcast:

<p>James F. Haggerty</p>

James F. Haggerty

James F. Haggerty, president and CEO of PRCG Haggerty, is an attorney, writer, software entrepreneur and communications consultant with more than 25 years of experience in marketing, public relations and public affairs. With a broad background counseling corporate, nonprofit and individual clients, he is frequently called upon as a trusted adviser in sensitive reputation management issues.

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