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What Derails a Law Firm Video Production Shoot<\/h2>\n
It\u2019s 10:15 a.m. on production day. Your managing partner just got pulled into a client call, the testimonial subject\u2019s release is still unsigned in someone\u2019s inbox, and the camera operator has clocked a matter name on the conference-room screen behind your first speaker.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Every one of these problems could have been solved in advance. These seven checks will help you protect client information, respect your attorneys\u2019 time and keep the edit from getting stuck in conflicting comments.<\/p>\n
1. Define the Video\u2019s Purpose, Audience and Channels<\/h3>\n
Before anyone talks about cameras or lighting or microphones, decide exactly what the video is allowed to do. A recruiting video, an attorney bio, a podcast video recording<\/a>, and a paid ad have very different review needs, so the answer to these questions will shape everything that follows.<\/p>\n If the plan changes after filming (say, a recruiting piece suddenly looks perfect for a paid campaign), reopen the permission and ethics review. The original approval only covers the original use.<\/p>\n It\u2019s easy to assume a signed release covers everything, but a release really only gives you permission to use someone\u2019s image and voice. When a client talks about their case on camera, you might also need their informed consent to discuss the representation, plus sign-off from the ethics reviewer you named in step one.\u00a0<\/p>\n A simple permission map can make this process easier: a one-page table listing each person, the subject matter, the filming location, the intended use, the approving lawyer, the status and any limits. As you fill it in, a few details deserve extra attention:<\/p>\n Even with every form signed, take a moment to ask whether each particular story still feels right to share. The paperwork gives you permission, but defer to personal judgment for the final say.<\/p>\n Remember that confidentiality reaches further than privilege. Comment 3 to ABA Model Rule 1.6 extends the duty to information relating to a representation, whatever its source, and the rule also applies it to lawyers\u2019 public commentary. A fact in a public filing isn\u2019t automatically fair game for marketing.<\/p>\n Create a list of restricted names, matters, facts and documents, and check your interview prompts and scripts against it.\u00a0<\/p>\n Then perform a walking review of every scene. Review everything that a camera might see: files, whiteboards, monitors, calendars, badges. And it\u2019s not just about the interview setups. B-roll content, like a two-second office shot, can reveal a lot more than people expect.\u00a0<\/p>\n During a recent recruiting film shoot for a national law firm, one of our crew spotted a window reflection that revealed confidential information. A polarizing filter cut the reflection in seconds, and we were back to rolling.<\/p>\n On your shoot day, assign one person who has the authority (and boldness) to stop an interview or flag a section for review or deletion.<\/strong><\/p>\n A schedule built around an \u201cideal day\u201d will inevitably fall apart by lunch. We find it\u2019s best to plan longer protected calendar blocks and film your highest-priority people and messages early in the day. Here are a few logistical tips to keep the day running smoothly:<\/p>\n At almost every law firm we\u2019ve worked with, a partner has been pulled into an emergency client call mid-shoot. In those moments, a strong crew and a quick-thinking point of contact let us pivot to B-roll scenes scheduled for later in the day (which opened up a second chance to film the partner\u2019s interview before we wrapped).<\/p>\n Give each speaker a short brief with the audience, key points, likely questions and any claims that are off-limits. We recommend matching the method of capture to the style of content. For example, for attorney bios, case studies and client testimonials, we typically use guided interviews, because a real conversation draws out the specific stories and natural phrasing that make a lawyer sound credible.<\/p>\n For thought leadership and recruiting, where the points are more defined, a teleprompter usually works better. <\/p>\n Either way, the goal is to have your team prepared, because memorized lines tend to sound robotic.<\/p>\n This step often gets overlooked, so it\u2019s worth raising early. The camera captures a lot more than what ends up in the final video \u2014 outtakes, off-the-cuff comments between takes and answers that don\u2019t make the final edit. So it helps to limit the filming area to the people who truly need to be there (no one wandering into a shot or overhearing a sensitive answer), and to know what happens to the footage that\u2019s been taped.<\/p>\n Most firms have lived through some version of approval dysfunction: a draft goes out to six people, six sets of comments come back, and some of them contradict each other. You can avoid most of these issues by assigning review roles before editing starts, with your point of contact consolidating all comments before they reach the video editor.<\/p>\n Ask for time-coded comments with a deadline, and agree on what \u201clocks\u201d after each round. In the video production world, \u201cpicture lock\u201d means the edit\u2019s content and timing are final, so reopening revisions after picture lock is usually a scope change.\u00a0<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a quick-reference checklist for your next law firm video production:<\/p>\n The best shoot days often feel uneventful, and that\u2019s because the difficult decisions were made before call time. When permissions, sensitive topics, calendars and approvals are settled in advance, attorneys can relax and focus on sharing what they know, instead of managing an emergency.<\/p>\n Featured Image Licensed under the Unsplash+ License<\/a><\/p>\n Most law firm podcasts fail by year one. One big reason: Approaching premium media like a normal Zoom meeting. What else? Read these tips from the producers at Legal Broadcasting Company before you launch. <\/p>\n <\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Law Firm Video Marketing: Why Your Videos Don\u2019t Generate Cases (and How to Fix It)<\/a><\/p>\n Radio Ga Ga: Why Podcasting Is the Undiscovered Marketing Goldmine for Lawyers<\/a><\/p>\n\n
2. Build a Permission Map for Client Consent and Releases<\/h3>\n
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3. Protect Client Confidentiality on Camera<\/h3>\n
4. Schedule Attorney Call Times With Buffers<\/h3>\n
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5. Prep Attorneys Without Scripting the Life Out of Them<\/h3>\n
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6. Control Set Access and Footage Security<\/h3>\n
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7. Set an Approval Ladder for Video Review<\/h3>\n
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Quick-Reference Law Firm Video Production Checklist<\/h2>\n
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Plan Ahead for a Low-Stress Video Shoot Day<\/h2>\n
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\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n10 Simple Truths for Every Lawyer Who Wants to Start a Podcast<\/h3>\n
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