Many people do not seem to know that lawyers have ethical constraints on representation.

You can tag lawyers to issues on Twitter. But no serious, ethically compliant lawyer will take up a case without being brifed formally by the victim or the victim's representative.

A lawyer that jumps into a case simply because it is trending or because people have drawn his or her attention to it is a busy body. Without being instructed, a lawyer is not allowed to act or represent anyone.

It is a risk that may cost the lawyer his or her practice license.

Those of us that have respect for professional ethics will not bend the rules because of pressure. Some lawyers have faced the embarrassment of fighting in court over who has the right to represent a litigant. The Rules of Professional Conduct has a procedure for accepting brief.

A lawyer is supposed to find out from the intending client if he or she already has a lawyer.

In the event that another lawyer is already handling the brief, the old counsel has to be debriefed first.

The new counsel is required to ensure that the fees of his colleague is paid.

He is also required, in certain cases, to contact the old counsel before taking up the brief. In court, the Rules require that a formal application should be made for change of counsel.

I'm not saying you should not tag lawyers on social media to issues of public interest.

But it is necessary to draw the attention of the victim or the representatives of the victims to a lawyer that you believe may be able to help. A victim that doesn't seek help, may not get help.

It is not every lawyer that will be ready to sacrifice professional ethics.