Harvard Courses and Marketing for Attorneys

The Harvard Alumni Association announced today that it is again offering Michael Sandel's course entitled "Justice" to alumni around the world via both streaming video over the Internet and via podcast.  Thus, Harvard alumni can "take" the course via virtual means.  In addition, alumni can interact with other alumni on the course blog and can participate in "online office hours" with Professor Sandel.  Last year, over 4000 Harvard alumni participated in the course via podcast or streaming video.

What does a Harvard virtual course have to do with marketing for attorneys?  A lot.  Law firms and lawyers should take a hard look at the model of podcasting and streaming video and decide how they can use it to better serve existing clients and to reach prospective clients.  For example, if a law firm is already providing in-house training for clients (or even for their own attorneys), why not podcast the same presentation for the benefit of clients and prospective clients?  Podcasting and streaming videos have come of age in the world of marketing for attorneys and marketing for law firms.

I welcome your comments below.