The Ten Commandments of Smartphone Etiquette

If you’re ever been in the middle of a conversation with someone, and they’ve stopped suddenly to take a call or return a text, you may be one of us in the legal community who wishes that Moses would go up that mountain just one more time, but this time come down with a new set of “tablets” enumerating the Ten Commandments of Smartphone Etiquette. Since Moses is “unavailable right now,” Planet Depos has compiled a set of suggested guidelines that will help you to be more courteous and professional when using your smartphone.

1. Never stop mid-sentence when immersed in a conversation with someone in order to answer either a text or a call unless it’s a family member texting you “911.”

2. If you’re going to court, any documents that are stored on your smartphone should be moved to a laptop, as many jurisdictions are now banning cell phones and tablets from courthouses due to signal interference, as well as their audio, video and photographic capabilities.

3. If attending a meeting, set your cell phone to vibrate.

4. Turn your cell phone completely off when attending a videotaped deposition, as the cell phone signal itself may interfere with the audio recording.

5. Never put a cell phone that is set to vibrate on the table at which you’re sitting during a meeting or deposition. Hearing or watching your cell phone dance around the tabletop for an incoming text or call is distracting to all.

6. If approached by a colleague while tapping away on your cell phone, discontinue immediately and ENGAGE in conversation. The partially completed message will be there when you return.

7. Have any desire to be fined and/or found in contempt of court? Just leave your ringer set to loud.

8. It probably goes without saying, but NEVER answer phone calls or texts in the middle of interviewing a prospective witness, client or applicant for employment, as it comes across as rude.

9. When eating a meal with a friend, family member, colleague or client, keep your phone in silent mode. There’s nothing worse than meeting with someone for a meal, only to have them engage in conversation with an uninvited guest.

10. Finally, DO use your cell phone to make contact with colleagues and clients. You’d be surprised how quickly you can resolve a matter with a quick, old-fashioned phone call.

While cell phones can be a tremendous tool for you in your practice, they can also become addictive and, at times, intrusive and inconsiderate of others. If you can’t seem to live without your cell phone for even one hour, you may want to read Jeremy Spiegel, M.D.’s article about how you can start “expanding your digital down time” and make time to just “be.”