It is a cliche in legal drama shows or movies: An attorney walks down the courthouse steps, surrounded by throngs of media, and answers questions about their client and a pending proceeding. The attorney may be confrontational about their client’s case or may try to brush off the journalists with a response of “No comment.” But how does this work in real life?

Members of the media often seek comments from lawyers regarding their cases and the parties involved. Lawyers may even feel pressure to engage with the media to help shape public perception on a matter. But Georgia Rule of Professional Conduct 3.6 cautions lawyers not to make any “extrajudicial statement” that the lawyer knows or reasonably should know “will have a substantial likelihood of materially prejudicing an adjudicative proceeding in the matter.”