When this guide first appeared in late 2024, Bluesky was the platform everyone had suddenly started talking about, the fast-growing alternative for people disillusioned with Twitter/X. More than a year on, the initial noise has settled and a clearer picture has emerged. So is it worth your chambers' or law firm's time? In this post we explore what Bluesky offers, its potential for barristers' chambers and legal marketers, and the steps you can take now.
Why Bluesky took off, and where it stands now
Bluesky emerged as a haven for those seeking healthier, more meaningful discussions online. The deterioration of Twitter/X, marked by algorithm changes favouring sensational content, misinformation and divisive discourse, drove many users to look elsewhere. Actions by Elon Musk following his takeover of the company, and his political interventions, accelerated that exodus through late 2024 and into 2025.
That surge has since slowed. Bluesky now has somewhere around 43 million registered users, though a smaller core of roughly 3 to 4 million use it on any given day. It has matured from a breakout moment into a steadier, established network. There was always a risk it would become little more than an X for the Left, an alternative bubble for people sharing similar opinions, and some of that criticism has stuck. But the key differences remain. Its design gives your followers a better chance of actually seeing your posts, and engagement tends to be higher and more meaningful even from smaller audiences, with replies and genuine conversation valued over raw reach.
Bluesky's culture will keep evolving as it grows. We hope it remains a force for good, but we are all realistic about the journey social media platforms take. As David Cameron (Bluesky?) said to Tony Blair (Twitter/X?), "You were the future once."
The legal sector and Bluesky: who’s already on board?
Several chambers and law firms were quick to set up profiles, and many have held their ground since. Chambers with accounts include our clients Littleton Chambers and Cornerstone Barristers, alongside 3 Paper Buildings, 29 Bedford Row, 33 Bedford Row and Mountford Chambers.
The Inns are a more mixed picture. Inner Temple and Middle Temple have active accounts. Lincoln's Inn and Gray's Inn have both reserved handles, and Lincoln's Inn has added a banner image, but neither has posted or verified its handle yet. That gap between claiming an account and actually using it is worth bearing in mind: reserving your name is a sensible first step, but it only does any work once you start posting and verify your domain.
Many individual barristers and legal professionals are more active, happily posting (tweets? posts? "skeets"? The unofficial term is "skeets", a blend of "sky" and "tweet", though Bluesky's own team would rather you didn't). Public law silk George Peretz KC has built an audience of around 24,400 followers. These early adopters have been able to extend their reach beyond X and LinkedIn, the traditional channels for the Bar.
Why your chambers should act now
While it’s unclear whether Bluesky will become as indispensable as LinkedIn for the legal profession, there’s little downside to reserving your username now. Securing your chambers’ identity on the platform ensures you’re prepared, even if wider adoption takes time. There are two ways to set up your Bluesky account. Imagine we’re a fictional set of chambers, Square Buildings. We can use:
- Standard setup: Register a username like @squarebuildings. Individuals may want to do this as quickly as possible to reserve their preferred username.
- Domain verification: Chambers, firms and companies may take it a step further by using your website’s domain name as your handle, for example @squarebuildings.co.uk. We explain how this works, and the blue check that now sits alongside it, in verification on Bluesky below.
Try searching for “Inner Temple” on Bluesky. You’ll find these two identically-named profiles.
But which one are you looking for?
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To be fair, the second feed might be far more entertaining. But the use of @innertemple.org.uk in the username of the first leaves no doubt about its legitimacy.
How to reserve your username
Let’s say you’re Sydney Carton, a barrister at Square Buildings, who wants to create an account and reserve a username. First, head to Bluesky and click Sign up.
If your preferred username @sydneycarton is already taken, try a variation like @sydneycartonlaw:
Bluesky will invite you to upload a photo and choose some interests to kickstart your feed. Once done, head to your profile and click here, to flesh it out.
A few quick changes later and that looks better.
Verification on Bluesky
Verification on Bluesky has changed since this guide was first published. There are now two complementary ways to show that an account is genuine, and, importantly for chambers and firms, neither can be bought.
Domain verification
The original method remains in place and is still worth doing. By setting your website's domain as your handle, for example @squarebuildings.co.uk, you link your web presence directly to your social account and make impersonation far harder. More than 270,000 accounts have now verified this way, and, unlike X's old model, it costs nothing.
Setting it up takes only a few steps.
Go to Settings > Account > Handle, and click I have my own domain. Bluesky will then ask you for your domain name, and give you a change (a TXT record) to be added to your DNS settings. Make it yourself, or ask your IT person.
Once done, click Verify DNS Record at the bottom, and with a few more clicks you’ll have your domain-verified account. For more technical information see the Bluesky documentation.
This process not only protects your chambers but also boosts credibility in the eyes of your audience.
The blue check
In April 2025, Bluesky introduced a blue verification badge, displayed next to the names of accounts it considers authentic and notable. Unlike X, this badge cannot be purchased. Bluesky issues it proactively, and its moderation team reviews each verification.
Alongside this, Bluesky added Trusted Verifiers: selected organisations, such as established news outlets, that can verify accounts directly and carry a distinct scalloped badge. Tapping any badge reveals who granted the verification, so readers can see, for example, that an account has been verified by a recognised body rather than by an anonymous source.
For chambers and firms, the practical position is straightforward:
- Verify your domain. It is free, within your control, and remains the foundation of a trustworthy presence.
- Consider applying for a blue check for your organisational account and for prominent individuals, where they meet Bluesky's notability criteria.
- Larger institutions, such as the Inns or representative bodies, may in time be well placed to act as Trusted Verifiers for their members.
Used together, these layers give your audience clear, unpurchasable signals that an account is who it claims to be.
Starter packs
To make onboarding easier, Bluesky offers starter packs, which provide curated lists of accounts and resources to follow. We’ve created a pack specifically for barristers and chambers to get you started. To use it, log into Bluesky in your browser (or have the app installed on your phone) and then click the button below:
Some popular accounts to follow (included in our pack) are:
We’ll keep the starter pack updated with new barristers and chambers that we notice. If you know of an appropriate account that should be included, please let us know at [email protected] or connect with us on Bluesky: @squareeye.com.
Posting content
Of course you can share content manually on Bluesky just as you do on any other social network. But, as with LinkedIn or X, you can also post news item and judgment headlines automatically as they’re added to your website, using automation tools like Zapier or Make (with the connector Unshape). Ask us if you need a hand setting up a workflow to do this.
Final thoughts
Bluesky represents an opportunity for barristers and legal marketers to develop your online presence. While the platform’s future remains uncertain, taking small steps now - like reserving your chambers’ username - ensures you’re ready to adapt. And if you join the early adopters in actively posting, you can position your chambers as a thought leader in the ever-evolving social media landscape. Are you ready to explore Bluesky? Let’s connect and build a better network for the legal profession. Or ask us at [email protected] if you have any questions.
