TechnoLawyer Blog: Consultants/Services

Microsoft Response Point; Locally-Built Laptops; Mac to PC Switch; FileBox Extender Review; Australia

By Sara Skiff | Friday, January 15, 2010

Coming today to Fat Friday: Donald Moir reviews Microsoft Response Point with Syspine hardware, Jonathan Warner shares his experience with locally-built laptops, Mike Agron explains why he's switching back to a PC after spending a year with a MacBook Pro, Wesley Brown reviews FileBox eXtender, and Kerry Hubick discusses Australia's health care system. Don't miss this issue.

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Accounting Implications of Software v. SaaS; Blogging Success Story; When DIY Makes Sense; Clio; LogMeIn Review

By Sara Skiff | Friday, October 16, 2009

Coming today to Fat Friday: Steven Levy discusses accounting considerations for locally installed software versus SaaS (software in the cloud), Harold Goldner explains how blogging has boosted his practice, John Starkweather discusses when to hire consultants and when to do it yourself, Thomas Hutto shares helpful information about Clio's data escrow policy, and Craig Bayer compares LogMeIn free to LogMeIn Rescue. Don't miss this issue.

Good and Bad Consultants; Fastcase Review; Word Calculations; PureText Review; Password Management

By Sara Skiff | Thursday, August 27, 2009

Coming today to Answers to Questions: Mark Deal discusses how to choose a consultant, Thomas Hutto reviews Fastcase for legal research, Carol Bratt explains how to perform calculations in Microsoft Word, Tom Trottier shares four password management and creation tips, and Frederic Wolfram reviews PureText for use with Word and WordPerfect. Don't miss this issue.

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Do you believe in the wisdom of crowds? In Answers to Questions, TechnoLawyer members answer legal technology and practice management questions submitted by their peers. This newsletter's popularity stems from the relevance of the questions and answers to virtually everyone in the legal profession. The Answers to Questions newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Mac Defenders Speak Up; FileCenter Review; 3M Joystick Review; Treo Pro Review; Timeslips 64 Bit

By Sara Skiff | Friday, August 21, 2009

Coming today to Fat Friday: William Shilling responds to a recent TechnoFeature about Macs in a law firm, Robert Maize reviews FileCenter's file deletion failsafe mechanism, George Allen reviews 3M's ergonomic joystick mouse, James Moore reviews the Treo Pro and shares what deterred him from buying a Palm Pre, and James Walsh shares some important information about Timeslips and the 64-bit version of Windows Vista. Don't miss this issue.

Mythbusters: Should Your Law Firm Switch From Windows to Mac?

By Sara Skiff | Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Coming today to TechnoFeature: If your law firm switches to Macs you'll lose about 50 pounds and get to hang out with the cool crowd. That's what Apple's TV advertisements would have you believe. Meanwhile, Microsoft's commercials claim that you'll pay an Apple tax. Legal technology consultant Christel Burris suggests you ignore all the claims and instead focus on real-world usage in law firms and the products that exist on both platforms. In this TechnoFeature article, she engages in some mythbusting based on her experience this year with a law firm that uses both operating systems. What does Christel conclude? Read her analysis to find out.

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Risky Business; Backup Perfection; Slim Mac Pickings; Locally-Build PCs; BlackBerry and PhoneTag Review

By Sara Skiff | Friday, August 14, 2009

Coming today to Fat Friday: Ben Schorr discusses the risks of cloud computing, Steve Buchwalter describes his backup routine, Paul Mansfield shares his thoughts on DIY and locally-built PCs, Tom Trottier weighs the pros and cons of a Mac in the law office, and Andrew Weltchek reviews his experience using a BlackBerry with PhoneTag for transcribed voicemail. Don't miss this issue.

Palm Pre; Bill, Don't Build; Interwoven Review; SEO Tips; OfficeJet 9210 Review; Mobile Scanner Security Issues

By Sara Skiff | Friday, June 5, 2009

Coming today to Fat Friday: Anthony Campbell discusses consultants versus the DIY approach to technology, Simon Kogan reviews the HP Officejet 9210, Stelios Antoniou shares his firm's strategy for a successful Web site, Kathy Mergulhao reviews Interwoven Worksite for document management, and Carroll Straus discusses the security risks of scanners with built-in data storage. Don't miss this issue.

SmallLaw: Minimum Daily Technology Requirements Part 3: Everything Else You Need

By Ross Kodner | Monday, May 18, 2009

Originally published on May 11, 2009 in our free SmallLaw newsletter.

In my last two columns, I introduced the idea of the MDTR — the "Minimum Daily Technology Requirements" for every solo and small firm's technology needs.

Part 1 discussed hardware needs.

Part 2 discussed software needs.

This third and final segment explores some important ancillary subjects from electrical protection to choosing and using consultants.

MDTR: Electrical Protection

UPS and Surge Protectors

Round out the MDTR for hardware with a battery backup such as the cost effective APC Back-UPS 500 for around $100 to provide both surge protection and electrical backup in the event of power dips or short outages without crashing your PC.

Plug all other components like your printer into professional grade surge protection from companies like APC, Tripplite, or Belkin (general rule — if a "surge protector" is under $15, skip it — not enough protection — you want a stated rating of "surge clamping capacity" of 700 "joules" or better).

Mobile Surge Protectors

Mobile lawyers should always plug their laptops/netbooks into a portable surge protector. Three suitable models include:

Tripplite Traveler ($20)

APC Notebook SurgeArrest ($20)

Belkin Mini Surge Protector with USB Charger ($25)

MDTR: Routers, Switches, Firewalls and Such

A dizzying array of network gear exists for sharing Internet connections (routers and switches), and for keeping the "bad guys" out (firewalls). Some devices even offer the trifecta of shared Internet connectivity, firewalling, and WiFi wireless capabilities. So for simplicity's sake, we'll list one model and discuss the topic more fully at another time.

One possible approach (among many — I could write 50 pages on this subject alone) would be the Netgear FWG114p PROSAFE 802.11G wireless firewall 4 port 10/100 network switch and USB print server. Quite a mouthful, but the gist of it is that it provides Internet sharing, wireless capability, network firewall functions, and network connectivity for about $125.

Extend the network ports with any other 10/100 (Fast Ethernet) switch. If you have a larger budget and proper cabling throughout your firm, consider Gigabit Ethernet.

MDTR: Smartphone

Why would anyone want to practice law without one? Clients, especially in this tight economy, expect you to have this capability (like it or not). I don't care what you have as long as it integrates with the MDTR software list — integrating as easily as possible with your practice management system of choice and Outlook 2007. So whether it's a BlackBerry, an iPhone, a Treo/Centro/(soon to be available) Pre model from Palm, or a Windows Mobile-equipped device, any smartphone is better than, well ... a dumb-phone.

The ultimate selection criterion for any smartphone should be a positive answer to the question: "Does this device easily integrate/synchronize with my software systems?"

MDTR: Virtualize Yourself v. Adding Staff and Paid Services

Think about a Virtual Assistant — to help with anything and everything including your dictation transcription (yes, dictations can be efficient, especially with a digital approach). The be all, end all is probably LegalTypist, the brainchild of master virtual assistant Andrea Cannavina.

A laundry list of tools for your MDTR arsenal:

FreeConferenceCall.com: Never pay a cent for conference calling.

Internet-based PC Faxing: MaxEmail, MyFax, or RapidFax. You'll need a scanner to make the most of these services. Physical fax machines are so 1990s.

Phones: Skype (free Internet-based phone services). Also OneBox for a "virtual PBX" phone system (large firm phone functionality, small firm budget).

Jott: "Digital sticky notes for your brain."

Google Voice: Keeps you connected no matter where you are.

Google Apps: Gmail offers the best Web mail on the planet with the most storage and Google searchability.

MDTR: Daily Dosage of Legal Tech Smarts

Being a legal technopeasant in 2009 just doesn't cut it any longer — clients won't tolerate it or subsidize tech ignorance or lack of general sophistication.

In addition to continuing to read SmallLaw (thank you) and TechnoLawyer's other newsletters, check out the following resources as well:

• Get a free subscription to Law Technology News and scan it carefully each month.

• If you're an ABA member, join the GP|Solo Division and the Law Practice Management Section if for no other reason than to read their terrific magazines and ezines monthly.

• Also, look to the tremendous selection of practice management and technology books offered by the ABA Law Practice Management Section and the ABA GP|Solo Division.

• Subscribe to The Firm — otherwise known as the ABA's Solosez listserver for lively daily discussion of tech, practice management, and all aspects of small firm life with 4000+ fellow SSF lawyers and staffers. You don't have to be an ABA member to join.

MDTR: Putting It All Together

Find a capable, competent, legal-focused and legal-experienced consultant to manage a proper implementation. Don't attempt a DIY (do it yourself) approach. Do the economic math. Even in tight times, you can't afford it.

Practice smart, make more money, exceed client expectations with better work product quality and faster turnaround times at a reasonable price and above all, have more fun in practice. The MDTR will help get you there — cost-effectively — just the digital prescription for these tough and trying times.

Written by Ross Kodner of MicroLaw.

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Small firm, big dreams. Published first via email newsletter and later here on our blog, SmallLaw provides you with a mix of practical advice that you can use today, and insight about what it will take for small law firms like yours to thrive in the future. The SmallLaw newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Web Apps Unplugged; NEC PBX Review; Amicus Mobile; WordPerfect Tip; Tech Tinkering; Background Checks

By Sara Skiff | Friday, April 24, 2009

Coming today to Fat Friday: Ross Kodner discusses the downside of Software as a Service practice management, Jay Geary reviews NEC's PBX digital phone system and the vendor his firm used, George Lazar reviews Amicus Mobile, Aaron Morris shares a workaround for using WordPerfect on multiple monitors, and William Tait explains why lawyers should leave the technology tinkering to the IT professionals. Don't miss this issue.

Online Backup Reviews; WordPerfect = Ron Paul; Word 2007 Review; Case Management Revolution; Trend Micro Review

By Sara Skiff | Thursday, April 16, 2009

Coming today to Answers to Questions: Don Grassmann compares OnlineBackupVault, MozyPro, and IDrive for online backup, Jeff Bennion shares three conclusions about the Word versus WordPerfect debate, John Fitzpatrick reviews Word 2007, Ay Uaxe discusses the accessibility of legal software and what the future may hold, and Caren Schwartz reviews Trend Micro antivirus software. Don't miss this issue.

TechnoLawyer Blog: Consultants/Services

All the legal technology and practice management news that's fit to blog.