join now
newsletters
topics
topics
advertise with us ABA Journal Blawg 100 Award 2009 ABA Journal Blawg 100 Award 2008
Subscribe (RSS Feed)TechnoLawyer Feed

Five Steps for Reigniting Law Firm Growth Plus 102 More Must-Reads

By Kathryn Hughes | Monday, October 21, 2013

Coming today to BigLaw: Our editorial team has selected and linked to 103 articles from the past two weeks worthy of your attention. Below you'll find a sample article from each section of today's issue, including our BigLaw Pick of the Week.

The Global 100: Top Grossing Law Firms in the World

Who Represents America's Biggest Companies?

Law Firm Counts on Analytics for Profitability

How Dewey Destroyed Itself (Subscription Required)

Congratulations to Jordan Furlong of Law21 on winning our BigLaw Pick of the Week award: Five Steps for Reigniting Law Firm Growth

How to Receive BigLaw
Large and midsize law firms have achieved unprecedented success yet they still have tremendous growth potential. Written by insiders, corporate counsel, and other industry experts, BigLaw unearths best practices in leadership, marketing, strategy, and technology, and features detailed product reviews with accompanying TechnoScore ratings. BigLaw also ensures that you won't miss anything published elsewhere by linking to insightful articles (and podcasts and videos) about large and midsize law firms, as well as notable press releases issued by the world's largest law firms. The BigLaw newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Topics: BiglawWorld | Coming Attractions | Law Office Management

Buyer's Guide to Mechanical Keyboards; Microsoft Word 2010 Tips; Hosted Practice Management

By Kathryn Hughes | Friday, October 18, 2013

Today's issue of Fat Friday contains these articles:

Edward Zohn, Buyer's Guide to Mechanical Keyboards, Including Customization Options

Jeanette M. Otis, Paragraph Numbering and Other Microsoft Word 2010 Tips

Julie Cohen, What to Look for in a Hosted Practice Management System

Don't miss this issue — or any future issues.

How to Receive Fat Friday
Our most serendipitous offering, Fat Friday consists of unsolicited contributions by TechnoLawyer members. You'll no doubt enjoy it because of its mix of interesting topics and genuinely useful knowledge, including brutally honest product reviews and informative how-tos. The Fat Friday newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Topics: Business Productivity/Word Processing | Coming Attractions | Computer Accessories | Online/Cloud | Practice Management/Calendars

Partial OCR Tip; Reviews of ClipMate, PureText, Time Matters, PCLaw, AbacusLaw, TextAloud; iPad Question

By Kathryn Hughes | Thursday, October 17, 2013

Today's issue of TL Answers contains these articles:

Robin Meadow, How to OCR a Portion of a Page Plus Reviews of ClipMate and PureText

Craig Zawada, Review: LastPass

Bruce Brightwell, Review: Time Matters With PCLaw Versus AbacusLaw

Joshua Gordon, Review: TextAloud

Don't miss this issue — or any future issues.

How to Receive TL Answers
Do you believe in the wisdom of crowds? In TL Answers, 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 TL Answers newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Topics: Accounting/Billing/Time Capture | Business Productivity/Word Processing | Coming Attractions | Dictation/OCR/Speech Recognition | Practice Management/Calendars | Privacy/Security | TL Answers | Utilities

ScanSnap SV600: Read Our Exclusive Report

By Neil J. Squillante | Thursday, October 17, 2013

Today's issue of TL NewsWire covers a "contactless" USB scanner for books and other documents beyond the capabilities of sheet-fed scanners (see article below), a WiFi surveillance camera, an iPhone weather app, and an iPhone mount. Don't miss the next issue.

TAKE THE LAST STEP FROM LESS PAPER TO PAPERLESS

First, you bought a desktop scanner to eliminate paper from your office. Then you bought a network or production scanner to eliminate paper from your law firm. Then you bought a portable scanner to prevent bringing paper to your office after a trip. What's left? Well, you probably walk by it every day — the out-of-print books and magazines in your law firm's library that you'd like to keep. Oh — and maybe a few hundred business cards and fragile documents such as old wills just a few items that sheet-fed scanners don't handle well or at all.

ScanSnap SV600 … in One Sentence

Launched last week, Fujitsu's ScanSnap SV600 is an overhead USB "contactless" document scanner.

The Killer Feature

Scanning a book sounds like a grueling task. You'll probably want to create an uplifting playlist and don headphones, but the ScanSnap SV600 has a number of technologies to make this chore less time-consuming.

For example, the scanner detects page turning. Thus, once you position a book, you just turn pages. The scanner automatically scans each pair of pages without you having to press a button. Alternatively, you can time the interval between scans. The SV600 also automatically flattens "book curves" for better quality digital versions. Perhaps most impressively, the scanner omits fingers from scans in the event you don't yank away your hand fast enough after turning a page.

Other Notable Features

The SV600 weighs 6.6 pounds. Its base measures 8.27 x 6.1 x 15 inches. It scans documents ranging in size from 1 x 1 inches to 17 x 11.8 inches at resolutions up to 600 dpi. Each scan takes about three seconds. Scanning technologies include straightening (deskew) as well as automatic color, orientation, and size detection. You can save documents in JPG or PDF formats (including searchable PDF).

Fujitsu's engineers incorporated several other technologies designed to make scanning more efficient. Most notably, you need not scan one item at a time thanks to multiple document detection technology. This obviously works best with small documents. For example, you can scan several business cards simultaneously.

What Else Should You Know?

The SV600 requires a PC running Windows XP or later. Fujitsu has a reputation for generous software bundles. The SV600 includes Adobe Acrobat Standard, ABBYY FineReader (traditional OCR), Rack2-Filer Smart (document management), CardMinder (business card OCR), and of course Fujitsu's own ScanSnap Manager (scan settings) and ScanSnap Organizer (document management). The SV600 has an MSRP of $795. Learn more about ScanSnap SV600.

How to Receive TL NewsWire
So many products, so little time. In each issue of TL NewsWire, you'll learn about five new products for the legal profession. Pressed for time? The newsletter's innovative articles enable lawyers and law office administrators to quickly understand the function of a product, and zero in on its most important features. The TL NewsWire newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Topics: Coming Attractions | TL NewsWire

Buyer's Guide to Cloud Practice Management Services Plus October 2013 Issue of Law Practice Today Plus 138 More Must-Reads

By Kathryn Hughes | Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Coming today to BlawgWorld: Our editorial team has selected and linked to 139 articles from the past week worthy of your attention. Below you'll find a sample article from each section of today's issue, including our BlawgWorld Pick of the Week.

Review: MyCloud (Private Cloud)

A Guide to Dropbox and the iPad for Lawyers

What You You Didn't Learn in Law School About Billing

Does Your Law Firm Web Site Attract the Right Clients?

Congratulations to Benjamin K. Sanchez and Wells H. Anderson of GP Solo on winning our BlawgWorld Pick of the Week award: Buyer's Guide to Cloud Practice Management Services

Today's issue also contains links to every article in the October 2013 issue of Law Technology Today. Don't miss today's issue or any future issues of BlawgWorld.

How to Receive BlawgWorld
Our newsletters provide the most comprehensive coverage of legal technology, practice management, and law firm marketing, but not the only coverage. BlawgWorld enables you to stay on top of all the noteworthy articles (and podcasts) published online without having to hire a research assistant. Even when you're busy, you won't want to miss each issue's Pick of the Week. The BlawgWorld newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Topics: BlawgWorld Newsletter | Coming Attractions | Laptops/Smartphones/Tablets | Law Firm Marketing/Publications/Web Sites | Law Office Management | Online/Cloud | Practice Management/Calendars | Technology Industry/Legal Profession

Reviews of AutoIT, AutoHotKey, TextExpander; Dropbox Caveat and Tip; Microsoft Rant; Smartphone Contracts

By Kathryn Hughes | Friday, October 11, 2013

Today's issue of Fat Friday contains these articles:

Norman Van Treeck, Review: AutoIT, AutoHotKey, TextExpander

Ken Laska, Dropbox and Folders on the iPad

David Estes, Microsoft Still Doesn't Get Numbered Lists

Neil Squillante, A Reminder About Smartphone Contracts

Don't miss this issue — or any future issues.

How to Receive Fat Friday
Our most serendipitous offering, Fat Friday consists of unsolicited contributions by TechnoLawyer members. You'll no doubt enjoy it because of its mix of interesting topics and genuinely useful knowledge, including brutally honest product reviews and informative how-tos. The Fat Friday newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Topics: Automation/Document Assembly/Macros | Backup/Media/Storage | Business Productivity/Word Processing | Coming Attractions | Fat Friday | Laptops/Smartphones/Tablets | Online/Cloud

The Best Alternative iPad Web Browser Plus a Deadly AFA

By Kathryn Hughes | Thursday, October 10, 2013

Coming today to SmallLaw: Backups don't only apply to data, but also to iPad apps given their low prices. In this issue of SmallLaw, legal technology consultant Brett Burney discusses Safari's shortcomings such as not being able to pretend it's Internet Explorer for certain web sites that lawyers regularly use. After explaining why you should have at least one alternative web browser, Brett then compares four alternatives regarding these advanced functions and declares a winner. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for an alternative fee arrangement to avoid like the plague.

How to Receive SmallLaw
Small firm, big dreams. Written by practicing lawyers who manage successful small firms and legal technology and practice management experts who have achieved rock star status, SmallLaw provides practical advice on management, marketing, and technology issues in small law firms, as well as comprehensive legal product reviews with accompanying TechnoScore ratings. SmallLaw also ensures that you won't miss anything published elsewhere by linking to helpful articles (and podcasts and videos) about solo practices and small law firms. The SmallLaw newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Topics: Business Productivity/Word Processing | Coming Attractions | Laptops/Smartphones/Tablets | SmallLaw

Reviews of Credenza, Casemaker, Fastcase, DisplayFusion Pro; Advice for Time Matters Users; Text Spotlight Replacement

By Kathryn Hughes | Thursday, October 10, 2013

Today's issue of TL Answers contains these articles:

Andrew Weltchek, Review: Credenza in a Solo Practice With an iPad

Richard Marx, Options for Law Firms Using an Old Version of Time Matters

Nathan Davis, Review: Casemaker and Fastcase

Joshua Gordon, Review: DisplayFusion Pro (With Four Monitors)

Don't miss this issue — or any future issues.

How to Receive TL Answers
Do you believe in the wisdom of crowds? In TL Answers, 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 TL Answers newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Topics: Accounting/Billing/Time Capture | Coming Attractions | Email/Messaging/Telephony | Laptops/Smartphones/Tablets | Legal Research | Monitors | Practice Management/Calendars | TL Answers

LexisNexis Time Matters 13: Read Our Exclusive Report

By Neil J. Squillante | Thursday, October 10, 2013

Today's issue of TL NewsWire covers practice management software with a secure client portal (see article below), a height-adjustable desk, a project management application, and an iPad app for creating timelines. Don't miss the next issue.

PRACTICE MANAGEMENT WITH A SECURE CLIENT PORTAL

A recent study published by Ponemon Institute found that data breaches have occurred at approximately 90% of organizations. You've no doubt read articles about such security breaches. However, it's the security breaches you never find out about that wreak the most harm. Not every criminal gets caught after all. Maybe you didn't lose that trial last year on the merits. A new practice management system contains a technology to prevent such breaches.

LexisNexis Time Matters 13 … in One Sentence

Announced this week and launching later this month, LexisNexis Time Matters 13 is a practice management and billing system with a new secure client portal.

The Killer Feature

Today's clients want the convenience of online client portals for access to their matters, including confidential and privileged documents. However, you're responsible for providing a secure solution. Your bar can only protect you from ethics charges, not other harm that results from data breaches.

LexisNexis claims that the new Time Matters Client Portal enables your firm to provide your clients and other third parties with secure yet convenient access to designated documents. As an added bonus, you need not worry about file size unlike with email. The Time Matters Client Portal is powered by WatchDox, which industry research firms Forrester and Gartner have both endorsed as the most secure enterprise file sharing solution.

The Time Matters Client Portal requires minimal setup and training. Among its features, you can share files with both PCs and mobile devices, restrict the documents you share (e.g., prevent copying, editing, printing, and/or forwarding), add a watermark unique to each user to discourage breaches, set an expiration date, revoke previously granted access temporarily or permanently, and prevent unauthorized screen capture by limiting access to small areas of a document at any one time (PC-only currently). Needless to say, all documents are encrypted. You can wipe access to any or all of your firm's documents any time.

"The dramatic proliferation of mobile devices has raised client expectations for secure access to documents," Time Matter Product Manager Alex Overcash told us. "However, law firms are justifiably concerned about security given their stewardship of sensitive information. There simply hasn't been a viable alternative until now. The Time Matters Client Portal offers a simple but highly effective way to know who has access to a file, what they can do with it, and for how long."

Other Notable Features

As its version number 13 suggests, Time Matters has a wealth of features that not only encompass traditional practice management, but also modern features such as Time Entry Advisor, which debuted last year in version 12. You can use Time Matters out of the box or customize it with the help of a certified consultant and/or third-party add-ons.

New features include the ability to color code matters in calendars so that everyone can instantly identify Events and ToDos related to particular matters. Like Time Entry Advisor, color coding also helps you catch billable hours that might otherwise go unbilled. Version 13 also includes administrator-configurable automatic backups to help prevent catastrophic data loss.

What Else Should You Know?

Existing Time Matters customers with an annual maintenance plan (AMP) can upgrade to version 13 at no charge. Otherwise, Time Matters costs $985 for the first user and $570 for each additional user. These prices include a one-year AMP, which provides you with 12 hours of telephone support on weekdays, software updates, on-demand online training, and Time Matters Mobility for access from your smartphone. Learn more about LexisNexis Time Matters 13.

How to Receive TL NewsWire
So many products, so little time. In each issue of TL NewsWire, you'll learn about five new products for the legal profession. Pressed for time? The newsletter's innovative articles enable lawyers and law office administrators to quickly understand the function of a product, and zero in on its most important features. The TL NewsWire newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Topics: Accounting/Billing/Time Capture | Collaboration/Knowledge Management | Practice Management/Calendars | Privacy/Security | TL NewsWire

A Lawyer's Life: Linux for Lawyers, Divorce Law Parties Gone Crazy, and Capital Murder Plus Web Site Advice

By Kathryn Hughes | Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Coming today to SmallLaw: Don't tell Gadsden criminal and divorce lawyer Clark Stewart you need to work in a big city to have exciting cases. In this issue of SmallLaw, Clark turns in another fascinating account of his career in a small Alabama city. Today, you'll learn how to give an old computer new life with a modern Linux "distro" in just 30 minutes. Clark also reflects on opposing counsel and parties in divorce cases, and discusses how he landed the most significant case of his career. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week to learn how many web sites your law firm should have.

How to Receive SmallLaw
Small firm, big dreams. Written by practicing lawyers who manage successful small firms and legal technology and practice management experts who have achieved rock star status, SmallLaw provides practical advice on management, marketing, and technology issues in small law firms, as well as comprehensive legal product reviews with accompanying TechnoScore ratings. SmallLaw also ensures that you won't miss anything published elsewhere by linking to helpful articles (and podcasts and videos) about solo practices and small law firms. The SmallLaw newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Topics: Coming Attractions | Litigation/Discovery/Trials | Networking/Operating Systems | SmallLaw
 
home my technolawyer search archives place classified blog login