TechnoLawyer

Today's issue of TL NewsWire covers a cloud document management service that uses native software (see article below), a fast monochrome laser printer, a document management app for the iPad, and a task manager that works on the web and in dedicated iOS apps. Don't miss the next issue.

CLOUD DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT WITH A LOCAL TWIST

We've entered a new era in the legal technology world. Few lawyers debate the necessity of a document management system anymore. Instead, the debate has shifted to which combination of features best fits the needs of law firms in the second decade of the 21st century. The debate has thus far focused on cloud versus local, but a new product suggests that a hybrid approach may best suit the needs of many law firms.

Worldox GX3 Cloud … in One Sentence

Launching today, World Software's Worldox GX3 Cloud is a hybrid cloud document management system.

The Killer Feature

As its name suggests, Worldox GX3 Cloud stores your firm's documents and client-related email in the cloud (secure web servers). But here's the twist — you're not relegated to using a web browser to access and work with your data. Instead, you can use the very same Worldox software you would use if you stored your documents on an onsite server.

According to World Software, Worldox GX3 Cloud works so seamlessly that your colleagues may not realize their documents are stored in the cloud and not locally, thus eliminating a common complaint of cloud applications — the slowness of web browsers (a web browser must download text and images in addition to the data you seek).

Worldox GX3 Cloud adds to its speed advantage by enabling you to edit and work with large PDF documents directly on the web-based server instead of having to download a copy.

"We are proud to be the most widely-used document management system in the legal market," World Software President Ray Zwiefelhofer told us. "While largely known for our small to midsize firm presence, our GX3 enterprise release in 2012 meets the needs of larger law firms. And our new GX3 Cloud release furthers our company goal of offering a completely flexible document management system, so law firms of all sizes can choose the solution that benefits them most."

Other Notable Features

Worldox GX3 Cloud provides the same feature set as an on-premises Worldox system. For example, it forces everyone to store new documents in Worldox GX3 Cloud and create a searchable document profile, and provides check in and check out functionality, full-text searching, document access restrictions, etc.

Worldox GX3 Cloud also includes a full-featured PDF editing suite, obviating the need to purchase PDF software. This suite supports saving documents in PDF/A format, Bates stamping, form creation and completion, redaction, and more. Speaking of third-party software, thanks to 25 years in business, Worldox GX3 Cloud integrates with a large number of products to accommodate your workflow — Outlook, billing software, document comparison products, practice management systems, etc.

Security is always a concern when using cloud applications. World Software uses Rackspace OpenStack, which has earned all the major certifications such as SSAE 16 and ISAE 3402. Your firm's data is literally walled off. It's also backed up and stored across multiple data centers for added redundancy.

What Else Should You Know?

Worldox GX3 Cloud doesn't require a capital investment up front — you need not purchase and maintain a server or pay for a software license. Instead, it costs $55 per user per month. Learn more about Worldox GX3 Cloud.

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.

Originally published in the October 9, 2012 issue of SmallLaw: Given that the iPad now features dictation and remains far more portable than a laptop, it makes sense to invest in a quality word processor — preferably one that works with DOC and DOCX formats for better interoperability with Microsoft Office on your Mac or PC. In this issue of SmallLaw, legal technology consultant Brett Burney reviews three such apps. He evaluates their word processing features, file management tools, import/export options, and more. Don't shop until you know Brett's iVerdict. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for the magic revenue number small law firms must achieve to cross the chasm from hobby to real business.

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 links to helpful articles in other publications about solo practices and small law firms. The SmallLaw newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Originally published in the October 2, 2012 issue of SmallLaw: Small law firms have the same document needs as large law firms, just not the same budget. Therefore, many make do with inefficient manual systems. In this issue of SmallLaw, Seattle estate planning attorney John Creahan reviews SAFE Cloud, a web-based document management system with large firm features like secure access via a virtual private network at a small firm price. In his review, John discusses set up and customization, importing documents and email, search capabilities, security, technical support, and more. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for 10 safety tips for high-risk practice areas.

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 links to helpful articles in other publications about solo practices and small law firms. The SmallLaw newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Originally published in the September 28, 2012 issue of SmallLaw: If teenagers across the country can efficiently churn out Big Macs that taste identical, certainly you can more efficiently churn out error-free legal documents. In this issue of SmallLaw, law firm technology consultant Ben Schorr explains how to use AutoCorrect and AutoText Quick Parts to build documents that contain specific words, phrases, paragraphs, and even pages. Because they're features of Microsoft Word you need not buy anything. You just need to learn how to use them by following Ben's instructions. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for a review of Dragon NaturallySpeaking 12 Premium.

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 links to helpful articles in other publications about solo practices and small law firms. The SmallLaw newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Coming today to SmallLaw: For most lawyers, lunch is a respite. For family lawyer Lee Rosen it's serious business. At his growing small law firm, networking lunches with referral sources generate about $1 million per lawyer in fees. In this issue of SmallLaw, Lee explains the 10 steps for successfully building referral sources (starting with a lunch) who continually send you new clients. Listen to Lee — and save your respites for dinner or better yet your early retirement. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for the story of a small law firm that opened its doors at the worst possible time, but managed to succeed against the odds.

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.

Coming today to BlawgWorld: Our editorial team has selected and linked to 137 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.

QuickBooks v. Peachtree for Law Firms

Are Windows 8 Tablets Doomed Given Microsoft's History?

Review: Navigon

Practice Tip: Don't Bill for Having Sex With Your Client

Open Letter to New Lawyers: Learn How to Use the Internet

Congratulations to Alex Castle of PCWorld on winning our BlawgWorld Pick of the Week award: How to Create a PC Resuscitation Kit on a USB Flash Drive

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

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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.

Coming today to LitigationWorld: Some say that every battle is won or lost before it is ever fought. A corollary exists in litigation. Most lawsuits are won or lost during discovery. That's why you need to know the rules. In this issue of LitigationWorld, Seattle litigator and civil procedure expert Kim Gunning discusses likely changes to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 45, which governs subpoenas, and a forthcoming Supreme Court decision that will significantly impact class action lawsuits. Also, don't miss the LitigationWorld Pick of the Week for Lawsites' review of WordRake (which we also reviewed, but it never hurts to get a second opinion).

How to Receive LitigationWorld
All practice areas evolve, but none faster than litigation. Written by successful litigators and other litigation experts, LitigationWorld provides you with practical tips related to electronic discovery, depositions, litigation strategy, litigation technology, and trial presentations. LitigationWorld also features in-depth litigation product reviews with accompanying TechnoScore ratings, as well as links to the most noteworthy litigation articles in other publications so that you'll never miss anything. The LitigationWorld newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Today's issue of TL NewsWire covers document assembly software that is itself automated (see article below), an iPhone app that can trigger actions in other apps with one tap, a mobile scanner that weighs less than a pound, a cloud application for culling, reviewing, and producing discovery documents, and a free marketing service for lawyers. Don't miss the next issue.

THE AUTOMATION OF DOCUMENT AUTOMATION SOFTWARE

Document assembly software enables you to create legal documents faster and without embarrassing errors that can occur when recycling previous documents. Let's call this Document Assembly 1.0, which has existed for about 20 years (maybe longer). In version 2.0, your document assembly software itself needs to become more automated so that you can create new templates just as quickly as you can create documents from those templates.

Pathagoras 2013.1 … in One Sentence

Launched this week, Pathagoras 2013.1 is a document assembly add-on for Microsoft Word.

The Killer Feature

Pathagoras has two claims to fame — the ability to create document templates using simple plain text variables such as "[Client Name]" and "[Client Address]" rather than a scripting language, and the ability to work within the familiar environment of Microsoft Word.

The new version adds a third crowd pleaser — Instant Database. As you complete templates, Pathagoras automatically stores all your variables and related information in its own database. This makes it faster to create new templates and also to enter and reuse case-related information. The company has also improved its Create Variables and Create Options wizards to further expedite the creation of new templates.

The company claims that these new features significantly shorten the time needed to create templates (e.g., a motion and an accompanying affidavit). You simply use the plain text variables from other documents to create the new templates, and reuse the stored client data to fill in the variables.

"While we continue to add more useful features and significantly more value to the product, we have remained true to our plain text underpinnings," President and Chief Programmer of Pathagoras Roy Lasris told us. "Our latest version is easier to set up and use than ever before.

Other Notable Features

Continuing with its focus on speed, the new Quick Picks feature enables you to create a custom menu containing up to 12 of your most frequently-used Pathagoras functions.

Similarly, new tools facilitate the creation of MultiChoice Lists for your documents. For example, you can quickly create a MultiChoice List of all 50 states, counties in which you practice, names of judges, etc. for rapid entry into any document.

Your clients can lend a helping hand with document creation. From Pathagoras you can send them an email message with a fill-in-the-blanks form. After they complete and return it, you automatically import the information into Pathagoras' Instant Database, which makes this data available for use in documents created for their matters.

Other features include improved connectivity with Excel spreadsheets (including for mail merges), tools for optional and conditional clauses, calendar and math variables, a text expander for entering boilerplate text with just a few keystrokes, new search and replace tools that work with variables and across multiple documents, and a new tool that can identify inconsistent variables among your templates.

What Else Should You Know?

Pathagoras 2013.1 works with Microsoft Word 2003 and later versions. Pricing starts at $379 for the first license. Additional licenses cost $250. Volume discounts exist starting at $799 for three licenses. Learn more about Pathagoras 2013.1.

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.

Originally published in the September 28, 2012 issue of SmallLaw: MyCaseOnline is an online document management system that can handle your work product as well as discovery documents at a low price. In this issue of SmallLaw, estate planning lawyer Chandra Lewnau reviews MyCaseOnline after using it in her practice for several months. You'll learn how well MyCaseOnline organizes documents, and enables you to search them, restrict access to them within your firm, and keep them secure from the outside world. Chandra also discusses pricing and usability before bestowing her TechnoScore. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for the six people your law practice needs (other than you and your staff).

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 links to helpful articles in other publications about solo practices and small law firms. The SmallLaw newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Originally published in the September 28, 2012 issue of SmallLaw: With digital signatures still in their infancy and too hard for normal people to use, the fax stills reigns supreme for signed documents. In this issue of SmallLaw, New Jersey legal malpractice lawyer Edward Grossi reviews FaxLogic, a fax-to-email service that can also work with existing fax machines if needed. It also includes secure cloud storage. Edward used FaxLogic in his solo practice for about six months before writing his review, which covers the various plans and of course how well the service works. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for a review of Chrometa 2012, an automatic billable time capture service.

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 links to helpful articles in other publications about solo practices and small law firms. The SmallLaw newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.