TechnoLawyer

Originally published in the March 30, 2012 issue of SmallLaw: "You can't fix stupid." But it sure makes for some soulful reading. In this issue of SmallLaw, Gadsden, Alabama lawyer Clark Stewart kicks off a new series, "A Lawyer's Life." A memoir with helpful law practice and technology tips, Clark uses his experiences as a sole practitioner to inform and entertain. Today's installment features a clever use for Evernote, a marketing tip, and proof that John Wayne was right, especially in the criminal justice system. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for Jeff "iPhone J.D." Richardson's advice for lawyers thinking about buying the new iPad.

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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 March 29, 2012 issue of SmallLaw: The forecast for small law firm technology looks … cloudy. Bad puns aside, technology marches on as must your firm. In addition to deciding which products to use, you must now also decide between two different philosophies — cloud versus local software. For this reason, we periodically revisit this debate. In this issue of SmallLaw, we report on the current state of cloud computing in small law firms, including insightful observations from some of world's foremost legal technology experts. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for a report on aging baby boomer solos whose law practices are literally a heartbeat away from disaster.

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 March 20, 2012 issue of SmallLaw: "Take out the papers and the trash. Or you don't get no spending cash." These opening lines from the Coasters' biggest hit pretty much sums up law practice. Except you've got way more than two tasks with more arriving by the minute in your Outlook inbox. In today's issue of SmallLaw, Microsoft Office expert Ben Schorr divulges the secrets of Outlook's To-Do Bar. Once you apply these tips to create a prioritized task list, you'll have plenty of time for some yakety yak. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for some advice on why you should "think different" about iPad upgrades.

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 March 16, 2012 issue of SmallLaw: The world's largest social network — email — got a slow start 40 years ago, but it's way ahead of Facebook and LinkedIn. If you want to contact someone you don't know, email is your best bet as it's much less intrusive than trying to "friend" the person. But what if you don't know that person's email address? In this issue of SmallLaw, email expert Neil Squillante explains his secret techniques for obtaining just about anyone's email address. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for a rundown of the pros and cons of the various law firm compensation systems.

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 July 2, 2012 issue of LitigationWorld: A Rule 30(b)(6) deposition can change the dynamics of a case, and even short circuit the need for expensive ediscovery. In this issue of LitigationWorld, Seattle litigator Kim Gunning explains the nuts and bolts of Rule 30(b)(6) depositions. She then provides strategic tips on how and when to use them, and points out a crucial safe harbora for these organizational depositions. Also, don't miss the LitigationWorld Pick of the Week for Thomas Allman's "Ediscovery Bible" (that's not the real name of this free 68-page PDF file but it should be as it discusses all federal and state ediscovery rules as of May 2012).

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.

Originally published in the June 29, 2012 issue of LitigationWorld: Yelling is counterproductive. A subtle approach works better at persuading people. For this issue of LitigationWorld, lawyer and ediscovery expert Joshua Gilliland has penned a thoughtful open letter about the current state of ediscovery ethics — the gap between what the ethical and civil procedural rules require and what's actually happening in most cases. However, rather than berate litigators, Josh demonstrates some relatively simple steps you can take starting today to ensure compliance. As an added bonus, you'll gain a strategic advantage in your cases. We suggest you take Josh's advice. Also, don't miss the LitigationWorld Pick of the Week for tips on how to tell an electrifying story in court (Mad Men, not C-Span).

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.

Originally published in the June 21, 2012 issue of LitigationWorld: Don't look now but two of our LitigationWorld columnists — Bruce Olson and Tom O'Connor — just published the most anticipated litigation technology book of 2012: Electronic Discovery for Small Cases: Managing Digital Evidence and ESI. We received permission from our friends at the ABA to publish any chapter from the book in this issue of LitigationWorld. We chose Chapter 4, which discusses helpful strategies at the outset of a case designed to minimize costs and headaches. We hope you enjoy this exclusive excerpt, and encourage you to purchase the book. Also, don't miss the LitigationWorld Pick of the Week for a grim analysis of the market forces that may make litigation an economically undesirable practice area (hey, we're just the messenger).

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.

Originally published in the June 18, 2012 issue of LitigationWorld: Here at TechnoLawyer we constantly think about information architecture. This important discipline is not confined to commercial publishing. It also plays an important role in legal writing. In this issue of LitigationWorld, lawyer and legal writing expert Ed Good explains how to use two powerful information architecture tools in your briefs, memos, and letters — lists (enumerations) and headings. You'll learn about the three types of lists, when and how to use them, and the most common mistakes — plus many examples. Similarly, you'll learn how to use and not use headings. Also, don't miss the LitigationWorld Pick of the Week for tips on how to find deleted email in Microsoft Outlook since that's often where you'll find the email messages that make or break a case.

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.

Originally published in the June 15, 2012 issue of LitigationWorld: As you know, two types of experts exist — testifying experts and consulting experts. It often seems to make sense for an employee of your client to serve as a consulting expert because of their knowledge and because you don't have to pay them. But there's a potential pitfall — using an employee of a party may subject their opinions to disclosure, thereby eliminating a key benefit of consulting experts. In this issue of LitigationWorld, Seattle litigator and civil procedure expert Kim Gunning analyzes this issue. You'll learn about the current split in the courts, and a federal district court opinion issued last month that may pave the way for a resolution by the SCOTUS. Also, don't miss the LitigationWorld Pick of the Week for a handy checklist to document the ediscovery process so that you can prove reasonableness if challenged.

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.

Originally published in the March 13, 2012 issue of SmallLaw: Has your small law firm cut the cord? No, not your cable service. We wouldn't expect you to practice law without sneaking in some CNBC and ESPN. We're talking about your servers — those computers that house software for billing, email, document management, practice management, and telephone service. In this issue of SmallLaw, law practice advisor Erik Mazzone discusses cloud substitutes for all five that will enable your law firm to cut (most of) its Ethernet cables and reclaim its server room. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for a thoughtful essay about how technology can make lawyers less rather than more productive.

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.