Coming today to Answers to Questions: Corey Rich reviews the Firefox extension ScrapBook for capturing and saving Web pages, Jeff Schlueter discusses file format and device options for spoken audio as well as some thoughts on audio discovery, and Julian Garcia explains why you should avoid long file names. Don't miss this issue.
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Coming today to Answers to Questions: B.J. Cowen compares VNC to Remote Desktop and provides several tips for setting up multiple monitors, Jonathan Warshay shares how he customized buttons and the toolbar in Word, and Marty Barrack reviews Intermedia's Microsoft Exchange hosting service. Don't miss this issue.
How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Thursdays, Answers to Questions is a weekly newsletter in which TechnoLawyer members answer legal technology and practice management questions submitted by their peers (including you if you join TechnoLawyer). Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.
TechnoScore: 1.0
1 = Lowest Possible Score; 5 = Highest Possible Score
If you want a laugh and nostalgic memories of watching Batman and Robin when you were in grade school, then give this video by The Law Office of Jeffrey D. Rowe a brief, very brief, moment of your time.
The video consists of a series of photo slides that are supposed to persuade you to call the firm if you are arrested for DUI in Fresno. The "video" starts off with music that sounds like it was a spoof for a lawyer commercial. Goofy. In my mind I'm thinking "Pow," "Kablam!" "Boom," and "I can't believe this is a lawyer video."
Twenty seconds into the picture montage, there's a picture of someone jumping in the air, with the sub-heading "For the best outcome." While the picture is shown, you've got this Batman theme music running the length of this "video." Even more ridiculous is that the video length is 55 seconds, but at 28 seconds, the montage ends and you are left with a still screen saying "Call Us NOW!" for the next 27 seconds. Bizarre.
There is no reason for anyone to "Call Us NOW" based on this photo montage. The attorney fails to give the viewer any information that explains why he should be called instead of the many other DUI lawyers in Fresno.
What was he thinking? Maybe the sales pitch was so good it was given as a freebie. Skip the freebie and create a video that will actually persuade a potential client to call you.
Video Techniques
Lighting: Not applicable.
Sound: Take the Batman theme and re-imagine the fight scenes with those cartoonish graphics showing big star-burst patterns saying "Plow!" "Blam" "Ooph"
Set: There is no set. Just a series of photos. First you see a police car. Then you see a picture of a man in a yellow rain coat being handcuffed while leaning against a truck. Then there is a diagram of a bottle of beer + a badge + a photo of something indecipherable = s California license with a sticker slapped on it saying "suspended license." Then there's a stopwatch — I guess to give you the feeling that you must act quickly and call this lawyer "For the best outcome ..."
Makeup: Not applicable.
Music: If you are into Batman and Robin, this theme is up your alley. But it's not a spoof. It's not a cartoon. It's not a car chase. This is not a fight scene or a scene with D minor music anticipating the gory bloody victim you are about to see when you turn the corner. It belongs elsewhere, not in a video trying to market legal services.
Length: 55 seconds. The photo montage lasts only 28 seconds. It makes no sense. For the next 27 seconds I couldn't understand what I was looking at.
Script: None. No voice-over.
Performance: See my commentary above.
Sidebar: Here's an example of what not to do. The grammar is poor. All it says is:
"been arrested for DUI? CALL now: (559) 478-2029
Fresno-DUI-Lawyer.com"
All caps for "CALL" does not make it more likely that a viewer will call you. The attorney does not even put his name in the text. Unusual.
Conclusion
At the beginning of each video I review, I start by allocating the highest possible score. Every video is presumed to be excellent until proven otherwise. The reason why you create a video is to persuade potential clients to call you. Ask yourself whether you would call this attorney based on this video.
The video lost 5 points for not being an informative video. This was a wasted opportunity. He lost points for not even narrating the photos, which would have been a little more interesting than the captions and cartoonish music. He gained one point because the soundtrack made me nostalgic for TV shows I used to watch when I was a kid. The bottom line: A disappointing 55 seconds of my life that I will never get back again.
The Back Bench
Certified Family Law Specialist and online video producer Kelly Chang Rickert says: "This is more of a commercial for a TV show than a law firm. Too gimmicky. Lose the music."
Lawyer, journalist, and legal media consultant Robert Ambrogi says: "The B-movie musical score and stock cop photos made me think I was watching a reprise of "Police Squad." I kept expecting Leslie Nielsen to show up as Lt. Frank Drebin."
TechnoLawyer publisher and online video producer Neil Squillante says: "I kept expecting Erik Estrada to pull me over and try to sell me some real estate in a swamp. Next!"
About YouLaw
YouTube offers law firms a free advertising platform with tens of millions of potential clients. But a poor video can hurt more than help. In this column, lawyer and online video expert Gerry Oginski reviews and rates the latest law firm videos. A panel of fellow experts (The Back Bench) add to Gerry's reviews with pithy remarks. We link to each new YouLaw column and all other noteworthy law firm marketing articles in our weekly BlawgWorld newsletter, which is free. Please subscribe now.
About Gerry Oginski
New York trial lawyer Gerry Oginski has created more than 150 informational online videos for his medical malpractice and personal injury practice. Realizing that most video producers don't have a deep understanding of the practice of law and what potential clients look for, Gerry launched The Lawyers' Video Studio, which provides free tutorials and video production services. If you need help producing a video, please contact Gerry now.
Coming today to Fat Friday: Leslie Shear responds to a recent SmallLaw column about bar associations and shares her experience as a family law practitioner in California, Michael Kelly reviews Novabrain Business Explorer, FileCenter, and ProjectTrack, Thomas F. McDow discusses ActiveWords and how it competes against Microsoft, Kerry Hubick provides some helpful Microsoft Word tips, and Richard Ure explores the logic behind the Mac versus PC debate. Don't miss this issue.
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Published on Fridays, Fat Friday is a weekly newsletter that features a grab bag full of genuinely useful product reviews and tips on a wide variety of topics. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.
Coming Septeber 30, 2008 to TechnoFeature: Technology certainly trends towards light and portable these days. But you need more than just a pretty face. You need functionality. In this article, attorney Lee Rosen explains how to lighten your load without sacrificing productivity by conducting a six step technology audit.
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TechnoScore: 0
1 = Lowest Possible Score; 5 = Highest Possible Score
The Worst Law Firm Video Ever? Maybe.
You should watch this video by Greenberg & Rudman to see exactly what you should
not do as an attorney trying to market yourself using online
video. This "video" consists of nothing more than a photo of
an advertisement for the firm.
The three photos in the ad show damaged and destroyed cars, which as a potential client looking for an attorney online, would not give me a warm and fuzzy feeling.
There is no voice, no people. Nothing. In my book, this "video" gets a big fat zero. I cannot imagine any potential client choosing to call this law firm based on this "video."
Video Techniques
Lighting: There is none. It's simply a photo without any motion or animation.
Sound: It's certainly loud enough.
Set: None.
Music: It sounds like the soundtrack of Star Wars. The music at times seems ominous and threatening. The soundtrack belongs in the movie theater, not in a law firm marketing video. I'm not sure what the person who created the video was thinking.
Length: 1:02 minutes. Five seconds of watching this video is too long. Next!
Script: None that I can see.
Performance: None. Your time will be better spent looking at this ad in the yellow pages.
Sidebar: The highlight. Strangely enough, the law firm has a good Web site and even a Justia-powered blog. Perhaps this video was created by a rogue employee.
Conclusion
This video lost all points for not having any video in its video, and failing to explain to any viewer why a client should retain the firm.
The Back Bench
Certified Family Law Specialist and online video producer Kelly Chang Rickert says: "This is just a paper ad with dramatic music in the background, which fades to black very quickly. It does nothing to entice clients."
TechnoLawyer Publisher and online video producer Neil J. Squillante says: "Lame. Beyond lame. Way beyond lame. Did I say it was lame?"
About YouLaw
YouTube offers law firms a free advertising platform with tens of millions of potential clients. But a poor video can hurt more than help. In this column, lawyer and online video expert Gerry Oginski reviews and rates the latest law firm videos. A panel of fellow experts (The Back Bench) add to Gerry's reviews with pithy remarks. We link to each new YouLaw column and all other noteworthy law firm marketing articles in our weekly BlawgWorld newsletter, which is free. Please subscribe now.
About Gerry Oginski
New York trial lawyer Gerry Oginski has created more than 150 informational online videos for his medical malpractice and personal injury practice. Realizing that most video producers don't have a deep understanding of the practice of law and what potential clients look for, Gerry launched The Lawyers' Video Studio, which provides free tutorials and video production services. If you need help producing a video, please contact Gerry now.
Coming today to Answers to Questions: John Starkweather shares his theory on why Prolaw doesn't get much "air time," Larry Southerland discusses the best word processor for law students and offers some advice regarding outline preparation, Erin Baldwin provides tips for securing a workstation and changing user access on a network, James Shenwick reviews MessageSave, and Steve Schiffer discusses a cheap way to use two computers with one monitor. Don't miss this issue.
How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Thursdays, Answers to Questions is a weekly newsletter in which TechnoLawyer members answer legal technology and practice management questions submitted by their peers (including you if you join TechnoLawyer). Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.
TechnoScore: 4.0
1 = Lowest Possible Score; 5 = Highest Possible Score
The Opening Reversal Gets This Video Off to a Good Start
This video by The Dolan Law Firm immediately commands your attention because the client makes no bones that she does not like lawyers. This unexpected statement makes for an unusually refreshing client testimonial. Her attitude changes once she starts describing how Chris Dolan, her San Francisco-based accident lawyer, was able to help her in a car v. motorcycle case. She looks at the camera straight-on, and even goes so far to say that she never imagined that she would ever become friends with a lawyer.
So far so good. As a potential client searching for an attorney online, I would then expect to see her attorney on camera, either in a split screen or immediately following her comments to discuss the challenges and outcome of her case. Such an appearances would bolster his credibility.
But Chris Dolan does not appear in the video — a head scratcher.
In that same department, why does a law firm that spends so much time and effort to produce a quality testimonial allow the videographer to advertise itself extensively before the video starts and after the video finishes? Giving free advertising to the videographer distracts the viewer from your message. Tell the videographer to take a hike. If the videographer offers you a discount, list its Web address in the sidebar text, not in the video.
Video Techniques
Lighting: Fair. There's an annoying glare from a light that's reflected off a plaque on the wall. There's also spotlight glare from the client's eyeglasses. Any experienced videographer should test for glare or reflections from the lighting. It's easily fixed by moving the lights or the camera.
Sound: Good. No issues here.
Set: A homey brick-walled background with a floor lamp. The client wears dark muted colors. A straight-on camera angle means the client speaks directly to the viewer.
Music: None.
Length: 52 seconds. Short and to the point.
Script: Scripted or at least brainstormed and rehearsed and it shows. Would you give an opening argument without rehearsing it first?
Performance: The client appears relaxed, down-to-earth, and credible. She seems real.
Sidebar: Good accompanying copy in the sidebar. No spelling errors and the firm includes its contact information and Web address.
Conclusion
This video lost one full point from its TechnoScore for the glare in the lights, not following through on a good idea (appearance by the lawyer to discuss the case), and allowing the videographer to share the spotlight.
The Back Bench
Certified Family Law Specialist and online video producer Kelly Chang Rickert says: "Client testimonials are nice, but do not make for
interesting advertising. I nearly fell asleep halfway
into it."
TechnoLawyer Publisher and online video producer Neil J. Squillante says: "A good example of how video can bring a testimonial to life in a way text cannot."
About YouLaw
YouTube offers law firms a free advertising platform with tens of millions of potential clients. But a poor video can hurt more than help. In this column, lawyer and online video expert Gerry Oginski reviews and rates the latest law firm videos. A panel of fellow experts (The Back Bench) add to Gerry's reviews with pithy remarks. We link to each new YouLaw column and all other noteworthy law firm marketing articles in our weekly BlawgWorld newsletter, which is free. Please subscribe now.
About Gerry Oginski
New York trial lawyer Gerry Oginski has created more than 150 informational online videos for his medical malpractice and personal injury practice. Realizing that most video producers don't have a deep understanding of the practice of law and what potential clients look for, Gerry launched The Lawyers' Video Studio, which provides free tutorials and video production services. If you need help producing a video, please contact Gerry now.
Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers real estate automation software (see article below), an application for local and remote backups, and a Web clipping service with an optional iPhone counterpart. Don't miss the next issue.
Automate Your Real Estate Closings
By Neil J. Squillante
In today's real estate market, buyers and sellers want their lawyers to work more efficiently to reduce costs. That means you can either wring your hands and reminisce about the good old days or you can streamline your closings so that you can undercut the competition without reducing your profitability. If you choose the latter strategy, you'll need some help from your trusty PC.
Easy HUD ... in One Sentence
Easy Soft's Easy HUD real estate closing software automates the entire real estate closing process, enabling you to enter information once and create all the statements needed for a transaction, including HUD-1 and HUD-1A.
The Killer Feature
For real estate lawyers, the job doesn't end when the parties sign the closing documents. Other responsibilities include disbursement of and accounting for client trust monies and reporting sales proceeds to the Internal Revenue Service on form 1099-S.
With Easy HUD, you can electronically file 1099-S forms, and also print copies for the seller. This automation reduces the risk of error while also eliminating the time required to re-enter closing data.
Other Notable Features
Easy HUD doesn't only fill in forms for you, but performs calculations as well for more than 40 jurisdictions (if your state is not included, Easy Soft will add it for you). Easy HUD can handle just about any situation, including transactions with two loans, and up to 8 buyers and 8 sellers.
If you handle many similar transactions, you can create templates for HUD-1 and HUD-1A and share them throughout your firm. You can output completed forms in PDF or Word format. A case log lists all transactions and their status.
An integrated ledger can automatically adjust for pre-disbursements, earned deposits, and mortgage yield spread premiums. You can combine or split checks, print checks, and print an itemized ledger for each real estate closing.
Easy HUD integrates with two other offerings from Easy Soft — Easy Trust for managing client trust accounts, and 1099-S electronic filing service.
What Else Should You Know?
According to Easy Soft, Easy HUD's automation can reduce the time required for preparing closing documents by 70%. Easy HUD runs on Windows and costs $149.50 for a one year license with tech support and upgrades. Additional annual licenses cost $49.50 each. Learn more about Easy HUD.
How to Receive this Newsletter
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TechnoScore: 4.0
1 = Lowest Possible Score; 5 = Highest Possible Score
This video by Laura Margulies & Associateswins points for a large, bold billboard-like sign with the law firm name, toll-free number and address as a prelude to the video. Margulies' name and specialty is prominent in the video, thus scoring more points. The music is soothing.
Attorney Laura Margulies gets right to the point saying "When my clients come see me, they're in financial distress." Potential clients will immediately relate to her, and recognize she has the confidence and experience to help them. She empathizes with her clients facing foreclosure. She teases viewers that if they come to her, she will give them the secret to stop creditors from calling — an effective technique.
However, after an award-winning intro, Attorney Margulies starts talking about herself and how she has an aggressive reputation. She manages to do this with a smile, calming voice and pleasant background music. Frankly, any time an attorney talks about their talent (even if true), it's an immediate turn off. No one likes exposition whether it's in a Hollywood movie or YouTube ad.
Educating a potential consumer is a much better approach than talking about yourself. The better option would be to have a client, a colleague, or an adversary heaping praise about you in your video. Unless you have accomplished a precedent-setting feat, it's better to have someone else toot your horn.
Video Techniques
Lighting: Good. Background is dark blue and contrasts with Laura Margulies' well-lit face.
Sound: Good. No problem.
Set: Set: Attorney's office with a clock on the lower left corner and a few scattered law books on the lower right corner. Nothing too distracting. The lawyer is slightly angled away from the camera in an interview style, which works well when there is an extreme close up. She also wins points by transitioning to a some B-roll footage of her meeting a faceless client in a conference room.
Makeup: A bit overdone given the direct lighting on her face.
Music: Excellent choice of music for this type of attorney and the bankruptcy issues that surround her clients. Very calming.
Length: 1:20 minutes. Not overly long, but it could have been tighter without the self-praise and back patting after the introduction.
Script: Very well rehearsed. You can't tell it's scripted. She appears natural.
Performance: Excellent. This attorney hits the nail on the head by giving the viewer the appearance of being in command and knowing what to do to calm the client and ease their fears. A viewer will appreciate her confidence.
Sidebar: Short and right to the point. No spelling errors. The video was created by Findlaw.
Conclusion
This video earned a full 5 points within the first few moments of the video. However, self-lauding was a drawback and immediately lost one full point. Remove that, and you've got a top-notch lawyer video.
The Back Bench
TechnoLawyer Publisher and online video producer Neil J. Squillante says: "A few of her smirks seem out of place given the subject matter, but on the whole it's much better than most online law firm videos."
About YouLaw
YouTube offers law firms a free advertising platform with tens of millions of potential clients. But a poor video can hurt more than help. In this column, lawyer and online video expert Gerry Oginski reviews and rates the latest law firm videos. A panel of fellow experts (The Back Bench) add to Gerry's reviews with pithy remarks. We link to each new YouLaw column and all other noteworthy law firm marketing articles in our weekly BlawgWorld newsletter, which is free. Please subscribe now.
About Gerry Oginski
New York trial lawyer Gerry Oginski has created more than 150 informational online videos for his medical malpractice and personal injury practice. Realizing that most video producers don't have a deep understanding of the practice of law and what potential clients look for, Gerry launched The Lawyers' Video Studio, which provides free tutorials and video production services. If you need help producing a video, please contact Gerry now.
