TechnoLawyer

Syracuse University law students Eric Spoth, Noah Garber, and Kathryn Herold have created a video entitled "Lawyers in High Profile Cases." Set against Gary Jules' outstanding cover of the Tears for Fears song "Mad World," the video showcases supposedly famous lawyers (and actors playing famous lawyers) addressing the media and in court.

Though an admirable project, the video falls short of its potential because I could not identify most of the lawyers or the cases. The filmmakers should have used subtitles to provide this information. Take a look (click here if you can't see the video below).

(A tip of the blog to Robert Ambrogi's LawSites for pointing me to this video.)

About TechnoEditorials
A TechnoEditorial is the vehicle through which we opine and provide tips of interest to managing partners, law firm administrators, and others in the legal profession. TechnoEditorials appear first in TechnoGuide, and later here in TechnoLawyer Blog. TechnoGuide, which is free, also contains exclusive content. You can subscribe here.

In today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire, lawyer and legal technology legend Dennis Kennedy covers the new version of a popular e-discovery program, a Web site monitoring service, and an online court rules service. Don't miss the next issue.

Below you'll find one of the three articles from today's edition:

Bring Order to the E-Discovery Chaos
By Dennis Kennedy

Ask any member of a corporate legal team, IT department, law firm, or legal service provider how they would describe e-discovery — "chaotic" and "expensive" would likely emerge from their mouths. E-discovery usually involves many steps, short response times, and too many cooks in the kitchen. Sensitive corporate data ends up in too many places, costs continue to grow and legal teams tire of the constant fire drill.

Attenex Patterns e-discovery software was designed to bring order to this chaos, enabling legal teams to develop standardized, repeatable processes that reduce the risk, cost, and time associated with e-discovery. The latest version of Attenex Patterns — version 4.0 — includes more than 50 new features and enhancements in the areas of e-discovery data processing, review, and project management.

Some of the key new features include the re-use of documents previously processed and reviewed — including valuable work product such as document marks and annotations. For large enterprises and firms, this re-use can eliminate costs associated with the same documents being examined multiple times to fulfill similar requests.

New project management capabilities and reporting options provide customers with improved insight into reviewer productivity rates and project status. Because Attenex Patterns clusters similar documents together, the new reporting tools enable a manager to verify that all similar documents were marked the same. These reporting tools also provide transparency to project managers who need to know the progress of a matter. Attenex Patterns also now supports the clustering and review of both electronic files and scanned OCR and TIFF documents in 23 languages.

Attenex Patterns' patented email suppression function enables reviewers to de-dupe or eliminate duplicate email messages in a string, dramatically reducing the number of emails to review. Users can also now extract embedded Microsoft Office and PDF files from email messages, ensuring the review of all documents and reducing the risk of disclosing sensitive data embedded in an Excel spreadsheet.

Attenex Patterns provides flexible deployment options unique in the industry.  You can deploy the software on-premise, in a hosted environment managed by an "Attenex Advantage" partner, or in a customized combination tailored to the demands of the customer's environment.

Additionally, Attenex Patterns can integrate with virtually any litigation support software thanks to the new Attenex Patterns Software Development Kit (SDK). Thus, once you complete a review, you can easily export your work product and your final document set to case analysis software, trial presentation software, etc. Learn more about Attenex Patterns 4.0.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Wednesdays, TechnoLawyer NewsWire is a weekly newsletter that enables you to learn about new technology products and services of interest to legal professionals. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

Over the years, people have raved about various Windows experts. While I respect these Windows wizards, I never became a follower. That changed recently when I stumbled upon Paul Thurott who serves as the editor of SuperSite for Windows and also hosts a podcast entitled Windows Weekly. If you manage the Windows computers in your firm, he is worth a look and a listen.

SuperSite for Windows

Windows Weekly

About TechnoEditorials
A TechnoEditorial is the vehicle through which we opine and provide tips of interest to managing partners, law firm administrators, and others in the legal profession. TechnoEditorials appear first in TechnoGuide, and later here in TechnoLawyer Blog. TechnoGuide, which is free, also contains exclusive content. You can subscribe here.

Two weeks ago, I poked fun at legal technology predictions.

But that's not to say I don't like reading them. How timely then that Dennis Kennedy has issued his latest predictions in a report entitled: Seven Legal Technology Trends for 2007: Widening the Digital Divide in Law Practice.

Of note, Dennis predicts that:

• BlackBerry usage may have peaked among lawyers.

I disagree, particularly in light of RIM's push into the small business market. I do believe that Treo usage may have peaked because I think Apple's iPhone will grab market share from Palm. I don't think the iPhone will have as much impact on the BlackBerry.

• A sizable number of lawyers will begin using MacBook and MacBook Pro notebooks since they can run Windows.

I agree, and hope to see some enterprising legal technology consultants add Windows installation on these notebooks to their repertoire (it's not trivial to install Windows).

• The growth of all-in-one electronic discovery tools for smaller cases that law firms can handle in-house.

I agree since even your run-of-the-mill slip and fall case involves electronic evidence nowadays (such as email admissions).

• A shift from Yellow Pages advertising to search engine advertising among law firms.

I agree. Yellow Pages has not kept up with the times. No one under the age of 30 Fewer people use the Yellow Pages now than during its heyday 20-30 years ago. I use a Yellow Pages as a laptop stand.

Read Dennis' Seven Legal Technology Trends for 2007.

What do you think of his predictions and predictions in general?

About TechnoEditorials
A TechnoEditorial is the vehicle through which we opine and provide tips of interest to managing partners, law firm administrators, and others in the legal profession. TechnoEditorials appear first in TechnoGuide, and later here in TechnoLawyer Blog. TechnoGuide, which is free, also contains exclusive content. You can subscribe here.

Coming March 20, 2007 to TechnoFeature: It seems like the epic battle between word processors, especially in the legal profession, has raged on since the beginning of time. You've already chosen your side (WordPerfect) but do you really know all there is to know about the program? In this article, legal technology consultant John Heckman lists the top ten lesser-known features of WordPerfect, including instant access to the Thesaurus, moving tabbed columns, and the wonderful "snowflake."  If you liked using WordPerfect before, you'll like it even more after reading this article.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Tuesdays, TechnoFeature is a weekly newsletter that contains in-depth articles written by leading legal technology and practice management experts. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

Coming March 22, 2007 to Answers to Questions: Steven J. Best reviews Worldox for document management, Celia Abbott reviews Easy Bates, Harold Noack reviews UniVoice (which claims to eliminate the need to train Dragon NaturallySpeaking), James Lundquist explains how to view multiple WordPerfect documents on two monitors, and Hazel Segall reviews PracticeMaster for tracking referrals. Don't miss this issue.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published 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.

Coming March 23, 2007 to Fat Friday: Gloria Perez debunks a myth about the integration abilities of legal software, Craig Humphrey reviews several email archiving and desktop search tools, Frank Lanigan reviews DictaNet and how those "across the pond" use it on-the-go, Barron Henley clears up a misunderstanding (he insulted a popular program, not the people who use the program), and Edward Still tells us how he really feels about the term "recovered attorney." Don't miss this issue.

How to Receive this Newsletter
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.

In today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire, lawyer and legal technology legend Dennis Kennedy covers an online service for staying on top of court filings involving your clients, a free tool for clipping anything on any Web page, and timeline creation software for Mac users. Don't miss the next issue.

Below you'll find one of the three articles from today's edition:

Your Link to Electronic Litigation
By Dennis Kennedy

We have moved past the days of sending associates down to the court house to check the latest pleadings. Electronic filing and access to court records over the Internet have changed the way we access and manage court records. Access to court dockets is only step one. We can now do much more than ever before with court information, moving from access to action.

LexisNexis' CourtLink service takes us further down the road of electronic litigation. It starts with access to court dockets, but adds a set of powerful tools to improve support functions and provide information to lawyers, litigation support personnel, clients, and other members of today's expanding litigation team. You can quickly retrieve the dockets and documents you need, but that's just the starting point.

CourtLink gives you a broad range of information tools. It enables you to stay up-to-date with your cases, access the court docket, and receive alerts about events in your cases. You can also monitor courts with other actions involving your clients. For example, you can learn about a new suit as soon as it's filed.

Using CourtLink's Strategic Profiles, you can obtain insight into trends, patterns, tactics, risks, and new opportunities. You can also review litigation history to learn about a judge's experience in a certain type of case and history of applicable decisions, the experience, success rate, strategies, and resolution history of opposing counsel, and much more.  In short, CourtLink doubles as a strategic litigation tool as well as business development tool.

CourtLink enables you to search by parties, types of cases, key words, docket numbers, patent numbers, and much more. You can search many courts in a single search. You can also set alerts to let you know about developments that interest you. Once you identify suits that interest you, you can use the tracking service to send you regularly-scheduled updates by email.

CourtLink enables you to see information visually using graphics and charts. In fact, because much of the information in CourtLink is timeline-oriented, you can import CourtLink data into LexisNexis' TimeMap 4.1 so that you can better visualize trends and create demonstrative evidence for settlement meetings and other purposes. CourtLink also seamlessly links to CaseMap to help you to build a successful case strategy.

LexisNexis offers CourtLink on a subscription or transactional basis. You choose the options you want to use. Contact LexisNexis for details on options and pricing. Learn more about CourtLink.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Wednesdays, TechnoLawyer NewsWire is a weekly newsletter that enables you to learn about new technology products and services of interest to legal professionals. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

In this video deposition, a lawyer (who bears a striking resemblance to Michael J. Fox) has difficulty answering this question: Are you truthful in your dealings as an employer? Take a look before it gets pulled (click here if you can't see the video below).

Have you ever deposed a lawyer? What was that experience like?

About TechnoEditorials
A TechnoEditorial is the vehicle through which we opine and provide tips of interest to managing partners, law firm administrators, and others in the legal profession. TechnoEditorials appear first in TechnoGuide, and later here in TechnoLawyer Blog. TechnoGuide, which is free, also contains exclusive content. You can subscribe here.

Remember that fable about the city mouse and the country mouse?

Well, I have a tale (tail?) of two mice for you so gather round. A few months ago, a publicist for Logitech contacted me and asked f I would like to try the new MX Revolution mouse. "Sure," I said.

But upon receipt, I could not use the MX Revolution because it's for right-handed use only. I'm a righty, but use my left hand for the mouse.

So I gave it to Sara, our senior production manager. She loves it. In particular she likes the way it feels in her hand, the ability to scroll horizontally as well as vertically, and fact that it's wireless but not heavy. What doesn't she like? Remembering to place it in the recharger every Friday before leaving for the weekend.

Read Gizmodo's review.

Read ExtremeTech's review.

But that still left me without a new mouse — and I really needed a new one as wear and tear had taken a toll on my Logitech MX-310.

First, I tried the Razer Pro 1.6. This mouse feels great in your hands, but doesn't work well with the native OS driver. I don't like installing third-party drivers so I returned it.

Next I tried Apple's wireless Mighty Mouse — too heavy because of the two AA batteries. Apple is the king of rechargeable batteries (think iPod) so why did it use disposable batteries in this mouse? I returned that mouse as well.

Finally, I bought Apple's wired Mighty Mouse — bingo! It scrolls in every direction, the buttons require only a light press, and it fits well in small-normal size hands. As for the cons, the cursor sometimes jumps to the top right corner of the screen, and the side buttons are too easy to click by accident (I turned them off).

Read Ars Technica's review.

Read MacWorld's review.

Did you recently buy a mouse? If so, please post a review.

About TechnoEditorials
A TechnoEditorial is the vehicle through which we opine and provide tips of interest to managing partners, law firm administrators, and others in the legal profession. TechnoEditorials appear first in TechnoGuide, and later here in TechnoLawyer Blog. TechnoGuide, which is free, also contains exclusive content. You can subscribe here.