TechnoLawyer

Coming November 13, 2006 to TechnoFeature: When you hear the words "paperless office," do you think fact or fiction? If you have a more pessimistic view, you may want to listen up. In this article, legal technology expert Ross L. Kodner and attorney Dale W. Cottam discuss how optimizing your scanner's capabilities and using current document management software can free you from the mountains of paper and help institute a more efficient and productive workflow. Find out how Dale's firm implements Ross' Paper LESS methods — and how you can too.

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 November 17, 2006 to Fat Friday:  W. James Slaughter unveils the secrets to being a happy lawyer, Jay Solomon shares an anecdote that will make you think twice about automating your business correspondence, David Caracappa discusses computers with sex appeal (no, really), and Arthur Rieman reviews the Brother HL-5170DN laser printer. 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.

Coming November 16, 2006 to Answers to Questions:Wilson C. Muhlheim discusses how his firm successfully implemented a paperless workflow and the resulting benefits, Paul Bannon reviews the latest version of Dragon NaturallySpeaking, Charles Tievsky reviews RemotelyAnywhere and compares it to other remote access tools, Fred Brock discusses the use of uninterrupted power supplies in law offices (plus we point you to 10 tips for a successful implementation), and Michael Mannes suggests a simple way to handle retainer fees in PCLaw. 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 November 14, 2006 to TechnoFeature: Outlook sure knows how to keep your contacts in order — but did you know that case management software can do that too, and so much more? In this article, technology consultant David Moon highlights some of the best features of the latest case management software and how they can benefit your firm. Whether you're a newbie or an expert who has used the same old version for decades, David will show you why you need to give up your "tried and true" for "new and improved!"

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.

Janine D. Geraigery, an enterprising young (25 years old) intellectual property lawyer with a solo practice in Cambridge, Massachusetts, recently produced a cute promotional video and uploaded it to YouTube (it may have also aired on local TV). Take a look (click here if you don't see the video below).

Meanwhile, down in North Carolina, Lee Rosen and his colleagues at the Rosen Law Firm have embraced online video in a big way. The firm is also a leading advocate of virtual visitation rights using online videoconferencing. We managed to dig up a report by video production company Network News Crews that discusses its work for the Rosen Law Firm. Read and download it for discussion at your firm.

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 an online store for legal-oriented prints, a Windows XP utility for managing open windows, and a space- and place-shifting device for recording FM and online radio programs. Don't miss the next issue.

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

Dress Your Office for Success
By Dennis Kennedy
For many lawyers, the "art" on the office walls consists of their framed law school degrees and state licenses. Most art galleries do not have a legal section. What if you could choose from a great selection of legal art prints to give your office a look both appropriate and unique?

LawGallery is an online store that focuses exclusively on legal prints for the legal profession. In the store, you'll find a large selection of prints depicting the practice of law. Many feature historical elements, including famous trials, lawyers, or courthouses. Less serious lawyers will find a variety of humorous prints.

Most prints date from the 1800s and early 1900s and will give your office a decidedly British feel. Examples of prints include drawings of the Royal Courts of Justice and Westminster Hall. You will also find prints of American cases like the "Trial of Guiteau for the Murder of President Garfield." LawGallery provides historical research and other information about each print and its subject matter.

LawGallery has made some of these reproductions itself and licensed others. The company uses "museum-grade" inks with a fade-free life span of 25-100 years depending upon their exposure to light. The company also employs archival processes when mounting and framing its prints. You can choose from many styles of mats and frames. LawGallery's own professional curator can even help you choose the most appropriate frame for a particular print and its location.

Prices vary depending on the print and framing option you choose. Most prices seem to fall between $200 to $600. LawGallery unconditionally guarantees each sale; you can return a print for a full refund. Learn more about LawGallery.

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.

Sometimes we come across products or services that we cannot cover in TechnoLawyer NewsWire for various reasons — not enough features for a 250 word article, stuck in perpetual beta, not legal-specific enough, etc. Nonetheless, you may find some of these products of interest so here is a list:

Futurephone: Free international calls. My grandmother uses it to call the old country (Italy).

Optimus Keyboard: A keyboard with display screens on each key, enabling you to customize the keys. Insanely great! Unfortunately, we've had this product in our queue for more than a year. It's vaporware.

BackFence: Small town news and gossip (currently in California, Illinois, Maryland, and Virginia). Bo Peabody tried to serve small towns with StreetMail during Web 1.0. It didn't work then and I don't think it'll work now — and I know a thing or two about online communities (now called social networks). Besides, Craigslist will eventually serve every town in the country. Game over.

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.

Every year we put together a "media kit," which discusses the marketing opportunities we sell. We will release our new 2007 media kit on November 29th. An important component of the media kit is the section that lays out our demographics.

While I doubt you have much interest in our marketing opportunities, I suspect you do have an interest in TechnoLawyer's demographics. Therefore, over the next few weeks, I'll share these statistics with you in TechnoGuide and here on our blog.

First up is a snapshot of TechnoLawyer members:

• 92.8% Work in the Legal Industry.

• 86.6% Work in the United States; 5.5% Work in Canada; 3.7% Work in Other Commonwealth Countries; 4.2% Work Elsewhere.

• 82% Work in Law Firms or Legal Departments.

• 83.9% Recommend, Make, or Approve Purchases for Their Firm.

• 62% Serve on Their Firm's Technology Committee.

How do these statistics square with your particular circumstances?

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 November 7, 2006 to TechnoFeature: Hiring and training a new attorney is costly and time-consuming so firms must choose the right candidate. In this article, legal management consultant Wendy Werner discusses the top ten items a firm should consider prior to the interview process. She'll show you why firms need to learn more about their own organization and about the position they wish to fill before the first candidate walks through the office door for an interview. See why putting in the work now may save you from an HR nightmare down the road.

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 November 09, 2006 to Answers to Questions: Jon Calhoun puts the Word v. WordPerfect debate to rest, Michael Penny suggests several ways to keep client files secure while in the hands of a computer repair technician, and William Lloyd reviews his experience using a HP LaserJet 4345 multi-function printer in his solo practice. 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.