TechnoLawyer: Technology Industry/Legal Profession

The debate over Dell has continued to rage in our Answers to Questions newsletter. Here's a taste from TechnoLawyer member Andrew Paterson: "Count me with Howard Raab. I have had excellent service from Dell techs in India at god knows what hour of the night. They were knowledgeable, patient and easy to work with. And when they suspected a hard drive (you can't have it both ways: no problems and the cheapest drives) a delivery box arrived on Thursday, the laptop was sent out Friday and back at noon Monday. Count me a happy camper with Dell and its service."

About Quips
A Quip is a brief member contribution for which we don't have room in our Answers to Questions or Fat Friday newsletters. Instead, Quips appear first in TechnoGuide, and later here in TechnoLawyer Blog. TechnoGuide, which is free, also contains exclusive content. You can subscribe here.

You don't have time to track 100 business and technology magazines and blogs. We do. Below you'll find five excellent articles we've recently come across plus a link to a site for law firms displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

Why Not Guarantee Professional Services?

Exponential Growth in Legal Outsourcing: The Numbers Tell the Story

Microsoft Office Small Business Accounting 2006

Tax Breaks for Angels

Stevie's Little Wonder

Help Katrina Lawyers

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 a recent issue of Fat Friday, David Umbaugh discussed how legal technology has maximized his law firm's efficiency. TechnoLawyer member John Gordon responds: "I agree wholeheartedly with David. I am dumfounded, however, that David and I use all of the same programs save one. I assume David selected his programs in much the same way that I have, i.e. trial and error and price tag. We are a 3 lawyer litigation firm with 6 paralegals. The power and flexibility that technology provides us enables us to compete with much larger firms both in quality of service, pricing and efficiency. Something unheard of when I started 38 years ago. (I have never spoken to David.)"

About Quips
A Quip is a brief member contribution for which we don't have room in our Answers to Questions or Fat Friday newsletters. Instead, Quips appear first in TechnoGuide, and later here in TechnoLawyer Blog. TechnoGuide, which is free, also contains exclusive content. You can subscribe here.

Brian Livingston of Windows Secrets fame has written an excellent quartet of articles about new legislation in Michigan and Utah that amounts to a tax on legitimate commercial e-mail. According to Livingston, these laws will have no impact on spam, but they will benefit their sponsors — "contractors seeking profits and state departments seeking more revenue." In his last article, Livingston reports that the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) plans to pursue litigation to have these laws stricken. The EFF is currently searching for qualified plaintiffs in Michigan and Utah on whose behalf it can file a lawsuit.

Michigan, Utah Impose Dreaded E-Mail Tax

State E-Mail Taxes Begin to Bite

How Utah, Michigan Legislators Got Fooled

EFF To Challenge E-Mail Tax Laws

How To: Chill Speech and Association While Endangering Children

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 September 23, 2005 to Fat Friday: Barron Henley explains why he believes the metadata security issue is over-hyped (and that's just for starters), Martin Dean explains why technology does not necessarily guarantee success, Gerard Stubbert shares his European perspective on confidential client data, Yvonne Renfrew reviews a little-known software utility for QuickBooks trust accounting, and John Ahern reviews cross-cut paper shredders. 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 September 8, 2005 to Answers to Questions: Joe Sewell offers a great tip for a secure wireless network that only requires your DSL/cable modem, an adapter, and a nearby electric outlet (look ma, no WiFi), Howard Raab reviews Software Technology's technical support as well as its product development practices, Faith Drewry reviews a remote access tool with an added bonus, Gary Redenbacher reviews the HP LaserJet 3200's fax capabilities, and John Tousley reviews a remote access tool that accommodates dual monitors. Don't miss this issue.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, Answers to Questions is a thrice 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 August 15, 2005 to IP Memes: You'll learn about the lawsuit that almost put the kibosh on a new Warner Brothers film, why two technology giants are squabbling over the iPod, how Las Vegas trumped potential trademark infringers, and the outcome of a copyright battle over a recent best seller. All that plus a bonus IP blog meme.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Mondays, IP Memes is a biweekly newsletter that explores emerging technology-related intellectual property issues — or "memes" as we call them. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

Continuing with our series of reports on courts that ban cell phones, TechnoLawyer member Darren Cantor writes: "Colorado courts, so far, have not banned smartphones in any manner. However, the United States District Court for the District of Colorado presently has a policy prohibiting any camera phone (nearly impossible to get one without these days, isn't it?) from entry. You must check your phone in with the U.S. Marshals upon entry. Our plan is to go to the Chief Judge, to talk about changing this policy, but no action yet."

About Quips
A Quip is a brief member contribution for which we don't have room in our Answers to Questions or Fat Friday newsletters. Instead, Quips appear first in TechnoGuide, and later here in TechnoLawyer Blog. TechnoGuide, which is free, also contains exclusive content. You can subscribe here.

Coming August 9, 2005 to TechnoFeature: When trial technology expert Lynn Kenneth Packer tried to persuade Utah's Administrative Office of the Courts to adopt off-the-shelf PC technology instead of Courtroom 21's e-podiums for Utah's state courts, they walked out in the middle of his presentation! In this article, you'll gain an insider's perspective of the rough-and-tumble politics of courtroom technology. What happened in Utah may also happen in your state — or maybe it already has. Join Lynn as he discusses his concerns regarding the Courtroom 21 model in the context of its adoption in his home state of Utah. Whether you agree with Lynn or not, his tale serves as a reminder that spending lots of money on technology does not necessarily provide for best solution.

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.

If you plan to fly American Airlines this month, or United Airlines in November or December, check out Sky Radio's series "Special Tribute to America's Best Lawyers." One of these programs features an interview with TechnoLawyer member and intellectual property lawyer Jeff Sheldon about the current state of the US patent system.

"During the interview I discuss what is wrong with our current patent system", said Jeff. "I opine that Congress should stop diverting user fees from the Patent Office so that the Patent Office can hire better and more examiners. I also spoke in favor of changing the current standard relating to the amount of evidence needed to invalidate a patent."

If you aren't lucky enough to catch this broadcast in-flight, you can listen to the interview online.

Jeff is founding partner of Sheldon & Mak, an IP law firm located in Pasadena, California. Aside from practicing all aspects of IP law, he authored the book How to Write a Patent Application, and writes a frequent e-mail newsletter called Tips from Jeff Sheldon, in which he discusses recent IP news.

About Member News
TechnoLawyer members are among the most gifted and prominent in the legal profession. In the Member News section of TechnoLawyer Blog, we report on their latest accomplishments and success stories — everything from court victories to articles and books to new partner announcements — and much more. If you're a newsmaker, but not yet a member, join TechnoLawyer now. .