Family Law Lawyer Tech & Practice

Cloud Service Lets You Run Office On Your iPad

2012-02-02T07:35:00.000-08:00

When it comes to running Microsoft Office creations (Word docs, Excel spreadsheets, etc.) on an iPad app there isn't really full compatibility. However, a new cloud based service is making progress.

CloudOn is a (for now at least) Free app providing about as much Office compatibility as you are going to find. The service is drawing rave reviews from the experts, and is proving wildly popular -- to the point of having server capacity issues, and drawing an attentive eye from the folks at Apple. CloudOn lets you use your iPad to create, view, and edit files directly in Microsoft Word®, Excel® & PowerPoint®. These applications will work the way you expect them to, and your files will look the way you want them to. To use CloudOn you must have a Dropbox account.

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Sirl Like App For Android

2012-01-31T07:40:00.000-08:00

Have an Android phone in your hand, but envying all those iPhone4 owners who are gleefully playing with their Siri feature. Not to worry, the developers are to the rescue.

Speaktoit Assistant is an Android app that is drawing rave reviews. It is free, works well, and goes a long way to reduce Siri lust. Please click here to check it out.

Please visit hardinglaw.com for more information of Harding & Associates Family Law

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Fighting The Winter Blues

2012-01-24T09:49:00.000-08:00

So far we have had a very dry winter here in Northern California. The first rain of the season didn't roll in until last week. The skies have been blue, and the weather hasn't interfered with lifestyle activities. As all things must change, so too has the weather around here. We need the rain, so I am not complaining. However, the week of grey skies that we are having has had a physical effect on me.

From attorney@work.com comes a timely piece on the winter blues; and making sure it is just the weather, and not something more.

Blues vs. Depression: Be Alert for the Signs

Studies find that lawyers suffer depression significantly more often than the general population—about 3.6 times more often. Depression is a serious illness that can have a tremendous impact on your professional and personal life. And unlike the winter blues, depression stays with you, no matter the temperature and amount of sunlight outside. Please look over the following signs of depression. Are you experiencing any of these?

Inability to concentrate
Finding previously easy tasks difficult
Sleep changes, which can mean too little or too much sleep
Feeling hopeless and helpless
Loss of interest in daily activities
Inability to control negative thoughts despite great effort
Appetite or weight changes
Irritability or restlessness
Unexplained aches or pains
Loss of energy
Thoughts that life is not worth living.
This is important stuff to keep in mind as we deal with all of the other challenges of practicing family laws. Please click here for the entire article.
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Great Slide Show On Legal Technology

2012-01-17T08:30:00.000-08:00

Legal technologist Craig Bayer is giving a presentation later this month to Louisana lawyers, and it will cover "technology for today's law firm." If you cannot make it to the Bayou State, no problem. Craig has posted his slide show for the program on his Law Office Technology Blog. Please click here to check it out.

Please visit hardinglaw.com for more information of Harding & Associates Family Law

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App Review - California Statutes

2012-01-10T12:31:00.000-08:00

I use my iPad a lot in court. Over time I have come to appreciate California statute apps as extremely useful. I have sampled the offerings from most of the vendors. Tekk Innovations sells my preferred law app. For $29.99 they sell an app that includes all California codes (including the family code), and the rules of court. The graphics are pleasing on the eye, and the user interface is easy to use. They also sell individual codes for $5.99 per set. Visit the iTunes App Store for more info.

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Marketing Guide From AttorneyAtWork.com

2012-01-05T07:44:00.000-08:00

Which lawyer does not want free information on how to better manage and market his or her practice? If you haven't visited the attorneyatwork blog, you should. It is loaded with great practice management and marketing information for lawyers.

Right not @work is showcasing its best articles from 2011—in the form of two great downloads and two collections of posts by some of its most popular authors. I have checked it all out. It is brilliant, and it's free! What more could you ask for...

Please click here to get the materials.

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AAML Family Law Symposium

2012-01-02T19:17:00.000-08:00

The Northern California chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers will be hosting its 36th annual symposium May 18, 19, and 20, 2012. Taking place at the fantastic Silverado resort in Napa, California Modus Operandi - Emerging trends in Family law theory, practice, and procedure will offer up to 13.5 hours of continuing legal education credit. The symposium is open to all lawyers. Membership in the AAML is not required.

Your's truly (John Harding) is the chair of the event, and I invite you to join us in Napa!

Emerging Trends in Family Law Theory, Practice, and Procedure

To view and download the Symposium Brochure, click here.

To register online, click here.

To be a sponsor/advertiser at the Symposium, click here.

A limited number of scholarships are available for the Symposium. For the Scholarship Application, click here.

We are delighted to be holding the 2012 Symposium at the beautiful Silverado Resort and Spa in the Napa Valley wine country! Conference facilities include a comfortable, spacious meeting room with complimentary WiFi, terraces with lovely views for meals and receptions.

Amenities for guests include two 18-hole chambionship golf courses (with reduced fees for conference attendees), 17 tennis courts, 10 swimming pools, world-class fitness center, and a Roman-inspired spa which is the largest private resort spa in the region.

To reserve your room at Silverado Resort at the special AAML group rate ($179 for resort room; $235 for one-bedroom suite), call 800-532-0500 or click here. Type AAML into the Group Code field. Enter the dates of your arrival and departure and click "Continue." Select your room type. Rates are available 3 days prior to and 3 days after the conference dates. Most rooms are king beds; if you prefer double beds please make a note when reserving online or call the reservations department with your request.

Please note: a $20/night resort fee will be added to your room charge. Resort fee includes: bell gratuities, on-property transportation gratuities, complimentary self and valet parking, unlimited personal WiFi access, unlimited local calls, unlimited 800 calls, USA Today delivered to each room, in-room coffee and tea, complimentary tennis on any of 17 courts, complimentary golf bag storage, access to the fitness and workout facility, admittance to any of the fitness classes.

Saturday Night Event

Join us for a champagne reception, dinner and dancing in "The Grove" at Silverado! Tickets will be only $100 per person -- be sure to check the box on your registration form.

Profits from the symposium are donated to legal charitable organizations.

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The Top 10 tech trends for 2012

2011-12-22T09:12:00.000-08:00

Wanna know what the next great things are going to be in tech? Pete Cashmore is founder and CEO of Mashable, a popular blog about tech news and digital culture. He writes regular columns about social media and tech for CNN.com. Today he prognosticates on the hottest in new tech for the New Year. Bendable tablets, voice commands, more touch computing, it is all here in Pete's entertaining article. Click here to read it!

Please visit hardinglaw.com for more information of Harding & Associates Family Law

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Designing A Family Law Firm Website

2011-12-20T14:14:00.000-08:00

Harding & Associates has had a law firm website since the 1990’s. Initially it was designed, constructed, and maintained in house (that means by me). With time the importance of the website became obvious, and it became vital to the firm’s marketing plan. That importance helped us to realize that the self-help days were gone. We had to turn to a professional site designer.

My first steps in identifying a design firm were simple. I typed “law firm website design” into Google. Pages and pages of listings spewed forth. I then diligently clicked on the listings and viewed the portfolios of the different vendors. I saw sites and features that I definitely liked. I saw sites and features that I definitely disliked. Eventually I settled on a southern California design firm with a substantial portfolio of eye catching law firm sites.

Contact was made with the vendor. Attention was directed to our existing site. I asked for a new web site. A contract was signed, and a few weeks later our new site was live. There was very little input from us, other than specifying that we wanted our logo utilized, and we wanted a color scheme consistent with our logo and branding plan. Our contract with the design firm included web-hosting and a certain quantity of updates each month. These changes would essentially include new content on our News page, and updates to personal bio pages.

The design product that we got was great. The colors were vibrant, the layout was clean, and the site was filled with all of the content that we had written for our previous site. We had a great site that attracted viewers. The positive reviews flowed in! The search engines were finding us. The site was doing what it was supposed to do.

I never grew unhappy with that first professionally designed site. What I did learn is that there is much more to effective web site marketing than just looks. First I learned that content is king. Legal consumers really do turn to the internet for their legal education, and the more information we could give potential clients the better. A website must be able to grow with ever more, fresh, content. Second, I learned that appearances always count. Most self-designed sites are obviously homemade, and their deficiencies become obvious to the web savvy audience. They look cheap, and that hurts your marketing efforts. Third, I learned that change is good. Clean, modern layout and design reflect on the reputation and credibility of the firm. Corporations, universities, professional sports teams all redesign their logos, letterhead, and uniforms for create new buzz. Just like everything else in business, web site designs have a shelf life, and sites do grow stale (as do designers). Fourth, I learned that the ability to perform my own updates to the site, and to make little tweaks and improvements, is imperative.

As I mentioned, by the contract I had signed, the design company that built the site was also hosting the site and had all of the control over it. Not only was I paying a lot of money for the hosting service, but I was also paying a lot of money for little updates and changes to the site. If I wanted to add a new page, the cost could run into hundreds of dollars. The site had been designed with the vendor’s proprietary software, so even if I could get into the site I would not have been able to change it.

After a few years with our first professionally designed website, I came to appreciate that I wanted more, while paying less. I wanted more control over the site. I did not want to be at the mercy of the design firm. I did not want the significant cost of having to pay the design firm every time I wanted to make a change. With the passage of time that site also began to grow stale. With all of the additional content that we had added, the site began to look cluttered and sloppy. I realized that the News page didn’t really do anything for us. I also realized that the offsite blogs I was publishing were not working in concert with our website. It was time for something new.

I did my homework, and began to learn of the different website publishing platforms. There were plenty to pick from: Dreamweaver, Joomla, Drupal, WordPress. With some the software was impressive, but I would still be tied to the developer. What I wanted was a site that a professional firm would design, but that I could then get into to tweak as I wanted. WordPress kept hitting my radar. CNN, Reuters, Sony, UPS, Volkswagen, EBay all have web sites driven by WordPress. If WordPress could get the job done for them, it could take care of Hardinglaw.com!

Next I went back to Google and started identifying design firms. Again, plenty to choose from. I created a short list of a half dozen, all whom emphasized law firm web site design. A round of telephone interviews began. I quickly sensed a pattern.

One, the law firm specialists all cooked from the same recipe: law firm resume, heavy on the colleges and law schools attended, boring on the color and style. That does not work for a family law firm website. Of course the consumers want to learn about the lawyers. But those descriptions can be delivered in narrative style. Most family law firms have ten lawyers or less. The same type of lawyer roll call listing that appears on the websites for the thousand lawyer firms does not work. Pictures and the lawyer’s family law experience are what sell on a family law website.

Two, because they catered to law firms, and presumably because law firms have more money than they can ever spend, the law firm specialist design firms were way more expensive than other designers that I would eventually come across. Trust me when I say this, just because a design firm specializes in law firms does not mean it is any better than any other design firm. In fact, I began to think it could be a hindrance because what works for a thousand lawyer firm, or a two lawyer criminal defense firm, does not work for a family law firm. Getting away from law firm specialists opens the door to more creativity, and smaller price tags.

Three, the law firm design firms just did not seem all that hungry for my business. Like with my first professionally designed site, it was pretty much “thanks for calling. We will send you a contract. Sign it or forget it. We are the experts. You write the check and then stay out of our way.” The law firm design sites were also in lock-step with the idea that they would host the site, and I would pay them for maintenance and changes. That was an expense that I knew I could avoid, but the law firm designers weren’t budging. I wasn’t feeling the love. It seemed the law firm designers were just overpriced salesman, and not visionaries.

I had an epiphany! How about a design firm that doesn’t specialize in law firms? I broadened my search, and came across scores of talented designers. Another round of interviews, and pouring over portfolios. I started to appreciate that the web designer I wanted to work with should be a salesman, engineer, and artist. Looking at portfolios I also began to appreciate that web designers have their own styles and patterns. Much like certain singers have the same baseline, actors have the same delivery, painters have the same themes, web designers work with the same lines, colors, and looks.

Through diligence and a bit of luck I got in contact with Rodney Warner at Boulder, Colorado based Connective Web Design. From the first phone call it all seemed right. Rodney listened as much as he spoke. He spoke with me, not at me. He was patient, and willing to teach (what a coincidence, all the same things that my legal clients want from me!). The firm’s portfolio was light on law firms, but heavy on other great sites with impressive designs. His clients may not have been companies I had heard of, but that did not mean their sites didn’t have impact. We talked concept, we talked design, we talked process. Working with me, CWD would build the site and get it online. I would host it, and because of WordPress I could manage it and grow it.

Working with Rodney and CWD was great. The work was done in stages. We started with brainstorming. The project then evolved to outlines, and prototypes. Eventually we got to a rough site design, and then took on the heavy work of creating keywords and content, and finalizing the layout. A rhythm developed between designer and client that made the process flow. I was encouraged to ask questions, and make changes to their work. We kept some of the elements from our old site (like our logo and green color scheme), but really rebuilt from the ground up. After a couple of months, a new baby was born. The new Hardinglaw.com went live in December, 2011. It is a dramatic change from our old site. Some visitors might say that it is “simpler” than our old site. That is a misleading first impression. The lines are cleaner. The layout is better. The navigation is easier. These improvements make the site look simpler. I can assure you that the new site is much more sophisticated than its predecessor. All the content is there and more. Plus, it has the room and technology to grow. Our California Divorce Blawg is now part of Hardinglaw.com, rather than a standalone Typepad site. The navigation has new order and forethought. There is much, much, more to this new site. Because it is so well done, it seems more relaxed. A more is less type of effect. Every bit of technology from our old site is there and more, it’s just more subtle and soothing, kind of like Miles Davis rather than the high school marching band. The site is a beauty. But rather than trying to tell you about, I invite you to visit: www.hardinglaw.com.

More on Rodney and Connective Web Design. Getting away from a law-firm only design firm helped us to think beyond the stale law firm template. We gained insight into broader marketing ideas. For a family law firm that is key. We are not selling to the general counsel for a Fortune 500 company. We are selling to our friends and neighbors who fit into the class of general consumers. That is a much different audience than a huge Wall Street law firm would target. Also, by thinking beyond the law firm bubble Rodney gave us invaluable search engine optimization advice. You don’t have to think like a law firm when making good marketing. Thanks to CWD we were able to get a WordPress site that we can manage, and tweak. If we need help Rodney is available on a consulting basis, but we are not held hostage. We can make the changes we want to make when we want to make them. There is a bit of a programming learning curve, but it hasn’t been overwhelming. By getting away from the Los Angeles, Chicago, New York designer addresses we were also able to find a firm that was willing to compete for our business, and that could be more cost competitive. However, none of that came at the expense of customer service. Finally Rodney set things up so that we host the site through a web hosting vendor, and it costs us $6 per month rather than the hundreds of dollars per month that we had been paying. The service we got from Rodney and CWD far exceeded expectations! They earned my glowing endorsement.

Lexis Launches New Research Service

2011-12-14T07:16:00.002-08:00

Lexis has launched its new Lexis Advance research service. Following in the wake of Westlaw's innovative Westlaw Next product, Lexis asserts that Advance will transform the way you conduct your research. Its new natural search algorithm and intuitive interface access the LexisNexis^® services and open Web content to deliver a comprehensive set of results faster. You can navigate quickly around the site with the new My Workspace carousel, and get key insights into relationships between legal issues with Legal Issue Trail.

Please visit hardinglaw.com for more information on Harding & Associates Family Law.

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2011-12-14T07:16:00.001-08:00

OneNote for iPad

2011-12-13T07:20:00.000-08:00

OneNote is Microsoft's note taking, and note organization program. Is was created by the Microsoft engineers as part of the tablet computing platform that Bill Gates was promoting at the end of the 1990's and in the early 2000's (yes, that's right there were tablets before the ipad -- think Motion Computing and Toshiba). The OneNote program was innovative, functional, and attractive. Unfortunately, it withered like the aforementioned tablets.

Than came the iPad! Tablet computing was reborn, and so was OneNote. Similar to Penultimate, Notebook, and Evernote, OneNote should been a worthy addition to the App roster.

Early review of the app are mixed. However, the original product was a personal favorite of Gates, and Microsoft spent a lot of money developing the original tablet version. A successful iPad version could help Microsoft crack the vital app market. I am expecting the program will get better, and better. I am going to make the investment.

Please visit hardinglaw.com for more information of Harding & Associates Family Law

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Lawyers Holiday Gift List

2011-12-06T08:38:00.000-08:00

Still looking for the perfect lawyer gift? From attorney@work.com Greg Pinnington and Reid Trautz offer their lawyer gift list. How about a gas powered blender? Some artwork for the office? A good book? The list is fun and intriguing. Click here for a visit.

Please visit hardinglaw.com for more information of Harding & Associates Family Law

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New Wireless Mount and Charger for iPad

2011-12-05T08:48:00.000-08:00

Here comes a blatant commercial for a new product. But, it is a really cool product. A wireless charging and mounting system for the iPad!

LaunchPort is a revolutionary a way to mount and charge your iPad, virtually anywhere. The LaunchPort system consists of a PowerShuttle and any number of Stations. A PowerShuttle is a sleeve-style case that fits onto your iPad. A Station is the mount and charging unit that interacts with a PowerShuttle. A system requires a PowerShuttle and a Station.

LaunchPort uses induction which means as soon as a PowerShuttle mounted to a Station, charging begins immediately- without a 30-pin cable or conductive elements. Magnets are used to mount and affix your iPad in its PowerShuttle to a Station. The tabletop BaseStation only uses some of the magnets in the LaunchPort system, making it easier to grab and go. The WallStation uses all magnets in the system for secure and safe mounting. The magnets are located on the PowerShuttle case which means you can also mount it to any metallic surface like a refrigerator or work bench.

LaunchPort changes how you can use your iPad in your home. To learn more about each product, click on the product image below.

Please visit hardinglaw.com for more information of Harding & Associates Family Law

Great Tech Blog For Lawyers

2011-12-05T08:12:00.001-08:00

During my morning surf I came across a brilliant lawyer focused tech blog. Lawyer Tech Review.com. Book reviews, software reviews, app reviews, and more. The layout is clean and vibrant. The information is timely and useful. The 12 Gadgets for the Holidays post has all kinds of fun stuff for us lawyers! Bonus: the blog is published in English and Spanish.

Please visit hardinglaw.com for more information of Harding & Associates Family Law, serving family law clients in Alameda County and Contra Costa County, California.

California Family Law Book Review

2011-11-28T07:43:00.000-08:00

Most of the library in our firm is now in electronic format. We only have a couple of actual paper products left. One that is still on the wood shelf is California Family Law Basics, published by the Harriett Buhai Center For Family Law . This is a great, huge, practice based publication. It includes:

Comprehensive step by step, line by line comment and instructions for family law forms and procedures
Based on experience with thousands of actual cases over 29 years of family law practice
Over 1,000 pages, 25 chapters, loose leaf binding, updated annually
Extensive sample forms, declarations and pleadings
Includes forms, step by step instructions and filled out samples for:
Petitions, Response, OSCs judgments, Judicial Council attachments, Motions, Default Requests, UCCJEA, Wage Assignments, Restraining Orders, Pension Joinder, Income and Expense Declarations and much more

Proceeds from the sale of this book benefit The Harriett Buhai Center for Family Law. P lease click here for more information or to order the book.

The Harriett Buhai Center for Family Law was founded in 1982 and is a co-sponsored project of Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles (BWL), the Los Angeles County Bar Association, and Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles (WLALA). In 1981 due to federal funding cutbacks, the largest legal aid program in LA closed its family law program. Envisioning the impact this action would have on poor women and children, WLALA, under the leadership of Patsy Ostroy, approached BWL, under the leadership of Mablean Ephriam, and invited them to form a joint project offering assistance for low-income persons in Los Angeles County. The “Family Law Project” was born and opened its doors in late 1982 at a location on Central Avenue in South Los Angeles. A fundamental tenet of the Project was self-help; teaching low-income persons to prepare their family law cases and represent themselves in court, with much of the help provided by volunteers. Now common place, at the time it was a revolutionary concept in family law. In 1984 The Family Law Project was re-named the “Harriett Buhai Center for Family Law”. During that time the LA County Bar determined to join the two other pioneering bar associations as a sponsor, resulting from the efforts of Susan Stockel, an early Buhai Board member. In 1985 WLALA and BWL achieved national recognition as recipients of an award from the National Conference of Womens’ Bar Associations for their work establishing the Center, in an historic ceremony at the U.S. Supreme Court.
Now an icon in family law, the Center is truly the product of untold numbers of persons; its founders, boards, staffs, volunteers, donors and others, working together to successfully create a living and still growing institution dedicated to helping those without means and power. To watch a video of the Center’s history through the words of its earliest supporters, please click here.

Please visit hardinglaw.com for more information of Harding & Associates Family Law

Bates Numbering Made Easy Acrobat 9

2011-11-22T07:21:00.000-08:00

Bates numbering (or "Bates stamping") is an invaluable tool for lawyers. Numerical indexing of discovery documents helps keep track of volumes of documents. Bates numbering of deposition documents helps witness and examiner get on the same page, and makes for a clear record. Bates numbering on trial exhibits makes for easy identification on the record.

Adobe Acrobat has a Bates stamping tool that automates the otherwise laborious task on numbering. However, the actual process of running the tool can be challenging. To the rescue is New Orleans attorney Ernie Svenson. At his PDF For Lawyers Blog Ernie post his Bates Stamping Guide. The guide is specific to Acrobat 9, which is still the most prevalent version on the street. I suspect it won't be long before Ernie has a similar guide for Acrobat X.

Please visit hardinglaw.com for more information of Harding & Associates Family Law

QR Codes Are Good Marketing

2011-11-18T08:13:00.001-08:00

Here you see three QR Codes that I utilize in my marketing program. These codes are like the scanner labels that grocery stores use to ring items up at the check stand. With reader software installed on your smart phone, you scan these codes. Depending on how the QR Code is written that scan can open the browser on your smart phone and take you to a specified website; it can bring up a text message on your device; or it can dial a phone number for you; it can open a graphic or photo. . . .

QR Codes are popping up everywhere. They appear in print magazines, in newspapers, on bill boards, on ad panels on subways and buses. If you can see it, it is likely there is a QR Code there to see. I like the technology because it shortcuts the process of getting people to your website, or to see your message. That they have taken the time to click on the code indicates that they are already engaged, and increases the likelihood that they will absorb the content that the code takes them to.

Have some fun, click on my Codes, and see what happens! In my law firm we include these codes on our letterhead, in our blog posts, in our email, etc. Next we will likely have one printed on our business cards (if we can find room on our cards, which are already jammed with content).

Here is a list of QR Code readers. You can also type "QR Code" into the App Store on iTunes for more.

If you would like to create your own QR Codes, here are some free sites for you: http://createqrcode.appspot.com/
http://qrblaster.com/
http://www.qrstuff.com/
http://www.qurify.com/en/

Please visit hardinglaw.com for more information of Harding & Associates Family Law

Mac Lawyers Here's Something For You

2011-11-18T07:26:00.000-08:00

Mac Lawyers gathered in Orlando last week for MILOFest, conference for attorneys interested in Macs, iPhones, iPads and anything else bearing an Apple logo. Gwynne Monahan offers a report on the event that includes her summaries of five particularly noteworthy presentations. Please click here for her report.

Please visit hardinglaw.com for more information of Harding & Associates Family Law

Kindle Fire versus iPad: The Battle Is On!

2011-11-17T07:31:00.000-08:00

The new Kindle Fire is gaining momentum as it takes on the iPad. Now from ZDNet.com there are 7 reasons to pick the KF over the iPhone:

1. Price
2. Flash enabled
3. USB drive
4. PC format document viewer
5. Prime video
6. Amazon integration
7. Size

Of all of these I especially agree with Flash onboard and Amazon integration. How many websites can I not view on my iPad because they are Flash driven. Also, Apple lost lots of points in my book when it forced Amazon to remove the ability to buy ebooks directly from its app (as a power play to force consumers to buy ebooks directly from Apple).

This is turning out to be a great buying battle!

Click here for the original article.

Please visit hardinglaw.com for more information of Harding & Associates Family Law

AAML Evidence Bootcamp Webinar

2011-11-11T07:37:00.000-08:00

As part of its continuing legal education slate the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers will be presenting its Evidence Bootcamp Webinar on December 7, 2011 at 12:00 PM Eastern; 11:00 AM Central; 10:00 AM Mountain; 9:00 AM Pacific. This 90 minute program will provide great training for associates, and will also be the perfect refresher course for seasoned professionals.

The panel includes Anita Ventrelli, Schiller DuCanto & Fleck LLP, Chicago, Illinois and John F. Nichols, Sr., Nichols Law, Houston, Texas. The program moderator is John Harding, Harding & Associates, Pleasanton, California.

More information, including registration, CLICK HERE.

Please visit hardinglaw.com for more information of Harding & Associates Family Law

Watch Out iPad, The Kindle Is On Fire!

2011-11-10T08:07:00.000-08:00

Holiday shoppers may be swinging over to the Kindle Fire rather than the iPad. From an article on the Boy Genius Report (summarizing a survey be Retrevo) we learn some surprising stats. For example, 12% of those surveyed said they plan to purchase an Amazon Kindle Fire tablet this holiday shopping season, while 10% said they would purchase an iPad. Among those polled who already owned a tablet model of some kind, 27% said they would upgrade to a Kindle Fire and 20% said they planned to purchase an iPad.

Seems like the low cost Fire is intriguing tech shoppers? If anyone out there has a Fire, I would welcome your comments about it. Please click here for the original article.

Please visit hardinglaw.com for more information of Harding & Associates Family Law, and California family law.

8 Ways You Can Save Time With Mindmaps

2011-11-07T08:06:00.000-08:00

For those of you who have attended any of the programs where I have spoken on legal technology, you know that I am a HUGE fan of mindmapping. This software technology is an infinitely powerful tool. At the Mindmaping Software Blog Chuck Frey has posted an article that shows you no less than eight ways that mindmapping can make more time for you.

1. Reach clarity faster on key issues
2. Organize and implement projects
3. Problem solving
4. Meeting management
5. Business writing
6. Executive dashboard
7. Decision making
8. Improve collaboration
9. Ad hoc research

Please click here to read Chuck's original article.

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How Clients Make Hiring Decisions

2011-11-04T07:32:00.000-07:00

Familiarity, motivation, and trust. These are the three qualities that a prospective client must possess before he or she will hire you. So says legal marketing expert Dave Lorenzo on his Rainmaker Lawyer blog.

1. You must be visible. Writing articles, public speaking, appearing in the media, networking. These activities get you known in your community.

2. There must be a sense of urgency. Potential clients have to be inspired to hire you, either by the time sensitivity of their matter, or by your limited window of availability.

3. Expertise. The prospect must believe you are an expert at what you do. Closely tied to visibility, expertise can be demonstrated through website bios, war stories, referrals from other clients.

Lorenzo also argues that price has very little to do with the decision to hire. If you can establish visibility, urgency, and expertise, most potential clients will look past price.

Please click here to read Dave's original article.

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Are You Backing Up Your Outlook Data?

2011-10-28T08:26:00.001-07:00

Think about all of the data contained within your Outlook program? All of your contacts. All of your appointments. All of your deadlines. Then think how ominous the task of rebuilding all of that data would be, if there was a crash?

I did think about it recently. It made me nervous. Of course we backup our servers. And my Outlook files are part of that backup. But what if just my computer crashed? I imagined it could be quite frustrating and time consuming to complete a backup of my Outlook files from a server backup. These thoughts caused me to go into my Outlook Help folder and type "backup." The search took me to a link for a product called Safe PST Backup. This is a free Outlook backup tool. I have been running it for a few days now, and I am fairly impressed. It has a clean simple user interface, it is backing up my data at the appointed time, and is doing all it has promised. Also, as I mentioned, it is Free!

Admittedly I have not suffered a data failure, so I have not actually restored from Safe PST Backup, and I am not going to crash my system so that I can try it out! However, I do feel safer with this new tool in place.

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Are You Backing Up Your Outlook Data?

2011-10-28T08:26:00.000-07:00

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DissoMaster App For iPad

2011-10-27T08:30:00.002-07:00

Here in California we have a very long ,very complicated mathematical formula for calculating child support (which has been codified at Family Code Section 4055). To make life easier computer programs have been created to perform the child support calculation. There are three main programs: Dissomaster, SupporTax, and XSpouse (the programs can also be utilized to calculate temporary spousal support).

Thomson Reuters West, the publisher of Dissomaster, has just released a Dissomaster app for the iPad. I have not run it, but I have checked it out at the iTunes App Store. Looks OK to me, but at $49.99 the price is eye popping! Mind you these are the same folks that are charging $54.99 for their Black's Law Dictionary app. I announce these apps as a public service to my fellow lawyers, even though it is clear that the publisher is sticking it to us on the pricesPlease visit hardinglaw.com for more information of Harding & Associates Family Law

DissoMaster

2011-10-27T08:30:00.001-07:00

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Are You Making Maximum Use Of Microsoft Office?

2011-10-26T15:04:00.000-07:00

We use Microsoft Office in our practice -- what else is there? I must confess that I am sure the various components (Word, Excel, Powerpoint. . .) can do a lot more than I ask them to. For me looking past the first circle of the programs just hasn't happened. Perhaps that should change. I came across an interesting article by Deborah Savadra at the Attorneysatwork blog that got me thinking. For example, I did not know you can customize the status bar to track changes? I did not know that you can import WordPerfect formatting tools? I did not know there are autocalc formulas in Excel other than autosum? If you would like to see Office is a better light check out Deborah's article.

Please click here to read the original article.

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Realignment Of Alameda County Family Law Departments

2011-10-25T14:25:00.000-07:00

I appeared at the Alameda County, Hayward Hall of Justice today. There was a huge line to get through security. Three different "out of town" lawyers asked me what the deal was? Here is the answer.

Licensed attorneys can only bypass the metal detectors at Alameda County Courthouses if they have an "attorney security pass" issued by the Alameda County Sheriff's Department. Issuance of a pass requires an application to the Sheriff, successful completion of a background check, payment of a fee to the Sheriff, and a personal appearance at the San Leandro substation so your mugshot can be taken, and printed to your security pass.

Unlike many other counties, presentation of your driver's license and bar card will not get you through security.

More information for those unfamiliar with Alameda County: Because of the budget crisis in California the Alameda County Superior Court has elected to close the family law department at the Pleasanton Courthouse. All further court hearings in matters previously venued in Pleasanton will be conducted in Department 503 at the Hayward Hall of Justice located 24405 Amador Street, Hayward, California.

All litigants living in Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, and Sunol will now file their family law cases at the Hayward Hall of Justice.

The Hayward Hall of Justice now becomes one of only two Alameda County courthouses hearing family law cases (the other is in Alameda). Many other cases (including all general civil cases from the Pleasanton and Fremont courthouses) have been transferred to the Hayward Hall of Justice. Unfortunately there is no additional money for the extra security required, so the building will continue to operate with just one metal detector. The line to get through security can stretch around the block. It is suggested that you get in line no later than 8:30 a.m. to have any hope of being in the actual courtroom by 9:00 a.m. If you want to play it safe, getting in line by 8 or 8:15 would be even better.

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Organic Web Marketing Strategies For Lawyers

2011-10-20T13:50:00.000-07:00

Ever heard of "organic web strategy"? Me neither. At least not until today when I came across an article at JD Supra entitled "Organic Web Strategy For Lawyers." I consider myself green, and I like organic so the title caught my attention.

I am still unclear what "organic" means in light of this article, but the article does highlight some very important considerations to keep in mind when developing an internet marketing strategy and plan. Please click here for a very helpful read.

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The Stand Up Desk

2011-10-18T09:05:00.000-07:00

I have used a stand up desk for years. It gets me on my feet, keeps me moving, and makes me feel better. I like standing up while I work. I am not doing it 8 hours a day, but I do spend the majority of my time vertical rather than seated. Some would argue there are health benefits to using a stand up.

My original stand up desk was a white laminate, Ikea style fold out model that is bolted to my office wall. You can see it to the right.

With time I have learned that while functional, this model has its limitations. It is not sturdy enough for me to lean on, and not wide enough to accommodate my needs.

Those woes are now a thing of the past thanks to my new stand up desk that arrived today. She's a beauty. Solid, cherry stained oak. Brass fixtures. An inlaid leather writing stand. 5 1/2 feet wide. Sublime. Thanks to Standupdesks.com for the delivery. Plus I have named her "Jenny" after my paralegal Jennifer, which I am sure will earn me more Boss of the Year points!

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How Can Twitter Help Your Business?

2011-10-14T11:57:00.000-07:00

Social Media Examiner has a great article on twitter for business, including a video.

Here are some of the things you’ll learn in this video:

A few favorite Twitter tools to check out (CoTweet, HootSuite, MediaFunnel)
Advice to succeed on Twitter: Be useful. Listen, learn, care and serve
Which company uses TwitGift to send chocolate-chip cookies and why
How Twitter can help you make the online-offline connection with your audience
How FastFollow helps you interact with a mass audience

Please click here for the article.

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Time To Update Your Apple Devices

2011-10-12T07:18:00.000-07:00

If all goes as planned today (Wednesday) is the release date for Apple's iOS 5 operating system. All you iPod, iPad, and iPhone owners will first need to update your iTunes software to version 10.5, then you can update your devices. There are lots of great new features:

iTunes in the Cloud. iTunes now stores your music and TV purchases in iCloud and makes them available on your devices anywhere, any time, at no additional cost.

Automatic Downloads. Purchase music from any device or computer and automatically download a copy to your Mac and iOS devices.
Download Previous Purchases. Download your past music, TV, app, and book purchases again, at no additional cost. Previous purchases may be unavailable if they are no longer on the iTunes Store.

Sync with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 5.
Wi-Fi Syncing. Automatically sync your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iTunes any time they’re both on the same Wi-Fi network.

Step 1, launch your iTunes and check for updates. Step 2, connect your devices to iTunes and install the iOS 5 upgrade. Good luck!

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facebook for iPad

2011-10-11T07:46:00.000-07:00

The facebook app for iPad has arrived. I guess that's a good thing?

Click here to go to iTunes and get your copy before they run out!

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Projectors In The Courtroom

2011-10-06T12:40:00.000-07:00

As courtroom technology goes, I think family law is a bit behind the curve. Ours is still, pretty much, a black ink on white paper art. That's a shame, because there are better ways to present evidence. Methods that make it much easier for the judge to understand what is going on and therefrom to make the right decision.

On a couple of occasions I have taken a projector and screen into court to present evidence at trial. Each time I have done it, it has proven to be a great success. It is time this method becomes more prevalent in our family law trial practices.

At The Court Technology and Trial Presentation Blawg Ted Brooks has a great primer on courtroom projectors, screens, and monitors. Please click here to read a great article!

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How About A Home Office In Your Backyard?

2011-10-06T12:33:00.001-07:00

A home office can be a great thing. However, for some of us extra discipline is required to get work done given the distractions of the refrigerator, the kids, the television, etc. Well, how about a nice little studio office in your backyard?

This is fun stuff! Thanks to Chuck Newton, at his Chuck Newton Rides The Third Wave blog for the story:

I continue to get throw back from attorneys that they do not have the space or privacy in their homes to have a home office or practice. My question is often, do you have a yard? Even a small yard will do. If so, then add a small studio office. I have posted examples before, but here is an example from Sett Studio in Austin, Texas.

These home offices range in size from about 97 to 192 square feet, they are energy-efficient and cost between $20,000 – $30,000. Construction takes about 45 days and installation is finished in a couple days. Transportation costs between $500-$3,000 depending on where the studio is being shipped. Typically permits are not necessary given the size of the building.

Please click here for Chuck's original article.

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First Look at Amazon's New Tablet

2011-09-28T07:53:00.000-07:00

The specs are coming out for Amazon's upcoming Kindle Fire tablet. $199 price point. 7 inch color screen. Android operating system. Wi-fi.

The Kindle name and that $199 price will make the difference as this new product takes on the iPad. Although the seven inch screen sounds a bit small to me. The actual launch is set for November.

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iPad's Data Connection

2011-09-27T09:38:00.000-07:00

I still love my iPad! However, my definition of love is changing with the passage of time. When I bought mine I paid the extra money for the wireless/cellular data modem. I then started paying $25 per month for an AT&T data connection. With the passage of time I have learned that neither choice was necessary.

95% of my iPad time is at the office or at home. I have wifi at both locations, and that is how I go online with my iPad. The data transmissions are fast and reliable. On those occasions when I am "on the road" I can usually find free wifi. Plus the AT&T data connection is very slow. Even on 3G the idea of file sharing is impractical. All the iPad is good for is internet surfing, and that requires patience.

In hindsight I would save the money, and go with the wifi only.

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What Is Virtual Lawyering?

2011-09-22T07:41:00.001-07:00

For at least 15 years I have been touting the benefits of telecommuting. I go back to the days of telephone modems! Logging on to the office computer and getting work done without actually being in the office. Making calls from the house, with the person on the other end assuming I am at the office. Working in my sweats. All good stuff. Of late I have been overwhelmed with chatter about the virtual law office, and virtual lawyering. It is has been a particularly hot topic in the area of family law. Is it different from what I do from home? I'm thinking not.

Jay Fleischman is a bankruptcy attorney. He is also a techie and a marketing consultant. For years he has been writing on technology in the practice of law, including what I call telecommuting. He also has a home office that he practices from most of the time (I believe the picture above is his setup). On his Legal Practice Pro blog he has a great article on working remotely, virtual lawyering, whatever you want to call it. The importance of the article is that it explains the technology option available to you.

Please click here for Jay's latest thoughts on telecommuting/home office/virtual/elawyering.

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Windows 8 -- Already?

2011-09-15T09:05:00.001-07:00

Apparently revenues are too far down at Microsoft. With Window 7 just starting to hit its stride, Microsoft is not starting the spin for its release of Windows 8.

My opinion: Buyer beware! The previews for 8 suggest a radical redesign from 7, which is never a good thing coming from Microsoft. Compels me to think of the company's speedy release of Vista, as a replacement for Windows XP.

As you may recall, XP was (and is) a relatively stable and useful operating system. In fact it is still in wide use. Then came Vista. An absolute piece of junk. Not properly written. Not properly tested. Definitely not ready for prime time. Fortunately M released Windows 7, and order was restored.

Now comes Windows 8. Lots of shiny, new graphics. Touch pad capability. "Revolutionary" new features. Hmmnn. Sounds a lot like Vista.... However, in the spirit of full disclosure I direct your attention to a sneak peek preview of 8 from How To Geek.com. You can read about all of the great stuff Microsoft is promising, like:

Metro Interface – the new default interface in Windows 8, keep reading for everything about this.
Faster Boot Times – Windows 8 will boot much faster than Windows 7, thanks to a partial hibernation mode and a lot of improvements in the loading process. On my old Dell laptop, it boots in less than 10 seconds – on new machines, it’s crazy fast.
Less Memory Usage than Windows 7. That’s right. Microsoft is saying that not only will this version use less RAM than Win7, it also uses less running processes.
Windows Explorer overhauled, now has the Ribbon UI, Revamped File Copying, and ISO mounting.
In-Place PC Refresh will reload Windows in just a couple of clicks, keeping your files intact.
ARM processors are now supported, which will lead to an entirely new class of low-power, battery-efficient tablets.
Hyper-V is now part of Windows – so now you can create virtual machines easily without installing anything extra.
Taskbar can now span multiple monitors – this very simple feature has finally made it into Windows.
Wallpaper can now span multiple monitors – yet another feature that should have been around 10 years ago.
Universal Spell Check across Metro applications.
Windows Live Integration for Sync, Mail, Skydrive lets you sync all your settings across your PCs, including your files, mail, and photos. The sync is available in the preview, but the Skydrive and Mail are not yet.
Windows Store will let you purchase Windows apps all in a single place.
New Task Manager is completely revamped with much better tools, including a way to disable startup applications, track application resource usage over time, and even easily restart Windows Explorer.

Please click here to read the entire review.

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Thoughts On Charging A Consultation Fee

2011-09-08T10:41:00.000-07:00

When I first started practicing law I offered free consultations. I thought I had to? I needed clients, and free consultations got people in the door. With time I began to realize that I was spending a lot of time giving out free advice. My hire rate from those free consultations was maybe ten to twenty percent. Most of those visits were from people who came right out and said something along the lines of: "I have no intention of hiring a lawyer, but I do want you to tell me how to do my own divorce."

With time I gained confidence, and began charging a consultation fee. At $250 it is still a bargain, but it compensates me for some of my time, and filters out most of the brain pickers (see above).

At her Legal Ease Blog Allison Shields offers her thoughts on consultation fees, and agrees that consultation fees are good practice. It is a good read. Click here for the original article.

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GREAT Blog For Learning About Social Media

2011-09-07T07:44:00.000-07:00

Social media: facebook, twitter, LinkedIn. It's all the rage in marketing circles. Some people get it. Most people don't. I was randomly surfing the web when I came across a fantastic blog that teaches about social media. Social Media Examiner is a commercial site, no doubt about it. It is also a visually stunning repository of invaluable learning tools on social media. I have been viewing it fastidiously, and am very impressed. There are tutorial, case studies, videos . . . .

I've read books on the stuff, I have read internet articles galore, I have stacks of magazines with articles on social media. While all valuable information, none of it is any more digestible or relevant that the information on Social Media Examiner. Check it out! And no, this is not a paid celebrity endorsement, i just think it is a great blog.

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P.S. Save the rants. I know I used all caps in the title to this post. No need to send comments explaining such typing is a faux pas. I want you to know about the SME blog. I am yelling. If the caps got your attention, mission accomplished!

Amazon Tablet Coming

2011-09-07T07:22:00.000-07:00

I am one of those folks who believes the Amazon Kindle woke people up to the convenience of the tablet platform. I bought one before I got my iPad, and my rapture with the Kindle encouraged me to spend the money on an iPad. The Kindle was forward thinking: light, easy to use, good battery life, clear (albeit black and white) screen. The technology was breathtaking.

Now Amazon is leaking the details of its forthcoming tablet -- which could assume the mantle of second best behind the iPad. The AndroidGuys blog gives us a nice sneak peek:

The tablet will feature a 7-inch display and will be called the “Amazon Kindle”.
It runs Android but there's no sign of anything Google. No Android Market, no Maps, no Gmail.
Form factor closely resembles the BlackBerry PlayBook.
This will be the first Kindle with a full-color, back-lit display.
Amazon is targeting the end of November for this tablet with a second, 10-inch model for Q1 or Q2 of 2012.
The 7-inch Kindle tablet should run $250, same price as NOOK Color.
The user interface is "black, dark blue, and a bunch of orange". Look at the splash screen for Amazon Kindle app and you'll see.The tablet features a number of Amazon services (Cloud Player, Kindle app, Instant Video, Amazon Appstore for Android, etc)
There is no camera and the device lacks physical buttons.

Click here to read the entire preview report.

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Ethics Webinar

2011-09-06T12:15:00.000-07:00

AAML WEBINAR: Ethical Pitfalls in the Initial Client Interview September 14th 12:00 EST

Lawyers have ethical obligations to ensure that clients can make informed decisions to proposed courses of action. Many of our clients come to us in crisis and an impaired state. The intersection between that emotional volatility, ethical obligations placed on attorneys by the Rules of Processional Conduct, and the range of available process options creates a minefield for lawyers conducting the initial client interview. AAML Fellows David Fink (Northern California chapter) and Mark Weiss (Washington State chapter) with Moderator Mary Pence (Maryland chapter) will lay out a road map for successfully navigating that minefield.

Click here for more info. bit.ly/rb6GMm

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Jureeka! Legal Research Add-On For Web Browsers

2011-08-31T08:08:00.000-07:00

Reading an article on the web that references a legal opinion. Want t jump to that opinion right then and there without leaving the article to log in to your research account? Well now you can! Jureeka! is a browser add-on/extension for Firefox and Chrome turns legal citations into hyperlinks to open access versions of the material cited. It partners with Cornell Law School's Legal Information Institute (LII)

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Kindle Tablet Taking On The iPad

2011-08-26T09:51:00.000-07:00

I was a big fan of the Amazon Kindle when it came out. I still think it is a great, easy to use device! However, I have transitioned to the iPad because it can do more. From The Boy Genius Report we learn that Amazon is going beyond the Kindle, and releasing a tablet computer.

Amazon’s upcoming Android tablet will soon launch for “hundreds less” than Apple’s $499 entry-level iPad 2 tablet, the New York Post reported on Thursday. According to the report, which cites an anonymous source, Amazon will launch its first Android tablet in September or October and aggressive pricing is seen as crucial to Amazon’s success in the space. BGR exclusively reported back in May that Amazon is working on two tablet devices — the entry-level dual-core “Coyote” and the high-end quad-core “Hollywood” — and at least one of them is expected to be unveiled in the coming weeks. Amazon’s tablet offerings will reportedly feature the Android operating system, perhaps heavily customized, along with deep integration of several Amazon services such as the Amazon Appstore, the Kindle eBook store, Amazon’s Cloud Drive service and others.

Given Amazon's positive track record with the Kindle, I am really looking forward to its tabLet product. Please click here for the original article from BGR.

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Why I Blog

2011-08-24T12:57:00.000-07:00

I am an inveterate internet surfer. Every day I go online to the California Courts website to review published and unpublished opinions from California's appellate courts. I also frequently Google keywords like "divorce" and "family law" to find online content relevant to my practice. I have been doing this for years, and have amassed quite a knowledge base. However my original practice of printing out interesting websites or blog articles became unruly. I had the epiphany to start a blog to which I could post my treasure trove of case law finds, websites, blog posts, articles, etc. Thus was born the California Divorce Blawg. Now I have a paperless repository for all my finds. I reference it frequently to remember old cases I have read. I do keyword searches to recall information. It serves my original purpose wonderfully.

I am also a voracious net surfer when it comes to technology. I am always looking for the latest greatest software, gadgets, and hardware that I can incorporate into my law practice. I also surf for information and articles on law practice management, law firm marketing, etc. I figure no point reinventing the wheel if I do not have to. Free, proven information is all over the internet. Again, the problem became what to do with all the information when I found it. And again, a blog proved to be the perfect medium. This Family Law Lawyer Tech & Practice blog was born.

But there is more to it. Writing on my blogs about what I read on the internet helps me to absorb and recall the information better. I am able to process and understand the court opinions more. It makes me a better lawyer.

There is another benefit I identified from blogging. That is the promotion of my practice. Blogging gets content from me out on the web. It creates publicity for me, and draws people to my practice. I track viewer statistics for my two blogs, and I find them to be productive. Each averages about 40 to 60 viewers per day. Each is also a productive source of clicks to to my law firm website.

I also am able to share the information that I come across with others. A type of volunteer work if you will. It is very satisfying to read a comment, or receive an e-mail, thanking me for the information I post to my blogs.

Finally, blogging is fun. I get to indulge in blogging technology, I get to learn, and I get to write and teach. These are all things that I enjoy.

I was going to be investing the time and compiling the information no matter what. If I can get a plethora of other benefits by transferring that effort to my blogs, then why not? It makes perfect sense!

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Adobe Acrobat X and Microsoft Office 2010

2011-08-23T07:11:00.000-07:00

I was visiting Rick Borstein's Acrobat For Legal Professionals blog, as I often do, and I came across another great post. According to Rick, Acrobat X is the only version of Acrobat that is fully compatible with Office 2010. I also learned that my old school was of creating pdf's is not the bet way. What I have always done is to go to file>print>Adobe. According to Rick my old habit needs to be broken, and instead I should be using the create Adobe icons that X installs on to the Office toolbars. Only by this process are my Office files fully converted to pdf.

There is much more to learn. Click here to read the entire article.

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Virtual Assistants To The Rescue

2011-08-18T08:36:00.000-07:00

Ever been overwhelmed with "the little things"? Need some typing done. Need some administrative spreadsheets prepared? Needs some updates to your website? Need your facebook page maintained? From time to time we all suffer the burden of getting behind on the little things. There is help for you and your staff: the virtual assistant. I use one. She is in the Philippines. She has a college degree. She is computer and internet savvy. She has a sophisticated aire about her. And she is very, very affordable.

A virtual assistant (typically abbreviated to VA, also called a virtual office assistant) is an entrepreneur who provides professional administrative, technical, or creative (social) assistance to clients from a home office. Because virtual assistants are independent contractors rather than employees, clients are not responsible for any employee-related taxes, insurance or benefits. Clients also avoid the logistical problem of providing extra office space, equipment or supplies. With a full range of options to choose from, clients can customize their remote receptionist service to meet their exact needs. Calls can be screened, announced and seamlessly connected to clients or their employees anywhere. They usually work for other small businesses, brokers and consultancy groups. It is estimated that there are as few as 5,000-8,000 or as many as 25,000 virtual assistants worldwide; the profession is growing in centralized economies with "fly-in, fly-out" staffing practices. Common modes of communication and data delivery include the Internet, e-mail and phonecall conferences, online work spaces, and fax machine.

In recent years Virtual Assistants have also worked their way into many mainstream businesses and with the advent of VOIP or other services such as skype it has been possible to have a Virtual Assistant who can answer your phone remotely without the end user's knowledge. This allows many businesses to add a personal touch in the form of a receptionist without the additional cost of hiring someone. [Thank you Wikipedia].

There are American companies that can provide virtual assistants. There are also oodles of English speaking VA's oversees (think Philippines, India, and Eastern Europe). Just type "virtual assistant" into Google.

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AbacusLaw Extortion

2011-08-17T16:15:00.000-07:00

So, AbacusLaw case management is releasing a new feature. The new feature allows your AbacusLaw software to synchronize contacts and calendar with your iPhone. Nothing really unique about that. In fact last time I checked all of the premier programs provided that functionality?

Here is what is unique about the new AbacusLaw feature. AbacusLaw is going to charge extra for it! That's right. There will be a $250 installation fee, and then an annual maintenance fee of $97! Can you believe it? What are they thinking? In this day and age smartphone synchronization should be an automatic, standard feature. Maybe a one-time charge of $97 to upgrade. That I could live with. But $250 to upgrade and then $97 per year to maintain it? Absurd!

Now I have always been pretty happy with AbacusLaw. We use it in our firm, and I have written positively about it in this blog. But this is outright robbery. Looks like the folks in San Diego are headed down the same path as Amicus Attorney. If you are an Abacus user I suggest to get in touch with your account rep and lodge a complaint.

NOTE: To all of the other case management vendors that read this blog (I know there are a number of you), please post your comments regarding your company's synchronization capabilities and whether you charge extra for them.

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Westlaw App For iPad

2011-08-17T08:10:00.000-07:00

I have mentioned elsewhere that I am really impressed with Westlaw Next. It is a cloud based legal research product from Thomson West. The price point is reasonable and the technology is excellent. I subscribe for all my state codes and cases, as well as The Rutter Group Practice Guides, which are indispensable in California (particularly the Family Law Practice Guide) That same impressive technology is also available for the iPad through the Westlaw Next app.

I have been using the about for months, and I love it. The graphics are great, the user interface is friendly, and it doesn't cost anything more to use. I just log in via my regular WN account, and off I go.

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Looking To Get Mentioned By The Press?

2011-08-16T09:47:00.000-07:00

Media appearances can be a great boost to your practice promotion. Entire books have been written on the subject. Where do the journalists look to find expert opinions, such as though from us lawyers? According to an article written by Larry Bodine, "LinkedIn is the most popular social network among business journalists, with 92% having a LinkedIn account." "Facebook follows with 85% of journalists using the world’s most popular social media site. Journalists use Twitter at almost the same rate (84%) they use Facebook." And, "almost half of all journalists surveyed say they read blogs regularly."

The article goes on to include Larry's tips for attracting media attention in light of these statistics. Please click here to read the original article.

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Blackberry Isn't Dead

2011-08-11T08:45:00.000-07:00

Blackberry has definitely fallen behind the iPhone and Android smartphones on the popularity curve. That doesn't mean that RIM isn't trying. One of its new products is the Blackberry 9900, and the new phone is getting some rave reviews. For example, click here to review a detailed, and positive review from the Boy Genius Report.

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facebook messenger

2011-08-10T08:32:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday facebook announced its latest technology: facebook Messenger.

A standalone app for smartphones facebook expects that messaging with friends will be faster than ever. Messages are delivered instantly, and they're always just a click away. Messages are delivered through notifications and texts, so your friends are more likely to get them right away. You can use Messenger to reach all of your friends -- whether they're on facebook or in your phone contacts. All you have to do is type the person's name.

Tech observers are jumping on board with gusto, even going so far as to suggest that facebook messenger could replace SMS texting. Click here to visit the Messenger website to learn more.

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The Schmooze Is Still In

2011-08-08T09:21:00.001-07:00

Sure social media is all the rage. Regardless of how hot it is though, social media will not be the business generation tool to end all other business generation tools. The Schmooze (good old fashioned personal networking) is still around, and it is as important as ever.

Please click here for a great article from Real Lawyers Have Blogs.

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Using Stamps In Adobe Acrobat

2011-08-04T08:17:00.000-07:00

Acrobat has a stamping function that I use quite often. "Draft," "Confidential," etc. On the Acrobat for Legal Professionals blog there is a great overview of the stamping function, including instructions on how to add a stamp shortcut to your Acrobat toolbar. Click here to check it out.

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Google+ Primer

2011-08-03T08:27:00.000-07:00

Google+ is the latest buzzword in social media. Currently in beta testing, Google+ is rumored to be a real competitor against facebook and twitter. But what is Google+? The Above and Beyond KM blog has a great preview to help you start understanding Google's new product. In particular check out the video from cnettv. Click here to check it out.

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Flat Fee Webinar

2011-08-03T08:16:00.000-07:00

Attorney Lee Rosen will be conducting a free webinar on Flat Fees in a Family Law Practice on Thursday, August 18 at 2 PM Eastern. He’ll talk for about an hour. You’ll get lots of information, ideas, and tips. There will be time for questions. Please click here for more information.

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iPad 3 Rumors Beginning To Swirl

2011-08-02T08:18:00.000-07:00

The holiday shopping season begin in a few short months. Apple is expected to launch the iPad 3 ahead of the holiday season this year. Rumor on the street is that the new iPad model will feature a high-resolution Retina Display like the current iPhone 4. The new Retina Display-equipped iPad will apparently be dubbed “iPad Pro,” rather than a replacement for the current iPad 2 (not exactly sure what that means?). Other rumors hold that the 3 will launch at the same price point as the current iPad 2. Stay tuned for more.

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Make Your Practice A Positive Adventure

2011-08-01T09:02:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I headed up to Lake Tahoe for our daughter's softball tournament. We arrived on Thursday, and headed back home on Monday. It was a great trip! The lake was her usual, stunningly beautiful self. The weather was awesome. Heavenly Village at Stateline had plenty to offer (although the casinos were not nice to me). I do believe the best part of the adventure was playing hooky from work. Sitting at the cafes socializing with friends when I could have been at my desk at work was a lot of fun! We family law lawyers lead stressful professional lives. Checking out once in a while can be a real refresher.

But how about when we cannot get away? How do we stay fresh and excited about our work? John Jantsch has published a great article on his Duct Tape Marketing blog about business as the ultimate adventure. According to John "we can either choose to look at this business we’ve created as an awesome adventure or a remarkable imposition, but make no mistake, it’s simply a choice in how we view our life. . . You can make your business fully alive by stuffing it with adventure and life or you can let it suck the life out of you – because, frankly, it’s capable of either or both."

It is a great article, with great ideas for staying enthusiastic at work! Please click here to read the original article.

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Running Your Law Firm In The Y Generation

2011-07-27T10:19:00.000-07:00

Your law firm is a business. Make it more successful by not doing business the same old way. We have to market our practices. We cannot expect clients to fawn over us. There is competition out there, and there is a new business paradigm on the horizon. In my opinion one of the leaders on the new frontier is Shama Kabani. She is the CEO of The Marketing Zen Group, a full service web marketing firm in Dallas. She is also the author of the best-selling, The Zen of Social Media Marketing, which I have read and believe in. She hosts her own web TV show at Shama.Tv.

Thanks to Forbes.com, Shama posts 26 lessons she has learned. They include: A written vision of what you want your company to look like in 3 years is important, Learn to listen to your clients, Half the job is keeping up, Always think in terms of value — not price, Only hire people who have fire, If you must fire, be graceful and professional about it, Learn to forgive, Cash flow is crucial, Balance is overrated. Aim for joy, Don’t underestimate the power of PR, Treat your team well, Focus is the most underrated skill that you must master, Multitasking doesn’t mean greater productivity, Age isn’t just a number, Appearances matter, Learn to view situations objectively, Life is short, and very easy to take for granted, Pets make the workplace better, A support network is crucial, Give luck its due, Hard work is a given, It IS lonely at the top, Ignore the trolls, Be picky when choosing your friends, Karma exists in business and in life, Being a CEO means being a Chief Value Officer.

Please click here for the entire article.

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Phone Systems In The Cloud

2011-07-20T08:39:00.000-07:00

Our phone system works fine. It better! It cost a ton of money ten years ago. Ten years ago? That seems like a long time in technology years. Eventually our system is going to get tired on us. What to do then?

I have heard buzz about internet phone systems, and cloud based systems. What does it all mean? Jon Yelton comes to the rescue with a great little article discussing cloud based phone systems. According to Jon: "law firms are looking at hosted, cloud-based solutions for just about everything. What you may not know, however, is that phone systems are moving to the cloud, too. There are several cloud-based PBX system options that provide some amazing features you won’t find in a traditional system—and, yes, they do so at a lower cost."

Please click here to read the entire article.

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An Alternative To Adobe Acrobat

2011-07-20T08:30:00.000-07:00

I love Adobe Acrobat. It is a mainstay in our firm's software lineup. It is also very expensive (roughly $400 for the professional version). Ernie Svenson is a Louisiana lawyer who also publishes the PDF For Lawyers blog. He recently posted about an Acrobat alternative called PDFPenPro. According to Ernie the program is similar to Acrobat in form and function, but at a $99 price point. Please click here to read Ernie's review.

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My Open Door Policy

2011-07-08T09:00:00.000-07:00

My law firm is housed in a single story, wood frame building built in the 1970's. Nice, but nothing fancy when compared to the opulent digs of some of my colleagues that are housed in our city's impressive steel and glass, Class A office buildings.

There is one feature of my office though that those fancier firms don't have: A wood and glass door that opens up to a ground level patio complete with wood deck and shrubbery. Especially on warm spring and summer days it is a real treat to open the door and let the fresh air in. I get to watch squirrels scurry about, and listen to the birds chirp from the nearby trees. It is a real refresher and distraction from the business of law. I even leave the door open during some meetings with clients, and they are always as enthusiastic about it as me. The fresh air and ambient noise help them to relax as well.

Sometimes we get so stuck on being high brow, stuffed shirt lawyers that we forget the little things like fresh air, and the sound of birds chirping. It is okay to be real. He's to gearing down a bit and seeing the trees as we stare at the forest!

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Google Plus

2011-07-05T08:42:00.000-07:00

Google is getting in on the social networking craze with its new Google Plus product. Now in beta testing, Google+ clearly has facebook in its sights. The review I have read are mostly positive, although no one is is singly loudly that the product is revolutionary. Click here for a preview.

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Watching Appellate Court Hearings As A Learning Tool

2011-06-30T08:27:00.000-07:00

A question for fellow family law attorneys: Have you ever watched an appellate court hearing?

If you haven't, you are missing out on an incredible learning opportunity. The process of judicial thinking comes to life as appellate court justices review law and trials after the fact during oral argument. It is hindsight come to life.

The US 9th Circuit Court of Appeal has announced that it will be posting videos of oral arguments on its website, and broadcasting some en banc hearings live. Please click here to visit the court's website.

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A Judge And His iPad

2011-06-29T09:38:00.000-07:00

The iPhone J.D. blog has a great guest post from Texas judge Dan Hinde, and how he uses his iPad in and out of court. Please click here for a good read.

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My Vacation iPad Wish List

2011-06-29T09:13:00.000-07:00

The family and I just got back from a much needed vacation (we went to Hawaii). I am very fortunate that I can schedule my trips well ahead of time, and I have a great staff that can put out the fires while I am away. That doesn't mean that I allow myself to completely forget about the office. I still log in remotely to check my e-mail, or deal with the rare emergency that requires my attention. My technology of choice for this limited check in burden is my iPad. On my trip I realized I have needs.

When I log in to the office remotely I do so with my iPad's LogMeIn Ignition app. The app includes a little graphic mouse that the user utilizes. LogMeIn people, please make the mouse bigger. Expanding, or zooming, the screen does not make the LogMeIn mouse bigger. It is about half the size of my finger tip, and clicking on it cleanly is a challenge.

While laying on my lounge chair outdoors in the sun, I also realized that glare can be a problem with the iPad screen. My solution? Move under an umbrella. All fixed. But should'nt the Apple's screen engineers be able to create a glareless iPad screen

Moving on: I stayed at Sheraton hotels during my trip. Because of frequent guest privileges I got limited, free wi-fi (saved me $15 per day). There were times though when I was out of wi-fi range, and had to utilize my AT&T data connection. It is very slow. 3G was intermittent, and I found the delays quite annoying (think back to the old days of telephone dial-up). Seems to me that AT&T, Apple, or both should be able to make my $25 per month data connection work better and faster.

Don't get me wrong, the iPad works great, and is a much better alternative for me than lugging a laptop computer around. That does not mean it can't be better.

Aloha!

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Are You A Droid?

2011-06-09T09:57:00.000-07:00

If you have an Android smartphone I have a great blog for you! Check out The Droid Lawyer blog. It is packed with great stuff.

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Apple's New Operating System Getting High Praise

2011-06-08T07:46:00.000-07:00

When Steve Job speaks people listen. Take his presentation this week, where he introduced Apple's new iCloud service (mentioned on this blog yesterday), and the forthcoming release of operating system iOS 5 for iPhones and iPads. After the announcements come the rumors and speculation. So far word on the street is that iOS 5 rocks. Take, for example, the highly regarded Boy Genius Report:

After two days of use with Apple’s brand new iOS 5 on both an iPhone 4 and iPad 2, I can confidently say that iOS 5 has not only added much-needed features and enhancements, but has pushed Apple’s mobile operating system even further out into the lead ahead of competitors. What’s incredible is that Apple’s first beta release of iOS 5 for developers already runs better than any production BlackBerry or Android OS phone, and in daily use, I haven’t had any major issues at all with the OS. Hit the break some more impressions following my thoughts after day one.

Using iMessages, Apple’s new messaging service, is so simple yet powerful — I’ve been able to talk to over 20 friends, all of whom have loaded up iOS 5, from both my iPhone and iPad seamlessly and effortlessly. Notifications are a major positive as well — I still can’t get over how much more productive I am without being interrupted every 25 seconds. The powerful ability to customize the lock screen however you like ensures that you get the right information you need, and fast.

Even iCloud has worked flawlessly, and it’s in beta, running on a non-final release of OS X Lion, connecting to first beta versions of iOS 5 — it’s ridiculous if you think about how wide the gap is between Apple and its competitors. Photo Stream is, for lack of a better word, magical. Having all of my photos and videos wirelessly, automatically, and effortlessly synced to all devices including computers is fantastic. I also love having my device backed up once a day to iCloud — I don’t have to remember to plug it in, wait for it to sync, and back it up. Additionally, it’s almost a surreal experience to download an app on your iPhone and see it instantly download to your iPad as well, or vice-versa. The same goes for music, iBooks, and more.

Finally, the new accessibility options Apple has included in iOS 5 are nothing short of incredible. You can enable the LED flash to blink during alerts, and you can even create your own custom vibration patterns for specific contacts by tapping out patterns on the display.

Please click here for the original article. Incidentally, BGR is running daily reports on its evolving review of iOS 5. Make sure you check them out.

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Apple Device Synching To Get Easier?

2011-06-07T08:27:00.000-07:00

For those of us using iPhones or iPads, synching our calendars and contacts with our desktop computers can at times be challenging. I synch my devices with Outlook utilizing Apple's MobileMe service ($99/year). It works most of the time, but not all of time. When it is on the fritz, it is usually at a critical time, like when I am in court!

Well, if Mr. Jobs is to be believed, MobileMe is on the way out, to be replaced by a bigger, better, and cheaper (free!) new service called iCloud. Here is the presss release from Apple:

Apple Introduces iCloud

Free Cloud Services Beyond Anything Offered to Date

SAN FRANCISCO—June 6, 2011—Apple® today introduced iCloud®, a breakthrough set of free new cloud services that work seamlessly with applications on your iPhone®, iPad®, iPod touch®, Mac® or PC to automatically and wirelessly store your content in iCloud and automatically and wirelessly push it to all your devices. When anything changes on one of your devices, all of your devices are wirelessly updated almost instantly.

“Today it is a real hassle and very frustrating to keep all your information and content up-to-date across all your devices,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “iCloud keeps your important information and content up to date across all your devices. All of this happens automatically and wirelessly, and because it’s integrated into our apps you don’t even need to think about it—it all just works.”

The free iCloud services include:

The former MobileMe® services—Contacts, Calendar and Mail—all completely re-architected and rewritten to work seamlessly with iCloud. Users can share calendars with friends and family, and the ad-free push Mail account is hosted at me.com. Your inbox and mailboxes are kept up-to-date across all your iOS devices and computers.
The App Store™ and iBookstore℠ now download purchased iOS apps and books to all your devices, not just the device they were purchased on. In addition, the App Store and iBookstore now let you see your purchase history, and simply tapping the iCloud icon will download any apps and books to any iOS device (up to 10 devices) at no additional cost.
iCloud Backup automatically and securely backs up your iOS devices to iCloud daily over Wi-Fi when you charge your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. Backed up content includes purchased music, apps and books, Camera Roll (photos and videos), device settings and app data. If you replace your iOS device, just enter your Apple ID and password during setup and iCloud restores your new device.
iCloud Storage seamlessly stores all documents created using iCloud Storage APIs, and automatically pushes them to all your devices. When you change a document on any device, iCloud automatically pushes the changes to all your devices. Apple’s Pages®, Numbers® and Keynote® apps already take advantage of iCloud Storage. Users get up to 5GB of free storage for their mail, documents and backup—which is more amazing since the storage for music, apps and books purchased from Apple, and the storage required by Photo Stream doesn’t count towards this 5GB total. Users will be able to buy even more storage, with details announced when iCloud ships this fall.
iCloud’s innovative Photo Stream service automatically uploads the photos you take or import on any of your devices and wirelessly pushes them to all your devices and computers. So you can use your iPhone to take a dozen photos of your friends during the afternoon baseball game, and they will be ready to share with the entire group on your iPad (or even Apple TV®) when you return home. Photo Stream is built into the photo apps on all iOS devices, iPhoto® on Macs, and saved to the Pictures folder on a PC. To save space, the last 1,000 photos are stored on each device so they can be viewed or moved to an album to save forever. Macs and PCs will store all photos from the Photo Stream, since they have more storage. iCloud will store each photo in the cloud for 30 days, which is plenty of time to connect your devices to iCloud and automatically download the latest photos from Photo Stream via Wi-Fi.
iTunes® in the Cloud lets you download your previously purchased iTunes music to all your iOS devices at no additional cost, and new music purchases can be downloaded automatically to all your devices. In addition, music not purchased from iTunes can gain the same benefits by using iTunes Match, a service that replaces your music with a 256 kbps AAC DRM-free version if we can match it to the over 18 million songs in the iTunes Store®, it makes the matched music available in minutes (instead of weeks to upload your entire music library), and uploads only the small percentage of unmatched music. iTunes Match will be available this fall for a $24.99 annual fee. Apple today is releasing a free beta version of iTunes in the Cloud, without iTunes Match, for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users running iOS 4.3. iTunes in the Cloud will support all iPhones that iOS 5 supports this fall.

Apple is ready to ramp iCloud in its three data centers, including the third recently completed in Maiden, NC. Apple has invested over $500 million in its Maiden data center to support the expected customer demand for the free iCloud services.

Pricing & Availability
The iCloud beta and Cloud Storage APIs are available immediately to iOS and Mac Developer Program members at developer.apple.com. iCloud will be available this fall concurrent with iOS 5. Users can sign up for iCloud for free on an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch running iOS 5 or a Mac running Mac OS® X Lion with a valid Apple ID. iCloud includes 5GB of free cloud storage for Mail, Document Storage and Backup. Purchased music, apps, books and Photo Stream do not count against the storage limit. iTunes Match will be available for $24.99 per year (US only).

iTunes in the Cloud is available today in the US and requires iTunes 10.3 and iOS 4.3.3. Automatic download of apps and books is available today. Using iCloud with a PC requires Windows Vista or Windows 7; Outlook 2010 or 2007 is recommended for accessing contacts and calendars.

Here's to hoping iCloud delivers as promised!

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Screen Sharing and Online Meetings

2011-06-03T08:11:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been on the phone with a client trying to explain to that person something that you are looking at on your computer screen? Have you ever wanted to share your computer screen with someone else? There are lots of services out there for this purpose. The biggest problem for me has always been the substantial cost for something that I have infrequent need for.

Thanks to Lee Rosen at Divorce Discourse I have been introduced to a great screen sharing product called Join Me. There is a free version and a Pro version ($29 per month). I have tested the free product, and I love it. Once your invited guest, or guests, joins you, you can text chat with that person, conduct a telephone conference call via an assigned phone number, and let them view your computer screen.

I like this product. Click here to check it out.

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In Defense of Twitter

2011-06-02T07:28:00.002-07:00

Yes I do spend a lot of time slamming twitter and facebook, particularly when it comes to social media and marketing. There are others who swear by the validity of these technologies. One fan of twitter (whom I have a great deal of respect for) is Carolyn Elefant. She has recently written on her belief in twitter.

According to Carolyn:

Twitter has morphed from a platform for sharing status updates (what are you doing now?) to serving many other functions: a traffic-driver for blogs and other online publications, a source of current events, a way for users to make themselves indispensable to followers with interesting news tidbits and a way to keep in touch with, or joke around with friends.

For this particular article Carolyn focuses on using twitter at professional conferences. She adds:

[G]etting the most out of conferences requires advance work (finding out who will be at the conference and setting up meetings) and follow-up (sending "nice to meet you cards or emails" and keeping in touch). Moreover, if I'm able to speak at the conference, I'm likely to have more visibility and make more contacts than if I simply attend. Pre and post-conference legwork can be time consuming, while snagging a speaking engagement is a crap-shoot. But Twitter can help with all of these activities

Perhaps I am being overly critical. Please click here to read Carolyn's article, and to get a positive perspective on social media.

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In

2011-06-02T07:28:00.001-07:00

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HTC Tablet Hits The Market

2011-05-26T08:19:00.000-07:00

HTC, a power-hitting smart phone innovator has finally entered the tablet market. The company's HTC Flyer is available at Best Buy for $499.

Todd Haselton has an in depth review of the Flyer at the Boy Genius Report. Click here to read all about it.

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Mobile Marketing

2011-05-23T08:18:00.000-07:00

What is mobile marketing? It is marketing strategies developed for specific delivery via smart phones and other mobile devices (such as iPads and tablets). It is different than regular marketing because the formatting of the content has to be modified to fit on mobile devices, and because the content has to provide fast and easy delivery and content for on the go mobile viewers.

Maria Elena Duron, is managing editor of the Personal Branding Blog and is also the CEO (chief engagement officer) of buzz2bucks.com – a word of mouth marketing firm. She helps create connection, credibility, community and cha-ching through mobile marketing and social commerce around your brand. According to Maria:

Mobile is an area of fascination for many advertisers and marketers, partially because it is confounding. Ideally, mobile commerce is more efficient than search because its targeted consumers aren’t those sitting on couches and thinking about purchasing something. Instead, the campaigns are focused on consumers who are out in the real world and are very open to suggestions on where to go next.
Mainstream mobile marketing

While mobile marketing is going mainstream, mobile commerce is also expected to increase steadily to an estimated $630B by the year 2014. Mobile entertainment in the form of wallpapers, iTV, and games will continue to be the biggest application for purchasing and selling through mobile phones.photo

Her article offers 5 mobile marketing strategies:

1. Search is king. For any brand being visible is important – it is vital that your customers find you. This also translates to search and other related services like Google Maps and the social platforms you choose to publish a profile. If you have a mobile profile site be sure it’s listed so that you are visible even with mobile searches.

2. Social media on the go! Social media goes beyond personal computers. Participants view social media as real time and as an asynchronous channel of communication. Connect through social media sites and highlight your unique brand attributes, personally, not just what you do for your company.

3. Location based services are focused on major players like FourSquare, Facebook and Gowalla. Don’t forget other related services such as Google Maps and Yelp. You need to think beyond Foursquare “mayorships” and see whose checked in. People still delight when they hear their name, when they’re valued and when they’re recognized.

4. SMS continues to grow! Text messaging has already extended its reach. Even with SMART phones we now see the ability to “ignore call with text”. So, what is your outgoing text saying about your personal brand?

5. The smartphone is where the fight for attention is moving. This is where consumers examine what the competition has to offer, where they find their news and where they stay ultimately connected. As mobile devices are becoming prevalent as a search method and there is a greater adoption of web-enabled devices, it is vital that personal brands engage their targeted audience in this platform.

Please click here to read the original article.

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Advertising on Google and Facebook

2011-05-17T07:59:00.001-07:00

Lee Rosen provides a useful article about advertising on Google and Facebook. According to Lee:

Google gives you the tools you need to advertise to people looking for information about a certain “what.” In our case, the “what” is divorce information. We can reach them by running our ads on the keywords they search

Regarding facebook Lee explains:

Facebook, on the other hand, helps us read the “who.” We aren’t able to use search because Facebook users generally aren’t searching. They’re on Facebook being social, talking, and interacting with their friends. In the case of Facebook, we’ve got to decide “who” we want to reach.

Please click here for Lee's original article.

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Social Media Use Up With Lawyers

2011-05-09T08:48:00.000-07:00

A great article comes to us from the online edition of Columbus Business First. According to the article "in 2008, 15 percent of attorneys surveyed by the American Bar Association used social media as part of their practice. By 2009 that grew to 43 percent. In 2010, it jumped to 56 percent." The ABA survey also found that 76% of lawyers in 2010 were using smartphones, compared to 60% in 2009; and that 71% of lawyers were using smartphones in the courtroom (for example to access the internet), compared to 60% in 2009.

The article also cites a technology survey conducted by ALM Legal Intelligance. According to that survey "of the 50 million users on LinkedIn, 1.5 million are lawyers..."

Please click here to read the original article.

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Securing referrals to grow your practice

2011-05-05T08:42:00.000-07:00

Carolyn Mumby is a lawyer in Lincolnshire, UK. She also publishes a blog on lawyer marketing. She recently published an article on securing referrals. It is packed with good advice. Her tips include:

1. Establish a register for new instructions & the source
2. Ensure referrals are reciprocated
3. Organisations not offering referrals should be excluded from corporate hospitality
4. Register details should be discussed at each management meeting
5. Ensure clients who refer are rewarded or at least acknowledged
6. Make sure referrers have the firm’s literature
7. Ensure organisations who may possibly refer are aware of your full range of services.
8. Build relationships and don’t forget to ask for referrals.

There is much more in this great read. Please click here for the original post.

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LinkedIn Recommendations Count

2011-05-05T08:35:00.000-07:00

At the Grow My Law Firm blog Christine Pilch offers her view on the importance of recommendations in a LinkedIn profile.

According to Christine:

Your LinkedIn profile is available 24/7 for the whole world to review. It provides an opportunity to put your best foot forward and reveal all the wonderful things that you can do for a prospective employer or client.

She continues:

There are several reasons to get recommendations on your LinkedIn profile:
Helps substantiate all the wonderful things you're claiming about yourself;
Proves that you're good enough for people to put their own reputation on the line;
Recommendations are often a point of distinction, since most people on LinkedIn don't bother.

Makes sense to me. Please click here to read Christine's original post.

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Proof That Twitter Does Not Work For Marketing

2011-04-29T08:00:00.000-07:00

Mark Herrmann writes the Inside Straight column at the Above The Law blog. He posed this question: "As measured by my readership numbers, do more tweets yield more page views?" His conclusion: No.

In his column he ran three articles as samples. Each article generated more than 12,000 page views via the blog. He then tweeted about each article. The results:

Three people tweeted about the first article. Zero people tweeted about the second article. Twelve people tweeted about the third article.

His conclusion: twitter is not driving traffic his way. Please click here to view Mark's original article.

Now of course the twitterati will say statistics mean nothing, traffic means nothing. That twitter must considered but one component of your overall social networking model. Yea, yea, yea... To that I say: Tweeting takes time. Every marketing activity can be measured. If the activity does not produce a measurable result on its own, it isn't worth the time. And I don't give a hoot of credibility to the idea of looking at the bigger picture. That argument does not hold water. If it works at all, it works as a standalone. If there is no measurable return as a stand alone, then it does not work as a component of a bigger social networking plan (let us not forget the old days of Yellow Pages where the sales people always said buying a bigger, more expensive ad will produce the results you are not getting from your current ad).

My opinion: Tweet for fun, but don't invest a significant amount of time tweeting for business.

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Double Your Monitors with Windows 7

2011-04-27T07:48:00.000-07:00

You have one monitor, and two applications open. You have two monitors, and four applications open. How can you have all of the applications open and equally viewable, i.e., how do you eliminate one application laying on top of another?

If you are running Windows 7, there is a utility called Snap that solves this problem for you. Simply click on one of the applications and drag it to the left or right edge of your screen. Shazam! It resizes to fit half the screen. Then drag the second app to the opposite edge of the screen. Shazam! It resizes to fit the opposite half of the screen. Then you are running both apps side by side, and you eliminate the need to go back and forth minimizing and maximizing the applications.

For users with multiple monitors the Snap dragging option can sometimes malfunction. Not to worry. There is a keyboard shortcut that solves the problem. Simply click on the field of one application, then click the Windows button and the right or left arrow. Shazam! The application moves to the right or left half of the screen. Do it for your other applications and you can be viewing four open applications simultaneously on your two monitors.

Snap is a great utility, and the ability to fully see multiple screens will dramatically increase your productivity. Good stuff!

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Deposition App for iPad

2011-04-26T08:14:00.000-07:00

Okay, it is getting to be a regular thing around here: Me finding a great tech review on Ted Brooks's Court Technology and Trial Presentation Blawg. I can't help it! He writes good stuff on timely topics, and he has technical insight that I don't possess; so I must lean on him! This time around it is Ted's review of Deponent, an iPad app for preparing and taking depositions.

As Ted describes it:

The Deponent App, developed by Majority Opinion, is an iPad app designed to help legal professionals draft questions to prepare for a deposition. You can select from over 150 questions organized by category, such as Admonitions or Expert Qualifications, arrange their order of presentation, and customize the text for your witnesses. Each question can also be linked to an exhibit. You can modify the included questions and categories as well as create your own.

Ted's review goes on to fully analyze the benefits and drawbacks of the app, and gives us some screen shots to consider. Seems to me that this app has a lot of potential. Click here to read Ted's original review.

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HP Slate 500 Review

2011-04-21T07:50:00.000-07:00

Ted Brooks publishes the Trial Technology Blo g. A great site, that you should check out. Recently he posted his review of the HP Slate 500 tablet. According to Ted:

Although the iPad has a strong foothold in the tablet market, its shortcomings are well-documented. Simple things such as the lack of a USB port, inability to play Flash movies, less-than-desirable Microsoft Office file handling, and a general sense of incompatibility in an otherwise PC-dominant world, may be what other tablets need to get into the game.

According to Ted all of these deficiencies are overcome in the Slate 500. There are also many other features that distinguish the Slate from the iPad. The article is worth a read if you are considering an alternative to the iPad.

Please click here to read Ted's original post.

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Webinars

2011-04-13T07:45:00.000-07:00

Six or seven years ago I offered free family law consultations over the internet. I had an account with GoToMeeting.com. The guest would log in to the presentation via GoToMeeting so that he or she could watch the Powerpoint slide show that I had created. At the same time the guests would call in to a conference call phone number provided by GoToMeeting. Then I could interact in real time with the guests over the phone.

I advertised these webinars aggressively on our website. I spent A LOT of time creating a very informative Powerpoint show. And, the webinar was free. There was only one problem. No one showed up! That's not true. In the six months that I offered the consultations I had four guests. None of them ended up hiring me. I pulled the plug on the project. The first reason being the lack of an audience. The second reason was the high cost of the GoToMeeting subscription. Something like $495 per year at the time.

One of the problems could have been the newness of the idea. I believe I was the first family law lawyer in the country at that time to offer live consultations over the internet. GoToMeeting was a brand new technology, and consumers may not have been comfortable with it. Plus, there was no actual face time. Skype didn't have video yet, nor did GoToMeeting. I think the fact that the viewers could not see my face compromised the effectiveness of the experience.

Time passes, and technology improves. In a recent blog article Larry Bodine reintroduces the idea of webinars as a lawyer marketing tool. According to Bodine, "More law firms are offering Web seminars as a way to reach a large number of people because no one – neither the presenters nor the attendees – is required to travel to see the program." He offers seven reasons why webinars are good:

You'll get new files from clients without needing to leave the office.
Prospective clients -- whom you could not otherwise reach -- will call you after they have seen your slides and heard you speak.
Eliminate the expense and hassle of travel.
Save your valuable time. You will focus on your presentation, not the room setup.
You'll expand your geographic footprint and reach clients and potential clients across a wide area.
Online seminars position you as being tech-savvy.
You'll get a list of email addresses, mailing addresses and phone numbers of all the attendees for follow-up contact.

It is an interesting read, and a fresh look at a not new technique. Please click here to read Larry's original article.

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A Day In The Life Of An iPad Lawyer

2011-04-12T08:16:00.000-07:00

Josh Barrett has written a fun article about a day in his lawyer life with his iPad. For example:

3:00 p.m. Work Remotely. Rather than drive back across town to the office, I settle in for a few more hours of work at the local coffee shop (thanks, free Wi-Fi). With my headphones on and Pandora running in the background, I get a bunch of stuff done:
I use Documents To Go Premium to review and revise a slew of Word documents and Excel spreadsheets in their native formats.
An e-mail from an associate has a memorandum and supporting research in separate PDF attachments. The tabbed viewing in iAnnotate allows me to have all of them open at once and quickly switch among them. I make a few notes using the annotation tools, knowing that my marks will display perfectly in the desktop version of Acrobat. I pull up some related statutes in Fastcase and consult a relevant treatise on Westlaw via the Web.
I draft some correspondence in PlainText, sending it off to my assistant for formatting as I work. PlainText’s integration with the shortcuts I’ve set up in TextExpander Touch saves me many keystrokes—expanding a few characters into frequently used words, phrases, sentences or even paragraphs.
I use Keynote to assemble slides for an upcoming client presentation, referring to an outline I made previously in Outliner. Keynote’s output is superb and the iPad’s touch interface is a natural for this design type work. Since the iPad connects easily to a projector, the laptop will stay back at the office for this presentation.
An e-mail from one of my partners contains one of his famous mindmaps. I use iThoughts HD to open, edit and send it back to him.
I use Web tools like 37signals’ Highrise and Backpack to manage my client development and to-do items. These tools work great in the iPad version of Safari or in apps like Satchel.

Please click here to take a look at the entire article for more real world iPad tips.

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Consumer Reports Rates The Tablets

2011-04-06T09:31:00.000-07:00

Consumer Reports has come out with its ranking of the top 5 tablet computers. At the top of the list is the Apple iPad 2, followed by the original iPad, the Motorola Xoom, the Samsung Galaxy Tab, and then everything else. CNNMoney.com has a nice article summarizing the rankings, please click here to take a look.

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Dropbox Review

2011-04-06T09:16:00.000-07:00

Attorney Justin Kahn offers up a concise and practical review of the Dropbox app for iPad on the iPad Notebook blog.

According to Justin:

As an iPad user, one of the things that may slow you down is a cable. You may feel like you have documents on your computer that you NEED to have on your iPad. To get them on the iPad, you think you need to sync with iTunes with the white wire.

Enter Dropbox. Dropbox is a method via software to sync folders and files via the cloud in a relatively easy way. Let’s say you have a file on your desktop you are working on and want to continue working on it at lunch via your iPad. Without a cable or emailing yourself the document, it can become complicated.

I use Dropbox, and love it. To learn more about the app please click here to read Justin's original post.

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The Value of Spending Time at the Courthouse

2011-04-06T09:07:00.000-07:00

I confess to being a courthouse junkie. I love the energy of the courthouse. I love the formality and ritual of trials. I love the opportunity to network with other lawyers, and to observe them in action. For me a big part of being a lawyer is being at court.

Lee Rosen shares my thinking. At his Divorce Discourse blog he makes a case for getting to the courthouse. Here are his top ten reasons for getting to court early.

1. You can talk to other family law attorneys, build your relationships, and generate referrals of conflicts, mediations, etc....
2. You can hang out with the judges in chambers...
3. You can get to know the clerks and bailiffs...
4. You can get comfortable with the setting...
5. You can talk to your clients and help them get comfortable...
6. You can meet other lawyers from other practice areas...
7. You can answer questions for people in the hall...
8. You can review your notes and think about your case...
9. You can avoid being smushed in the elevator with smelly criminal defendants...
10. You can ask questions of other lawyers, listen to their conversations, and learn a thing or two...

Lee elaborates on each of these points in his article. Please click here to read the original piece.

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Creativity In Law Firm Marketing

2011-03-31T08:35:00.000-07:00

Jay Fleischman runs a nice little blog entitled Legal Practice Pro. Take a visit as there is a lot of great stuff regarding law firm management and marketing (particularly for bankruptcy lawyers, solos and small firms).

He recently posted an article on the need for creativity in law firm marketing. According to Fleischman:

Online legal marketing involves the creation of content that attracts potential clients and moves them from stranger to paying client. In order to accomplish this goal, your content needs to evoke the same reaction as a piece of art. Your message needs to make the visitor stand up and take notice, to cause the casual onlooker to stop and think twice.

How do we, as lawyers, accomplish that? By tapping our creativity and developing it. We tell stories to our readers to make a point, share tales of people who were in the same situation but have now come out the other side. In the office we build rapport by engaging in what the uninformed would call “idle chatter” but you already know is carefully constructed conversation designed to find that common bond we all seek in business and in our personal lives.

It is a good read with a valid point. Please click here to read the entire article.

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Skype For Client Meetings

2011-03-25T08:48:00.000-07:00

At the Nolo's Legal Marketing Blawg Carolyn Elefant posts a great article about using Skype to meet with clients.

Meeting with clients online through Skype is a great way to give your firm a competitive advantage. For starters, it's a neat use of technology that is bound to stand out. Second - and somewhat surprisingly, Skype is a less-intimidating way to use technology than, for example, requiring a client to log-in to a site and fill out a form. Many otherwise tech-challenged folks (my parents, for example, come to mind) are being introduced to Skype as a way to keep in touch with family members who may be stationed overseas or who've moved to other parts of the country. As a result, they're more comfortable with Skype than they might be with a conventional online portal. Third, Skype adds credibility to the attorney- client relationship and builds trust. Through Skype, clients can see that they are meeting with an actual lawyer. Though of course it's conceivable that a charlatan could hire an actor to pose as a lawyer and collect payments and run, it's far more difficult to set up this type of ruse than, for example, to create an anonymous website. Finally, since most computers have video recording built in, you could (with a client's consent of course) record Skype calls to avoid any future misunderstanding about what's been said.

Carolyn continues:

In addition to holding client meetings on line, lawyers can also use Skype to set up a proverbial "walk-in shingle" on the main street that is the world wide web. As with any walk in arrangement, a client could just come in and wait, first-come, first-served for a turn. Or a lawyer could use some of the online scheduling tools that I discussed here and ask clients to make an appointment. Moreover, Skype can facilitate the kind of after-hours availability that is convenient to clients who work 9-5. Though many lawyers may not want to cut into their weekend to trek to the office to meet clients, through Skype, they can meet at a home office.

This is a really good article. Click here to read the whole thing.

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One Lawyer Extols the Virtues of Google Calendar

2011-03-25T08:35:00.001-07:00

At his The Greatest American Lawyer blog attorney Enrico Schaefer gives heart praise to Google Calendar. According to Schaefer Google Calendar:

Performs all of the calendaring items that lawyers need each and every day.
Group calendaring which allows me to see the schedules of other people on our team, both inside and outside the office network.
Universal access to the calendar from whatever computer or device I am working on with real-time updates including all of the various computers that I work from as well as my iPhone.
Reminders by pop-up, email and text message on intervals that I choose.
No requirements for synchronization which requires my main computer to be networked, by various calendaring software to be running or any other limitations on real-time data.

Please click here for the original post.

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Effective Use of Paralegals

2011-03-16T08:37:00.000-07:00

University of Missouri at Kansas City School of Law professor Barbara Glesner Fines has published her article "Effectively Using Paralegals in Family Law Practice" in the American Journal of Family Law. Here is the abstract:

Non-lawyer assistants are critical to a family law practice: whether secretaries, document managers, investigators, or bookkeepers, attorneys who structure their practice to include extensive use of these non-lawyer assistants must remember three basic rules: keep control; set clear policies; and educate both your assistants and your clients about limits. Finally, train the assistant and revisit that training regularly. Having these policies and asking assistants to read them is not adequate training. Regular training is necessary to maintain competence. This training should be grounded in the discrete problems that arise in your office. A medical model of “grand rounds” would be an effective training mechanism for insuring that policies are understood and kept current. With the demands of efficiency required of today’s attorney, proper use of non-lawyer assistants is, for most attorneys, a necessity of practice. With proper attention to supervision, clear policies, and regular training, these assistants can make an attorney’s practice more efficient and of a higher quality overall.

Please click here to read the entire article.

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Law Firms Utilizing QR Codes For Marketing

2011-03-15T08:25:00.000-07:00

QR codes. I am sure you have seen them. Bar code like graphics that you scan with your smartphone to open up more information (such as ads, pricing, web sites, etc.).

QR codes are another way you can use technology to reach your clients and potential clients according to Donna Erickson, who posts a good article about this technology on the website for her firm, Erickson Marketing.

According to Erickson:

QR codes are read by a Smartphone equipped with a compatible code reader. A few examples of how law firms may want to use QR codes today include:

Open a URL to:

Web site
Video
Article
Alert or newsletter
Promote an event
New service area (e.g. practice areas or class action law suit) for target markets

Open a Vcard or otherwise provide contact information (saving the user time and eliminating possible errors in rekeying)
A message
Dial a number

She also suggests:

Law firms may want to print QR codes on:

Business cards to electronically transfer the attorney's contact information and the firm's Web site URL
Event invitations / materials / lanyards to direct the user to an electronic version of the material, or additional information
Web sites, micro sites, blogs to open a browser directly to that page
Printed materials, opening a browser to an online version of

Attorney profile
Practice area description
Directories
Articles, alerts, newsletters

Advertisements opening a browser to additional related information

Erickson also explains the process for creating QR codes. Please click here to read the entire article.

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Blogs and Other Marketing Statistics

2011-03-14T09:01:00.000-07:00

At his LawMarketing Blog Larry Bodine posts a great article on the effectiveness of blogs and other marketing strategies. In his article Larry relies on research from HubSpot to show that blogs in particular are a legitimate source of new clients. Also proving its worth according to Bodine are social networking sites, with LinkedIn leading the way.

Marketing money wasters according to Bodine: pay per click, direct mail, and telemarketing.

Please click here for the original article.

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Know the Rules for Tech-Based Evidence

2011-02-10T07:57:00.000-08:00

On Law.com Richard Kellner and Michael Storti post a great article on the admissibility of tech based evidence.

A picture is worth a thousand words. With stunning advances in technology, lawyers can now use videos, computer-generated images, and simulations to effectively convey an astonishing amount of information to jurors in a very short period of time. If properly used, lawyers can metaphorically transport jurors back in time to observe the key events that precipitated the lawsuit. Accordingly, technology-based evidence is now an indispensable weapon in the arsenal of most trial attorneys.

While technology-based evidence can be mesmerizing and often dominates pre-trial preparation, it is essential for litigators to fully understand the evidentiary hurdles that must be overcome before technology-based evidence is used or admitted into evidence at trial. Nothing is worse than painstakingly preparing technology-based evidence, only to have it excluded by the judge at trial.
UTILIZING TECHNOLOGY TO HELP PROVE YOUR CASE
With the proliferation of televisions shows like CSI, jurors now expect that the presentation of evidence will integrate technology -- providing visual stimulation that contrasts with the doldrums of evidence customarily presented through documents or live testimony. From a practical standpoint, it is often difficult for jurors to digest and recollect all of the important evidence, especially when it is complex and voluminous. For summations or expert testimony, there is absolutely no substitute for technological-based presentations that provide the jury with an expeditious recounting of the pertinent evidence.
While technology can greatly help enhance a case, it is not without its faults. If overused, jurors can experience technology overload -- focusing on the "show" rather than the evidence. Strategically, a trial attorney needs to utilize technology for a specific purpose and not just entertain the jury.
It is critical to realize that courtrooms are not immune to Murphy's Law. There is nothing worse than have technical "complications" in the presentation of evidence. Technical glitches are at best distracting. At worst, they can destroy an attorney's or witness's credibility with the jury. Therefore, it is essential that all technological evidence be thoroughly tested prior to trial, and backup plans be made in the event the technology fails. In this regard, it is imperative that a professional be in the courtroom who has experience handling technology in a trial setting.
ADMISSIBILITY STANDARDS FOR TECHNOLOGY-BASED EVIDENCE
Technology-based evidence is subject to the same evidentiary hurdles as traditional demonstrative evidence. Different evidentiary rules are implicated depending on whether the evidence itself is electronic or whether technological means are used to display non-electronic evidence. If the underlying evidence is a hard copy, such as a photograph, then there are no impediments to use technology to display the evidence as long as a proper foundation has been laid.
Demonstrative technology-based evidence is as admissible as the evidence it seeks to illustrate. Visual evidence can be used to illustrate a witness' testimony if it will help the jury understand the testimony and it is a fair representation of the evidence it purports to illustrate. United States v. Mohney, 949 F.2d 1397, 1405 (6th Cir. 1991). Thus, accurate computer-generated models or diagrams can be used to illustrate a witness's testimony. United States v. Beckford, 211 F.3d 1266 (4th Cir. 2000). (Beckford allows computer-generated diagrams as a demonstrative aid to help illustrate investigative findings concerning observations of bullets, bullet holes, and bullet path angles.)
Where computer animations are used to illustrate a witness's testimony, the jury should be instructed that the simulation is not a reenactment of the event. Hinkle v. City of Clarksburg, WV, 81 F.3d 416, 427 (4th Cir. 1996); Datskow v. Teledyne Continental Motors Aircraft Products, a Div. of Teledyne Indus., Inc. 826 F.Supp. 677, 685--686 (WD NY 1993) (Here, the court instructed the jury that computer-generated animation of fire in an airplane engine was "simply computer pictures" to help them understand [the expert's] opinion.) The proper foundation for such evidence is established by demonstrating that the demonstrative evidence is a fair representation of the underlying admitted evidence. People v. Ham, 7 Cal.App.3d 768, 780 (1970). Ultimately, the court has discretion to exclude this evidence if it believes that the probative value is outweighed by the risks of juror confusion. California Evidence Code §352.
It cannot be stressed enough that the technology-based demonstrative aids accurately reflect the testimony -- since this is the most likely ground for exclusion.
If one is using computer output as the substantive evidence rather than to simply illustrate the expert's testimony, there are greater implications for admitting the evidence. In Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 509 U.S. 579, 589 (1993), the Supreme Court interpreted Federal Rule of Evidence 702. Here, the court said that "under the Rules the trial judge must ensure that any and all scientific testimony or evidence is not only relevant, but reliable." Daubert focuses on objective criteria that may provide a safeguard against the admission of evidence that has customarily been received, but may not have a scientific basis.
The factors laid out in Daubert that are used for determining whether a technique is scientific knowledge that will assist the trier of fact are: 1) whether it can be (and has been) tested; 2) whether the theory or technique has been subjected to peer review and publication; 3) the known or potential rate of error in the case of a particular scientific technique; and 4) general acceptance. The court further stated that "[t]he inquiry envisioned by Rule 702, we emphasize, is a flexible one. Its overarching subject is the scientific validity and thus the evidentiary relevance and reliability of the principles that underlie a proposed submission."
Sections 720 and 801 of the California Evidence Code are equivalent to Federal Rule 702. See People v. Leahy, 8 Cal.4th 587, 598 (1994) ("Sections 720 and 801, in combination, seem the functional equivalent of Federal Rules of Evidence, rule 702, as discussed in Daubert."). Under §801 and the Kelly/Frye test, the admissibility of the evidence will turn on whether it is "generally accepted by experts in the field."
Opposing counsel may argue that the evidence, though relevant, should be excluded because it poses a high risk of unfair prejudice under Federal Rules of Evidence Section 403 or California Evidence Code §352. As a result, it is advisable to have the judge pre-rule on the admissibility of graphic-animation evidence. The court will weigh the probative value or logical force of the evidence and compare it to any number of dangers or costs that might be created if the evidence is admitted, such as unfair prejudice or misleading the jury.
Strategically, the most prevalent use of demonstrative evidence is through expert testimony, which if properly presented can substantially enhance the expert's credibility before the jury. For reconstructions of an accident or event in dispute, the reconstruction needs to be made under "substantially similar" conditions to those existing at the time of the event. People v. Boyd, 222 Cal.App.3d 541, 565-66 (1990); Grimshaw v. Ford Motor Co., 119 Cal.App.3d 757, 791 (1981). In all circumstances, when there is any doubt regarding the admissibility of the evidence, the litigator should obtain a pre-ruling from the court regarding the admissibility of the demonstrative evidence.
Technology-based demonstrative evidence is now universally recognized as an indispensable tool for litigators in the modern age. Just like everything else in trial, the key to the use of technology-based demonstrative evidence is preparation, preparation, preparation.

Please click here for the original article.

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Tips For Buying A Tablet

2011-02-02T07:34:00.000-08:00

Considering buying a tablet computer? You are not alone. In fact, it is without a doubt the hottest selling computer platform. Thanks to Rick Georges at his futurelawyer blog, here are some thoughts to keep in mind as you go shopping.

While I have been buying and testing tablet computers, both from a love of gadget testing, and to help out you tech challenged lawyers who are being bombarded with ads for tablet computers, I have come to a bright line conclusion; if you think you will want a tablet, Rule Number One is never to buy one with a resistive touch screen. Run, don't walk, away, if an ad or a Seller identifies the screen as resistive, or if they won't tell you what kind of screen it is. Also, stay away from the 7 inch form factor. The screen is just too small for a decent video experience. Get an Apple iPad (9 inches), or a Gtablet (10 inches) or the upcoming Motorola Xoom (also 10 inches). All have capacitive touch screens, fast processors, and the latest tablet OS. The GTablet was my choice, because it was less than $400, and I like playing with and loading OS builds; but, it has a lousy interface out of the box, and requires a tech mindset and some willingness to learn about how to flash ROMs and to sideload and install software. However, it has a Tegra dual core processor, and a big, beautiful screen, and runs Android Froyo 2.2. I expect that today's announcement of Gingerbread (Android 3.0) will prompt hackers to get a build that I can install on it later as well. But, again, Rule Number One, You DO NOT WANT a resistive touch screen. It is a real pain to have to press down on a touch screen to get it to recognize a finger press. The tablets, like [certain ones at] Buy.com are cheap ($99 to $199), but they are, in my humble opinion, unusable. In the final analysis, for real work, I am sticking with my Dell Inspiron Duo, which has a real keyboard, and runs Windows 7, for all of my law firm software, However, the GTablet has earned a place in my bag, and I carry it around for fast consumption of web, email, and video. It also works fine when I am in a supine position in a LaZBoy recliner. I refuse to divulge how much time is spent in that activity.

Please click here for the original article.

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Groupon Primer

2011-02-01T07:35:00.000-08:00

At her Nolo's Legal Marketing Blawg Carolyn Elefant presents a great primer

Can Groupon, a website that leverages the concept of collective bargaining power to offer daily deals on local businesses work for lawyers? To date, I've seen at least one law firm that gave Groupon a try, though no word on the results of the firm's participation. Meanwhile, the North Carolina Ethics Committee recently opined that Groupon violates state bar rules' prohibiting fee splitting. As I'll discuss in this post, though I don't think Groupon is a particularly promising way for law firms to market a practice (in addition to ethics hurdles, it's also a costly proposition), there is one way that lawyers can benefit from Groupon: as buyers of Groupon discounted servicers, rather than providers of it.

What is Groupon?
By now, most lawyers are probably familiar with Groupon, an online company that offers daily deals at local businesses. One of Wall Street's current darlings, it's been described somewhat derisively as darlings of the tech industry;a modern version of an online coupon book. Basically, Groupon teams up with local businesses who provide a coupon for 50 to 70 percent off a product or service. Groupon emails the deal to registered users, and if enough users commit to purchasing the coupon, the deal goes through. Groupon and the participating business split the proceeds.

How Groupon Benefits Non-Lawyer Businesses
As described here, retailers benefit from Groupon in a number of ways. First, the coupons bring business in the door, and as a result, customers are likely to spend more than just the face value of the Groupon. Second, first time customers may either become repeat customers or refer friends, so the loss on the first, discounted sale can yield future sales down in the line.

Groupon also spares retailers up-front costs of advertising. Though to be sure, Groupon ain't free, the money comes from sale proceeds and not out-of-pocket. If a deal doesn't go through due to insufficient numbers, retailers don't pay. Moreover, even if consumers don't buy a Groupon when offered, they may learn about your business and patronize it even without the discount. I know that I've learned about a couple of activities in my area through Groupon that I later visited even though I never thought to purchase a coupon at the time because I didn't have an immediate use for it.

Still, even though Groupon can benefit businesses, it can also be a big bust. That's because, as discussed here, not all consumers spend in excess of the Groupon or return after having used the coupon. Most importantly - Groupon can be costly to providers. Let's say that a restauranteur offers a $50 meal for $25 and 100 people accept the offer. That's $2500 in proceeds (100 x $25), but the restauranteur only receives $1250. That means the restaurant is obligated to provide $5000 in services for $1250.

A Harvard Business School paper (December 2010) offers a more extensive cost-benefit of Groupon, summarized here. What's interesting is the study found that discount vouchers work better for some businesses than others. Merchants will low cost of goods and highly perishable products - like restaurants, spas, gyms and hotels - fall within that category - every table or room unfilled is lost revenue that can't be recovered. By contrast, retailers of clothing or manufactured products can hold items for future sales, so the marginal business that other providers gain from Groupon is not as urgent for them.

How Can Groupon Work for Lawyers
Selling legal services via Groupon poses somewhat more of a challenge than other items. Since customers have to pre-pay for Groupons, they'll want to purchase a service that they need or might like to use. So whereas a spa can sell a $200 Groupon for a $500 "Day of Beauty," since customers may want to sample that type of service, a customers are unlikely to pay $200 for "$500 Worth of Legal Services" unless they have an immediate need for legal services. Second, most of the Groupons that come to my box are priced so that recipients can redeem the groupon for a full product without spending more than face value. For example, if I buy a $10 Groupon for "$20 worth of food at XYZ Restaurant," it's usually enough for at least one, if not two meals. That's what makes Groupons so appealing. By contrast, if a ten dollar Groupon offered $20 of food at a five-star gourmet restaurant, I doubt that many people would buy it, because they'd have to spend more money at the restaurant in order to get the value of the Groupon.

It's that dynamic that makes Groupons less appealing for legal services. When customers buy a $200 Groupon, they want to receive the full service in return. Presumably, that is why this lawyer anticipated the possibility that a will might not be appropriate, and offered prospective Groupon purchasers a discount on other services. However, consumers might not want to purchase the more expensive service (or simply, might not have the money for it), and might demand a refund of the Groupon instead.

In addition, a Groupon is a form of advance payment for a service. If a lawyer offers a $100 incorporation on Groupon, and fifty clients accept the deal, the lawyer receives $2500 (fifty percent of the $5000 total) once the deal goes through. However, clients might not use the service for another three months. Would that require the lawyer to place the funds in a trust account?

The North Carolina ethics committee identified another ethics problem with Groupon, characterizing it as prohibited fee splitting Consumers pay one price for Groupon and lawyers subsequently split that fee with Groupon, a non-lawyer provider, a practice that violates North Carolina's rules. Though personally, I don't find much mischief in fee splitting as a way to spread advertising costs, I can easily see many other bars taking the same approach.

Though to date, North Carolina is the only disciplinary body that has expressly addressed Groupon, others have ruled on the ethics of other types of discounted services. A number of state disciplinary bodies don't approve of the practice, finding that discounts may be deceptive (for example, offering a "free" consult when a lawyer never charges for consults anyway), or can give rise to a conflict of interest or constitute a "fee" in exchange for referral if given to a third party, like a realtor, for distribution.

So What's the Bottom Line on Groupon for Lawyers?
Personally, I don't really see how Groupon can prove profitable for lawyers. Unless lawyers can offer a discrete service at a discounted rate, it seems that lawyers are bound to lose money. More importantly, unlike restaurants or hotels, will Groupons yield referrals or repeat business for lawyers? I'm skeptical, though if your experience differs, please share it in the comments. Finally, the potential ethical pitfalls associated with Groupon further diminish its desirability for lawyers.

Still - there is one terrific way for you or your law firm to use Groupon: as purchasers, rather than providers of Groupon deals. You can buy Groupons as thank-you gifts for clients and referral sources. Or snap up a bunch of Groupons to a restaurant or coffee shop at the beginning of the year, and use your Groupons throughout to treat colleagues or potential referral sources to a meal. Not only will you keep your costs down, but because you need to pre-pay for Groupons, you'll have more incentive to actually follow through on get togethers or networking meals.

So there you have it, the scoop on Groupon.

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There's A New, Free Office Suite Out There

2011-01-27T07:28:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Rick Georges at Futurelawyer for turning me on to LibreOffice, a new, free Office Suite of products.

LibreOffice Productivity Suite Download � LibreOffice. Microsoft Word is expensive, whether a license is purchased alone, or in a suite. However, there are plenty of free or inexpensive alternatives out there. I use WordPerfect, in its current incarnation, WordPerfect X5. It reads and writes Word documents just fine, and I get to keep all of my decades old WordPerfect goodness. OpenOffice is a great free alternative, which reads and writes Word documents as well. However, after Oracle acquired Sun in 2009, a third of the OpenOffice developers decided that they didn't want to be part of the empire, and they formed the Document Foundation. You can read about its members and its plans here. In the meantime, they have put out a free version of OpenOffice, that is lean and mean, and will continue to get better. Try it out, and see if you still need to give Microsoft more of your hard earned money.

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