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ABA Legal Technology Resource Center

Articles

The Legal Technology Resource Center is staffed by professional librarians and legal professionals with a wide range of expertise and experience. The staff regularly publishes articles and performs outreach to bar associations, law schools, and law firms. We hope you will find these articles useful and that you will visit our online presentations, where you'll find many of the continuing legal education (CLE) handouts that our staff prepares, and our FYI: For Your Information section, where we post informational overviews of many legal technology topics.

Articles


  • Rèpondez s'il vous plait: E-mails that get results
    This article was published in YourABA, October 2009.
    • Do your e-mails fail to get answered in a timely fashion?
    • Do your action items get ignored?
    • Does your e-mail generate several back-and-forth responses before getting the issue at hand resolved?

      • If you answered yes to any of these questions, read on to find out how to write e-mails that get the results you want.

  • Go Figure: Software for Family Law Practitioner
    This article was published in the ABA Family Law eNewsletter, October 2009.
    Family law practitioners must often solve and track a variety of calculations including child and spousal support payments, child custody dates, and the tax implications of property division. For lawyers who need help performing the math and keeping track of various calculations and case information, there may be "an app for that."


  • Technology training: Going beyond the manual
    This article was published in YourABA, September 2009.
    When it comes to adopting new technology, many lawyers find themselves in a Catch-22: While technology can help enhance their efficiency and free their schedules, the accompanying documentation is often so inadequate that any potential productivity gains are offset by time spent wresting with the technology. As a result, many lawyers eschew new technology or waste money on gadgets that end up by the wayside. Training is key, but according to the 2009 ABA Legal Technology Survey Report, approximately one in four respondents and nearly half of all solo practitioner respondents reported that they have no technology training available to them. In truth, any lawyer with an Internet connection has access to a variety of free training tools, and those tools are often more useful than the support materials shipped with technology products.


  • Securing Your Tech: More Than Just Data
    This article was published in the ABA Family Law eNewsletter, September 2009.
    Most discussions about security and technology revolve around data security, including topics like virus protection and data backup. Given the importance of electronic data in the modern law office, this focus is not only appropriate, but necessary. Nevertheless, there are other security issues that attorneys must consider, and one such issue is the physical security of their technology.


  • Protect yourself: Tips on using online passwords and password recovery system security
    This article was published in YourABA, August 2009.
    Are your online accounts hacker-proof? Two recent high-profile security breaches raise concerns about the safety of online accounts and highlight the importance of taking steps to better protect accounts from Internet criminals.


  • An Overview of Trust and Estate Software
    This article was published in the RPTE eReport for The ABA Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law , August 2009.
    Trust and Estate Law is an area of practice that is experiencing growth according to The ABA Journal. In response to anticipated interest in this practice area, along with the sheer volume of software applications available, we have prepared an overview of Trust and Estate Software.


  • The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of Blogging, Microblogging and Social Networking for Public Lawyers
    This article was published in the The Public Lawyer, Summer 2009.
    Blogs, microblogs and social networking sites have expanded the ways in which people and organizations communicate. While these tools were initially created for social networking, they have now been embraced in professional contexts as well. Many lawyers, politicians and government agencies are capitalizing on the unique communication opportunities they afford, such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warning the public of salmonella tainted food products or the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announcing flood warnings.

    While the ease and far-reaching communicative power of these tools have made them appealing to lawyers, their use must be tempered with the many statutes, rules, regulations and ethical obligations that govern lawyer communications.


  • Delivering Family Law Services Online
    This article was published in the ABA Family Law eNewsletter, August 2009.
    Results of the 2009 ABA Legal Technology Survey Report: Web and Communication Technology, which addresses the availability and use of law firm websites, e-mail, blogs, social networking and even Twitter, reveal some interesting statistics about family lawyers.


  • Legal technology today: Essentials to have, trends to understand
    This article was published in YourABA, July 2009.
    Technology continues to have a big impact on law practice. Innovations in mobile technology, the Internet, social networking sites and an ever-growing selection of software are just some of the advancements affecting the legal profession. With new products and innovations being introduced on a daily basis, how can lawyers and judges keep up and stay current? Catherine Sanders Reach, director of the ABA Legal Technology Resource Center offers some guidance.


  • Avoid Loss of Law Firm Data and Business Downtime by Keeping Software Updated
    This article was published in the ABA Family Law eNewsletter, July 2009.
    If your firm's computer systems are infiltrated by malware such as viruses and Trojans, you risk losing confidential client information, not to mention business downtime while your systems are being repaired. Safety measures include antivirus software, firewalls, and backing up data. Just as important is keeping your computer software updated with the latest security patches. Trying to keep track of all the software that may require updating can be a headache, especially given the wide variety of software on most people's computers. The programs listed in this article, such as Microsoft Update, Secunia Personal and Online Software Inspector, and Clean Softs Update Notifier are designed to help manage the task of keeping your software updated.


  • Ten Travel Technology Tips for Road Warriors
    This article was published in YourABA, June 2009.
    Travelers, take note. With the busy summer travel season upon us, these helpful technology tips can help minimize the inevitable travel traumas.


  • Understanding "The Cloud": The Pros and Cons of Web-based Software for Attorneys
    This article was published in the ABA Family Law eNewsletter, June 2009.
    One of the better-known forms of cloud computing is software as a service (or "SaaS"). SaaS aims to mirror (or even improve on) the experience of traditional software without requiring the user to buy expensive software licenses, struggle with complicated installations, or manage upgrades and updates. SaaS has proven both popular and controversial among attorneys. While some have adopted it wholeheartedly and swear they'd never go back, others have chosen to steer clear, claiming the risks outweigh the benefits.


  • Making better presentations inside and outside of the courtroom
    This article was published in YourABA, May 2009.
    Pop culture is dominated by images of lawyers in the courtroom, from Perry Mason and Law & Order on television to movies such as To Kill a Mockingbird and A Few Good Men. In reality, many lawyers never set foot in a courtroom in their professional lives. Nonetheless, lawyers of all types regularly make presentations before groups of people; and these days, they often turn to presentation software to enhance their efforts.


  • Beginning Blogging
    This article was published in the ABA Family Law eNewsletter, May 2009.
    In February we focused on family lawyers that blog in the Directory of Family Law Blogs. This month we’ve prepared a collection of blogging resources to get you started. A Blog (short for web log) is an Internet based journal that can be updated as frequently as you like with what are called posts or postings. Blawg, a sometimes controversial term widely attributed to lawyer and blogger Denise Howell, simply refers to web blogs by lawyers, law students or law professors that focus on commentary about the law or legal matters.


  • Find people using new tools that scour Web 2.0
    This article was published in YourABA, April 2009.
    Lawyers search free and for-pay databases to dig up information on people for a variety of legal needs, such as finding hidden assets, determining fault in divorce cases, obtaining background for depositions and finding material for impeaching the credibility of a witness. There are several Web 2.0-oriented applications that lawyers may find useful for scouring social networks to strengthen a client's position on the offense or manage a client's online reputation on the defense.


  • Dictation Made Easy
    This article was published in the The Young Lawyer, April 2009.
    Despite the DIY philosophy prevalent in this uncertain economy, dictation is still an efficient use of a lawyer's time and resources. If you talk faster than you type, then dictation still makes sense. Until speech recognition software becomes more reliable, digital dictation offers an easy and efficient solution for busy attorneys.


  • The Paperless Law Office: Creating an Electronic Closing Binder
    This article was published in the RPTE eReport for The ABA Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law , April 2009.
    Even a simple real estate closing can result in a number of closing documents. Complex transactions involve many more documents and ancillary items, such as title policies, surveys and insurance certificates.

    Adobe Systems created the Portable Document Format (PDF) technology in 1993 for document exchange. Since that time, PDF has emerged as the de facto standard for sharing electronic documents due to its portability, accessibility and security. Of particular note to lawyers, shared files can be password protected, with permissions that limit the ability to print or alter the document; and Metadata and other sensitive information can be removed. More specifically for real estate lawyers, Adobe Acrobat can help streamline the labor intensive process of creating closing binders.


  • Say What? Quick Mobile Voice-to-Text Transcription for Setting Reminders, Blogging, and Twittering
    This article was published in the ABA Family Law eNewsletter, April 2009.
    What do you do when an idea pops into your head and you're not at your desk? Do you pull out a pen and write it down in a notebook, on a Post-it®, a napkin, or a receipt? Do you type it out on a smartphone, cell phone, or laptop? Maybe you dictate it into a digital recorder? If you've tried all those, here's something else you might like--new services which allow you to call a certain number, dictate a message, and have the message transcribed and delivered as text with a quick turnaround time.


  • Technology tips for greater efficiency
    This article was published in YourABA, March 2009.
    This month's column features tips on using Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office applications more effectively. From information on setting up reminders in Microsoft Outlook and keyboard short cuts to guidance on activating automatic save features, these tips have something for everyone.


  • 10 Ways To Stretch Your Research Dollars- How to Get the Facts on a Dime!
    This article was published in the ABA Law Practice Magazine, March 2009.
    It’s easier than ever to get your hands on information that once existed only on paper or in pricey databases. Here are ideas for tapping the Web’s amazing resources to keep your research overhead as low as possible.


  • A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned with Online Comparison Shopping
    This article was published in the ABA Family Law eNewsletter, March 2009.
    Legal technology experts have been talking about saving money through technology for years. Indeed, innovative software can be used to capture billable hours; scanners and document management software can be used to cut paper and storage costs; and social networking can reduce your marketing budget while improving your results. While these are certainly effective ways of using technology to save money, there's another more direct and immediate method attorneys can use to cut costs: using the web to find the best prices on the goods and services you need to buy.


  • Hassle-free proof of mailing and delivery for legal correspondence?
    This article was published in YourABA, February 2009.
    Have you ever wasted time at the post office picking up mail from opposing counsel that no one was around to sign for when delivery was attempted? Have you ever had a sneaking suspicion that opposing counsel was sending non-vital correspondence by certified mail to unnecessarily cause you delay? Recently on the ABA Solosez Listserv, participants discussed these questions and other frustrations with the use of certified mail. Are there quicker electronic alternatives to paper-based, signature-required mail for proof of mailing and delivery?


  • Directory of Family Law Blogs
    This article was published in the ABA Section of Family Law eNewsletter, February 2009.
    With the increasing popularity and awareness of blogs, this month we focus on family law practitioners who blog.


  • New Year's resolution: clear out that e-mail in-box!
    This article was published in YourABA, January 2009.
    It’s that time again—time to live up to resolutions made for the coming year. The New Year provides a perfect opportunity to tackle such goals as organizing your professional life. One area to start with is e-mail. In-boxes can be flooded with spam or even with an overabundance of legitimate messages; and lawyers fret about the ethical implications of putting so much of their confidential work online.


  • Voice Over Internet Protocol: To VoIP or Not to VoIP
    This article was published in the ABA Section of Family Law eNewsletter, January 2009.
    Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) was initially touted as a revolutionary way to make and receive free and low-cost phone calls over the Internet. However, despite the initial hype, some technology pundits are now referring to VoIP as mere plumbing and are focusing on the actual services provided--it may not matter whether your phone system is VoIP or not VoIP as long as you are getting quality, reliable service and features at a price you can live with.


  • Get connected: Social networking for lawyers
    This article was published in YourABA, December 2008.
    With all the demands on a lawyer’s time, what is the value of developing an online social network? A lawyer’s stock in trade is his or her relationships with others, especially clients. An investment of time in a social network can yield a substantial return if developed carefully. Many lawyers have been seeing returns on relationships developed through this growing medium.


  • Twitter Your Way to Professional Success
    This article was published in the ABA Section of Family Law eNewsletter, December 2008.
    Social media is all the rage in practice management and legal marketing circles these days, so there's a good chance you've at least heard of Twitter. In this article, we give you several ways that you can use Twitter to communicate with peers and potential clients alike.


  • Harnessing Information for Business Development
    This article first appeared in the American Prepaid Legal Service Institute's NewsBriefs Newsletter, November 2008.
    The web offers attorneys numerous opportunities to develop their businesses, but capitalizing on those opportunities requires that attorneys harness the myriad sources of information flowing on the web -- news, articles, blogs, web sites and more. This article discusses two tools attorneys can use to translate that overflow of information into a usable resource.


  • 2008 ABA Tech Survey Sees More Mobility
    This article was published in Law Technology News (reprinted on Law.com), November 2008.
    The 2008 ABA Legal Technology Survey Report suggests that an increasing number of attorneys have found a way to bridge the "work/life" gap: They're going mobile. The report is the latest from the American Bar Association's Legal Technology Resource Center, which has surveyed practicing attorneys for more than a decade.


  • Three Internet Scams and Solutions Lawyers Should Know About
    This article was published in YourABA, November 2008.
    As the Internet continues to grow in popularity it has spawned a corresponding industry of crime, inspiring thieves to pan for Internet gold in the form of various schemes and scams. Some scammers have specifically targeted lawyers, leaving them on the hook for hundreds of thousands of dollars, potentially ruining their practices and livelihoods, and in one case prompting a bank to sue the lawyer. Here are three noteworthy types of online threats to look out for and corresponding solutions (including phishing and spoofing, web browser vulnerabilities, and lawyer e-mail scams).


  • Portable Scanners: Primer and Comparison
    This article was published in the ABA Section of Family Law eNewsletter, November 2008.
    Portable scanners can help the mobile family lawyer manage travel receipts more effectively, organize collected business cards, and manage documents and photographs. If you're visiting clients off-site, your portable scanner also gives you the ability to make a record of key documents on the spot. Most portable scanners have the ability to scan documents ranging in size from a business card to a legal document or 14" in length and come bundled with value added software.


  • Keeping Track of Information with Evernote and OneNote 2007
    This article first appeared in the ABA Section of Family Law eNewsletter, October 2008.
    For busy lawyers keeping track of disparate types of information, there are several software-based note-taking and organization tools that may be worth looking into, such as Evernote and Microsoft OneNote.


  • Improving Your Practice with Client/Server Networking
    This article first appeared in the American Prepaid Legal Service Institute's NewsBriefs Newsletter, October 2008.
    Effective computer networking, the sharing of files, printers, and other resources among law office computers, can allow law firms to operate in an organized and efficient manner. It is important to realize however that there are two main types of computer networks, peer to peer and client/server networks, and that client/server networks present many advantages over peer to peer networks for small law offices.


  • Using RSS Feeds with Internet Explorer
    This article was published in YourABA, October 2008.
    RSS feeds bring Web site updates to subscribers, eliminating the need to monitor newly-posted content. They are easy to set-up and use. Find out how with this step-by-step guide.


  • Mobile Broadband Wireless for Laptops and Smartphones
    This article was published in YourABA, September 2008.
    With the proliferation of mobile broadband wireless service, accessing the Internet using laptops and smartphones is easier than ever. Learn the benefits and drawbacks of this technology as well as the necessary hardware to get started.


  • Hope for the Best, Prepare for the Worst: Protecting Your Firm from Disaster
    This article was published in the ABA Section of Family Law eNewsletter, September 2008.
    When disaster strikes a law firm, files and client materials may be destroyed, attorneys may be forced to abandon their offices, and communications may be slowed or stopped entirely. Thankfully, good preparation--aided by the latest technology--can help firms survive and even thrive even during the worst of times. Scroll to the "Tech Corner" to view.


  • Blog Technology 101
    This article was published in YourABA, August 2008.
    Blogs have become an essential way for lawyers to market their practice. Getting started is easier than you think. Here’s a step-by-step guide to get you blogging in five minutes.


  • Minimizing Metadata
    This article first appeared in the ABA Section of Family Law eNewsletter, August 2008.
    Metadata is the information hidden in the background of electronic documents; it includes the name of the author, the date created and last edited, as well as the undo/redo history. The disclosure of the metadata could lead to a breach of confidentiality, not to mention be highly embarrassing. Currently 8 states and the American Bar Association have ethics opinions on how lawyers should deal with removal and receipt of metadata. So, how do you get rid of it? Scroll to the bottom of the Family Law eNewsletter page to view.


  • E-mail Backup (You've Got Mail! - And Lots Of It)
    This article was published in YourABA, July 2008.
    E-mail has emerged as a vital communications technology. Nearly all the respondents of the 2008 Legal Technology Survey Report utilize e-mail communications. More than half of them use it daily to send confidential information to clients. In light of such dependence on e-mail communications, it is important that lawyers make back-up copies of their messages to avoid an irreversible loss of lawyer-client correspondence and other data.


  • Subnotebooks/Ultramobile Laptop Computers: Highly Portable and Affordable?
    This article first appeared in the ABA Section of Family Law eNewsletter, July 2008.
    As mobile computing becomes increasingly popular among attorneys and mainstream consumers, a relatively new type of mobile computer is garnering interest in the marketplace: subnotebook/ultramobile laptop PCs. Such computers may appeal to users who would like laptop computers to be smaller and more light-weight for improved portability, and would like smartphones to have larger keypads and screens for easier web browsing and typing, such as for document creation. Scroll to the bottom of the Family Law eNewsletter page to view.


  • To Catch a Thief - Tips and Tools to Protect Your Computer Investment
    This article was published in YourABA, June 2008.
    Tips and tools to protect your computer investment—data encryption, subscription services, security cables and more.


  • Digital-Age Communication Concerns for Family Law Attorneys
    This article first appeared in the ABA Section of Family Law eNewsletter, June 2008.
    The technological advances of the computer age have helped attorneys become more effective and efficient, but they've also created a variety of concerns--many related to the security of client information and communications. This is particularly true for family law attorneys whose clients may share a computer--or even an e-mail address--with potential opposing parties. Scroll to the bottom of the Family Law eNewsletter page to view.


  • Cast(ing) Away: About Podcasting
    This article was published in the Division for Bar Serivices' The Bridge, May 2008.
    If you could have your own weekly radio show for $25, would you be interested? If so, you might be interested in podcasting, a direct, inexpensive way to deliver information to an audience.


  • Parenting Plan Technology
    This article first appeared in the ABA Section of Family Law eNewsletter, May 2008.
    When you hear the term "timeshare," you might first think of real estate or condos in Las Vegas. But in the realm of family law, timeshare often refers to the time a child spends with each parent. Now there are more technological advances at your disposal to assist with managing the schedules of separate households. Scroll to the bottom of the Family Law eNewsletter page to view.


  • Social Networking
    This article was published in the Division for Bar Services' The Bridge, April 2008.
    It's a fitting metaphor for our electronic age: a business technology, popularized by kids, based on a concept nearly as old as the human race. It's already affecting your bar. So just what is social networking? Read this article to find out.


  • What's the Password?
    This article first appeared in the ABA Section of Family Law eNewsletter, April 2008.
    Modern computing causes the proliferation of usernames and passwords like pollen in the springtime. In order to access everything from online banking accounts to online legal research to Amazon, a username and password must be created. Properly configured computers also demand passwords for startup, accessing the network, disabling the screen saver, and more. And that isn't even counting encryption keys! It is difficult and time-consuming to generate strong passwords and keep up with them, but for a responsible lawyer it is a necessity. Scroll to the bottom of the Family Law eNewsletter page to view.


  • PowerPoint for Lawyers: Tips for Better Presentations
    This article first appeared in the ABA Section of Family Law eNewsletter, March 2008.
    The practice of law is regarded as a writing profession, but many attorneys find that their key professional moments come not in front of a keyboard, but in front of a live audience. To accomplish this, many attorneys turn to Microsoft PowerPoint, the ubiquitous presentation software. Scroll to the bottom of the Family Law eNewsletter page to view.


  • Office Live Small Business: Putting Your Firm on the Internet Map
    This article first appeared in the ABA Section of Family Law eNewsletter, February 2008.
    Thinking about establishing a presence for your family law firm on the Information Superhighway? If so, Microsoft's Office Live Small Business (OLSB) wants to be your on-ramp! Scroll to the bottom of the Family Law eNewsletter page to view.


  • Online Collaboration with Basecamp
    This article first appeared in the ABA Section of Family Law eNewsletter, January 2008.
    Looking for a convenient way to share information and collaborate with fellow attorneys, staff, and clients without relying on e-mail, phone calls, and snail mail? If you don't have an intranet or extranet, then Basecamp, an online collaboration software application produced by the company 37signals, may be worth looking into.


  • E-mail Productivity
    This article first appeared in the ABA Section of Family Law eNewsletter, November 2007.
    E-mail is an indispensable tool for most attorneys, but it's not without its shortcomings: mailboxes become overloaded, messages are missed or swallowed by spam filters, and time is wasted responding to the same question over and over again. Thankfully, with a little discipline you can make e-mail a productivity boost rather than a productivity drain for your firm or organization. Scroll to the bottom of the Family Law eNewsletter page to view.


  • Legal Technology Resources for New Practitioners
    This article first appeared in the ABA Section of Family Law eNewsletter, October 2007.
    Starting a new practice is a major endeavor. You have business to develop, clients to find, an office to manage, and a great deal of legal technology to consider using. The ABA Legal Technology Resource Center (LTRC) has gathered many valuable resources and put them in one place to help ease the transition.


  • Get Your Law Office to Go Green
    This article first appeared in the ABA Section of Family Law eNewsletter, September 2007.
    The concept of "green business"—the idea that businesses (including law firms) can save money, attract clients, and help protect the environment by adopting environmentally-friendly business practices—is garnering a lot of attention … Scroll to the bottom of the Family Law eNewsletter page to view.


  • Get More From Google
    This article first appeared in the ABA Section of Family Law eNewsletter, August 2007.
    Google is the search engine of choice for millions of people, but it can do more than just find websites. In this article, we we share five easy tips to make Google a little bit more helpful in your every day life and practice.


  • Take Note of Microsoft's OneNote Software
    This article first appeared in the ABA Section of Family Law eNewsletter, July 2007.
    Microsoft Office OneNote helps you organize notes you intend to incorporate into a lengthier document. Originally designed with Tablet PCs in mind, Microsoft OneNote offers many benefits to desktop and laptop users alike. Family Law practitioner and ABA Family Law Section member Stephen M. Worrall of the Tablet PC Lawyer Blog and Neil Squillante of TechnoLawyer have both positively reviewed Microsoft OneNote as a good tool for many lawyers.


  • Fire(fox) Up Your Browser!
    This article first appeared in the ABA Section of Family Law eNewsletter, June 2007.
    Originally released in late 2004, Firefox is a relatively new web browser on the block compared to Microsoft's older and ubiquitous (to the point of being the focus of antitrust litigation) Internet Explorer (IE). You may have heard some of the hype about Firefox--there are compelling reasons for trying it out, not the least of which is its ability to keep you organized while online. Firefox's most compelling feature may be its "tabbed browsing" system (for readers who are still using Internet Explorer 6, a similar tab system has also been built into Internet Explorer 7).


  • PDFs: Pretty Darned Flexible
    This article first appeared in the ABA Section of Family Law eNewsletter, May 2007.
    If you're looking to add a new technology to your law practice this year, consider PDF! PDF stands for Portable Document Format and you've likely encountered this type of file while searching the Internet. PDF is one of the best tools for a law office because it provides a solution to many issues.


  • No Mess with RSS
    This article first appeared in the ABA Section of Family Law eNewsletter, April 2007.
    How would you like to create your own personal newspaper that automatically compiles just the news and current awareness information you want to see without having to visit multiple websites? With RSS--Really Simple Syndication or Rich Site Summary--you can do exactly that, and more. Instead of visiting websites to get daily news, blogs and commentary, court opinions, or court orders, rely on your RSS feeds to deliver your materials, just like the morning paper.


  • Family Lawyers on the Go
    This article first appeared in the ABA Section of Family Law eNewsletter, March 2007.
    Family lawyers are going mobile! So say the results of the 2006 ABA Legal Technology Survey Report. The findings indicate that while family lawyers use mobile devices in smaller numbers than the general respondent population, their use of these devices is in fact increasing.


  • Trends in Courtroom Technology: Has the Picture Changed?
    This article first appeared in Legal Tech Newsletter, January 2007.
    Read the legal press and you’ll think that litigation technology and technology in the courtroom are all the rage. And for some attorneys, it is. But the results of the annual ABA Legal Technology Survey, published in June 2006, show that most attorney-respondents do not have a lot of sophisticated trial technology available to them and seldom use even laptops or notebooks in the courtroom.


  • If You Can't Beat 'Em, Train 'Em: How Lawyers Conduct Legal Research
    This article first appeared in Legal Information Alert, Volume 25, Number 1, January 2006.
    If librarians only had a nickel for every time they heard "isn't everything available on the internet?" they would all be able to retire to their own private islands. However, we know that is not the case and even if all information anyone ever needed were available on the internet, users would still face obstacles in finding the exact answer they require using online sources.


  • Survey Says! 2004-2005 ABA Legal Technology Survey Highlights
    This article first appeared in Law Technology News September 2005.
    This article includes highlights from the 2004-2005 ABA Legal Technology Survey, including information about e-discovery, e-filing, CLE and more.


  • And Now the Litigators: A Closer Look at the ABA’s Tech Survey
    This article first appeared in LJN's Legal Tech Newsletter, Volume 23, Number 10, January 2006.
    Based on survey results from the 2004-2005 Legal Technology Survey Report, this article provides an in depth look into how law firms and the courts are both adopting and utilizing technology including: Online Research, Electronic filing, Mobile Technology in the Courtroom, Courtroom Hardware, Litigation Support Software, and Electronic Discovery.


  • The Importance of Having Backups
    Supplementary material for the program "Nuts & Bolts of Running a Law Practice" at the 7th National Conference for the Minority Lawyer, June 2005.
    Do you have a disaster recovery plan? Have you ever tested it? Practices and procedures for backup, storage, disaster recovery, and restoration are crucial to your law practice. Become familiar with your firm’s backup procedures – don’t wait to “break glass in case of emergency".


  • New Security Threats – SpIM, Pharming, and More
    This article first appeared in Law Technology News, May 2005.
    What are the next security threats on the technology horizon? Cell phones and wireless devices, instant messaging, and websites are becoming targets for malicious or intrusive activity. Learn about these threats and how to protect yourself before they become prevalent.


  • Attack of the Pernicious Spyware
    This article first appeared in Law Technology News, February 2005.
    Spyware, malware, phishing, and other threats abound in the online world. What can you do to protect yourself and avoid the attacks? Read up on ways to protect yourself and your computer.


  • Practice Control: A Purchasing Guide for Practice Manangement Software
    This article first appeared in American Lawyer Media's Small Firm Business, Fall 2004.
    A major software purchase can be an ordeal for any small firm or solo practitioner. This article describes the must-have software features and other things to look out for.


  • Lemon Juice, Cornstarch, and Microsoft: Invisible Ink And Your Documents
    This article first appeared in WI State Bar Section of Law Practice's Law Practice News Summer 2004.
    Did you know that electronic documents are often embedded with hiddent text that reveals information regarding authors, edits, text changes, and more? The information is called "metadata" and it has become the source of delight and disgust for many attorneys.


  • Anatomy Of Trial Technology
    This article first appeared in Law Journal Newsletters' Legal Tech Newsletter August 2004.
    Trial technologies are all the buzz for legal technologists, early adopters, vendors, and consultants - but have they made it to the main stream practice of law? This article traces availability and use of trial preparation and presentation software, court technology, and more through the most recent ABA Legal Technology Survey Report volume on Courtroom and Litigation Technology.


  • Make Technology Part of Your CLE!
    This article first appeared in Law Technology News Volume 11, No. 8 August 2004.
    Using technology in the practice of law enhances a lawyer's ability to serve the client. Attorneys need to educate themselves on the use the technology in the same way as they would their area of practice.


  • Cost Recovery: What’s Fair Game?
    This article first appeared in The Professional Lawyer Volume 15; Issue 2.
    How can lawyers recover costs without compromising their ethics? This article outlines popular cost recovery technology tools.


  • Brave New World: Law Office Software for the Law Student
    This article first appeared in Student Lawyer May 2004.
    This article provides an introduction to law office technology, providing descriptions of legal specific types of software such as case management, time and billing, document assembly and more.


  • A Necessary Security Blanket: Document Retention Policies
    This article first appeared in The Public Lawyer Volume 12, No.1 Winter 2004
    This article explores the creation of document retention policy best practices and provides solutions for retention of electronic documents.


  • Tips, Tricks, and Tools: Taming the Internet
    An alternate version first appeared in The Public Lawyer Winter 2004.
    For lawyers who use email and are on the Web everyday, we provide some tips and tricks to help make the experience more efficient, more useful, and maybe even fun! Keeping up on the latest news, organizing and sharing frequently used websites, toolbars, new search engines, personalization, combating spam, and much more are covered.


  • Where's the Portable Lawyer?
    Wisconsin Law Journal, special edition, 11/2003.
    Lawyers are using portable technology - laptops, voice recognition - to gain efficiencies from mobility while still using technology in practical ways.


  • What's Hot and Not in Small and Mid-Size Law Firm Technology
    Law Office Management and Administration Report, 11/2003
    A review of recent trends in legal technology, based on the ABA Legal Technology Resource Center's annual technology survey.


  • The Future is Now!Law Technology News, 10/2003
    What will legal technology look like in 2013? Here are some predictions.


  • Taming Online Research: Tracking, Reporting, and Cost Recovery
    Business Information Alert 9/2003
    Law firm libraries and information centers have new and better oppurtunities to track usage of online research and participate in cost recovery endeavors. Software vendors, both new comers and old timers, help make better reporting possible.


  • Ever More E-mail
    Philadelphia Lawyer, Fall 2003
    Flooded with e-mail? Learn some quick ways to control spam and filter your incoming e-mail.


  • Feasibility/Viability of Digital Law Library
    Library Journal Fall 2003.
    Discussion of research on the private law firm library, conducted throughout 2002 as part of a AALL/Aspen Legal Publishing research grant. The article looks at issues helping or hindering adoption of digital law libraries in private US law firms.


  • 8 Reasons to Summon FedEx and UPS Online
    Law Firm, Inc. 4/2003.
    Eight quick reasons for using online package delivery services.


  • Raising the Bar: Get the Most Out of Your Bar Association
    Law Office Computing, 12-1/2003
    Bar associations provide a wealth of resources, tools, and information for their members. This article discusses some of the features you may not realize your bar association offers and includes a 50 state comparison of bar association Web site features.


  • KM 101: Assistive Technology for Knowledge Management Initiatives
    An abbreviated version of this article first appeared in AALL Spectrum 12/2002.
    Find out how to take the sting out of the buzzword with this introductory article on how technology can assist a law firm in achieving knowledge management. Discrete areas of information within a law firm are identified and suggestions for technologies to help capture, organize, and retrieve this information are discussed.


  • The Near Future for Technology and the Lawyer
    Wisconsin Law Journal, special edition, 12/2002
    Technology hype hides some valuable trends in law firm technology and this article suggests some that may become to the forefront in 2003.


  • Faster Internet Connection Can Speed Your Work
    Philadelphia Bar Association Bar Reporter, 11/2002
    Faster Internet connections can mean better access to research and can allow lawyers to use their time more efficiently - for more work or for more play. DSL, cable, and the increased use of broadband connections by lawyers are are discussed as are security issues raised by broadband access.


  • Great - and CHEAP - Ways to Give Your Web Site a Boost
    Bar Leader, 10/2002
    Bar associations are notoriously challenged for finding the financial and human resources to enhance Web sites to attract and keep members. The smaller the bar association, the greater the challenge is. Here are some cheap and free tools for bar associations to use to make their sites more interesting and useable.


  • Beyond the Newsletter: Leveraging Technology to Market the Library
    Legal Information Alert,10/2002
    Law firm libraries and information centers need to practice aggresive internal marketing in order to make attorneys aware of the full scope of available services. Harnassing technology can help put this endeavor on the fast track. Creating "brand", logos and slogans, and marketing plans are discussed.


  • Expect the Unexpected
    Law Technology News, 09/2002 (Web Only)
    Law firms are at risk of losing data and suffering business disruptions if they fail to plan, and test those plans, before a crisis arises.


  • Positioning for Power: Technology and the Law Firm Librarian
    Legal Information Alert, 05/2002
    Law firm librarians are in a unique position to get involved with the evaluative and training stages of law office automation efforts.


  • Review: Essential Guide to the Best and Worst Legal Sites on the Web
    Research Advisor, 05/2002
    A book review about a guide to legal websites.


  • Welcome to the Wireless World
    Law Office Computing, 04/2002
    Feature article discusses the state of the wireless world and how law firms can take advantage of this exciting new technology, as well as consideing whether it is right for your particular law office.


  • Destruction May Lurk Behind Your Files
    Law Technology News, 04/2002
    Firewalls and anti-virus software are only two components in the modern law firm's front line of technology defense.


  • Review: ALI-ABA's Practice Checklist Manual on Alternative Dispute Resolution
    Legal Information Alert, 04/2002
    A book review about a manual designed for attorneys and other professionals who are involved in ADR.


  • Emerging Electronic Filing Court Rules and Standards
    E-Filing Report, 02/2002
    An overview of emerging e-filing standards and the court rules that enable and govern filing.


  • Review: The Sourcebook to Public Record Information
    Legal Information Alert, 02/2002
    A book review of a reference work that provides detailed information on how to retrieve public records at the county, state, and federal levels.


  • Secret Technology Tools for Surviving Law School
    American Bar Association. General Practice, Solo, and Small Firm Section. GPSolo, 12/2001
    This article is based a series of interviews with second and third year students about their use of technology in law school.


  • Dot-com or Dot-law: Where Was That Information?
    American Association of Law Libraries AALL Spectrum, 07/2001
    The new top level domains (TLDs) created by ICANN raise issues about how information will be found in the future, particularly as the root systems that manage domain names begin to collide.


  • Virtual Law Librarian
    Chicago Association of Law Libraries Bulletin, Spring 2001
    The virtual law librarian is going to be more common. Some thoughts on what this person will be doing and how to prepare.


  • Trends in Legal Publishing for the Millenium
    Professional Publications, 92nd SLA Annual Conference, 06/2001
    Analysis of survey research of legal publishers, attorneys, and law librarians presented as a paper at the Special Libraries Association annual meeting in 2001.


  • Review: Introduction to Academic Law Library Design: A Features Approach
    Legal Information Alert, 4/2001
    A book review of an introduction to the planning and stages of building an academic law library.


  • Review: Drafting Internet Agreements
    Legal Information Alert, 12/2000
    A book review of a thorough forms book covering the breadth of contracts a law firm might require to assist their clients with technology issues.


  • Review: I-Dep.com
    Legal Information Alert, 9/2000
    A review of a new service that provides online, video and audio depositions through court reporters.


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