The Trial Practice Tips Blog

Legal-Writing Resources on the Web

From Barger on Legal Writing: "Visit and learn from legal writing sites around the country," a list of good legal-writing resources available on the Internet.

On this weblog, you'll find lots of legal-writing tips in the legal-writing category.

Google Plus for Lawyers

Says Kevin O'Keefe: "Though Google Plus is still in its infancy, I suggest you try it out. Google Plus is here to stay and some of the people you'll want to network with as a lawyer are going to be using Google Plus."

O'Keefe's comment comes at the end of a long post in which he gives his "first impressions" of Google Plus. Follow the link and read the whole thing.

Move to Cloud Computing?

In "Six Reasons to Love the Cloud," Lee Rosen writes, "We’ve moved our case management system, document management system, accounting system, e-mail, and phones right up there to the puffy white space floating above."

Rosen lists six advantages of cloud computing, including better security, data availability, and quick laptop replacement.

Rosen's post is worth reading.

Related post: "Manage Your Law Firm 'In the Cloud'."

 

Using Tech Wisely

In "Matthew Butterick on 'Little Big Firms'," Ernest Svenson interviews Matthew Butterick about the ways "small firms can do many things better than larger firms, if they use technology intelligently." 

Topics covered include marketing, websites, blogging, paperless offices, email services, and large LCD computer screens.

Use an iPad at a Deposition

From Jeff Richardson at iPhone J.D., "Using an iPad to recreate a scene in a deposition"--

A picture can be worth a thousand words. A picture that you use with a witness to exactly identify where he says something took place can be much more valuable than that when you later want to impeach the witness at trial, showing that the events could not possibly have unfolded as he previously testified. Thanks to the iPad, you have the tools to create a photograph with markings right there in the deposition, which may end up being the reason that you win your case.

Read the full post for a step-by-step method of using and marking maps and locations using an iPad during a deposition.

Tech in the Office: A Lawyer Reports

I like posts reporting on a law firm's use of technology, like this one from Mark Zamora of A Georgia Lawyer: "Tech: My Office Arsenal"--

We have tried - as a smaller law firm (less than 30 employees) to stay ahead of the curve in tech and law office matters. I get asked often what we use, so here is a laundry list of items . . .

This is followed by a list of hardware, software, and iPhone/iPad apps. Good stuff, if you're a law-tech junkie like me.

PDF for Lawyers

From Ernest Svenson's PDF for Lawyers: "Practical Acrobat tricks for lawyers." Check it out!

iPad Roundup

Confession: Although I know plenty about lawyers and their shiny new gadgets, I don't have an iPad myself. When I tried one out at Best Buy, it just seemed too heavy and hard to handle, especially when I'm used to reading from my iPhone for hours at a time. I'll probably change my mind eventually (and this cover with a handstrap might mean sooner rather than later). For now, though, no.

Meanwhile, there's been lots of discussion about the ways lawyers can use iPads. Here are a few sources for your consideration:

• Post: "Is the Apple iPad the Tipping Point? Practicing Law in the Cloud Goes Mainstream in 2010," at Reid My Blog!
• Post: "The 3 stages of iPad infatuation OR How to justify buying an iPad to your business manager," at Stasiuk Firm PC
• Blog: Legal iPad: the iPad Blog for Lawyers & Business Professionals
• Blog: Tablet Legal

In addition, Jeff Richardson at iPhone J.D.has added iPad coverage to his blog.

Technology Without the Hype

At My Law License, Brian Tannebaum isn't buying into the iPad hype. In his post, "The Technology Curmudgeon Gives His Technology Secrets," Tannebaum summarizes his firm's set-up--

In my office is a telephone. My receptionist also has one, and so does my secretary. So do the 3 other lawyers in my office and the other support staff. This is how clients normally reach me. In a very non-techy way, my clients, mostly lawyers, law students, and alleged criminals, like to be pretty traditional and come to my office and meet with me. They’re not real big on video conferencing, email, or Starbucks.

There's more about the good-old-days of legal tech in the full post.

Related posts (from my other weblog)--

1. "Types of Lawyers #16: The Lawyer with the Shiny New Gadget"

2. "Is TheBarAfterWork a Valuable Networking Tool or Just for the Drunks?"

Tech: Try a Virtual Fax Service

From Bryan Sims at The Connected Lawyer: "Are Lawyers Moving to Virtual Fax Services?"--

If you are like me and still dealing with attorneys who insist on using a fax machine, go to a virtual fax service. You will never regret the move. It’s as close to moving your communications to email as you are likely to get in today’s legal world.

I concur. I've been using MyFax for years and have never had a problem. When someone sends me a fax, it shows up in my email inbox, which is great when I'm not in the office or out of town.

Related Post: "Tech Tips for Taking Your Law Firm on the Road."