Today's issue of TL NewsWire covers a Microsoft Word add-on for creating ebriefs (see article below), a portable monitor, a freeform personal information manager, an iPad note-taking app with illustration tools, and an iPad app for accessing Microsoft SharePoint. Don't miss the next issue.
Has the Golden Age of Ebriefs Arrived?
In 2005, we published an article about ebriefs, including how to create them using PDF software. By now, you would think all litigators would create ebriefs given their advantages, especially for the one-click access to corresponding cases, exhibits, testimony, etc. But ebriefs never took off because they're difficult to create, and even more difficult if not impossible to edit. But the advantages remain undeniable — more so than in 2005 given the increasing number of courts that require efiling and the number of judges who use computers. We recently learned about a new product that aims to make ebrief creation much easier.
efileinteractive … in One Sentence
XLR8R Studios' efileinteractive is a Microsoft Word add-on that enables you to create ebriefs and other legal documents in PDF format with hyperlinked embedded documents.
The Killer Feature
Traditionally, you create ebriefs using PDF software, which presents two problems. First, many PDF programs lack feature-rich tools for hyperlinking. Second, it's not easy to edit a PDF file so if you need to make a significant change to your brief you could find yourself back at square one, having to create the ebrief from scratch again.
efileinteractive addresses both problems by enabling you to create your ebrief in Microsoft Word much as you create your table of authorities in Microsoft Word.
efileinteractive resides in Microsoft Word's ribbon (toolbar in earlier versions). Creating each hyperlink involves three steps — select the text you want to link, select the corresponding file, and confirm.
When you finish creating hyperlinks, one click creates a PDF ebrief containing all the live hyperlinks and corresponding documents. If you need to make changes to your brief, you can create a new ebrief without having to recreate all the existing hyperlinks.
Other Notable Features
Some law firms create ebriefs by outsourcing them, which can save time but cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. By contrast, efileinteractive costs $25 per ebrief. The software itself is free. You can purchase credits in advance so that you don't have to worry about paying when you're facing a deadline.
"efileinteractive finally makes interactive motions and briefs easy to assemble and cost effective," XLR8R Studios CEO Tim Robinson told us. The value of giving the judge instant access to your cases and evidence far exceeds the $25 charge for using the software."
What Else Should You Know?
You can password protect your ebriefs if you want. efileinteractive works with Microsoft Word 2003 and later. You can try it free for 30 days. If you don't want to create your own ebriefs, XLR8R Studios can create them for you through its e-Brief Assembly Service. Learn more about efileinteractive.
How to Receive TL NewsWire
So many products, so little time. In each issue of TL NewsWire, you'll learn about five new products for the legal profession. Pressed for time? The newsletter's innovative articles enable lawyers and law office administrators to quickly understand the function of a product, and zero in on its most important features. The TL NewsWire newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.
