Today's issue of TL NewsWire covers new PDF software designed for lawyers (see article below), a backlit eink ebook reader, an email program, an online document management system, and a virtual telephone system. Don't miss the next issue.
PDF Software Designed for Legal Professionals
When a new technology emerges, lawyers first debate the need for it. Once deemed essential, they debate the best product. When the products become increasingly complex and diverse, they seek a a simple legal-specific variant — and a low price never hurts. The last stage of this cycle is now playing out with PDF software since the PDF format has become essential for client records, court filings, document productions, and much more. A year ago, a legal software company launched a PDF product with a feature set designed for the needs of legal professionals. Last week, this company shipped a major new version.
Workshare PDF Professional Plus 2.0 … in One Sentence
Workshare PDF Professional Plus 2.0 is PDF software designed for the specific needs of legal professionals.
The Killer Feature
Law practice advisor Jared Correia recently wrote about the increasing number of products that integrate with one another. Integrations with document management systems are among the most important since these systems essentially replace the Windows file system for managing documents.
The new version of Workshare PDF Professional Plus features two such integrations — Autonomy Worksite and Microsoft SharePoint 2010.
These integrations don't require plugins. From within Worksite and SharePoint, you can create PDF files and combine them into PDF portfolio, which law firms increasingly use for client case file binders. You can also annotate, redact, create and edit forms, and add digital signatures.
"PDFs are very common in business today, and Workshare PDF Professional Plus now makes it extremely easy to create and manage them, particularly now that we have fully integrated with Worksite and SharePoint 2010," Workshare CEO Scott Smull told us. "The software continues our commitment to provide tools that improve the productivity of legal professionals."
Other Notable Features
Workshare has improved the user interface of Workshare PDF Professional Plus, most notably the tool for creating PDF portfolios. A new tool enables you to shrink the size of your PDF files, which should help with electronic filing requirements. Another new tool enables you to revert back to any previous version of the PDF file. You can also view a history of all changes.
Workshare has also enhanced the software's redaction capabilities, including search and replace, the ability to identify certain types of information such as social security numbers, and support for regulatory requirements such as the Freedom of Information Act and the US Privacy Act.
Other features include "reverse conversion" of PDF files to DOC format, support for the PDF/A standard required by many agencies and courts, PDF editing, Bates numbers, headers and footers, watermarks and stamps, links, bookmarks, table of contents, annotation and commenting tools, document comparison, forms, encryption and security, and batch conversion and processing.
What Else Should You Know?
Workshare PDF Professional Plus costs $79 per license, which Workshare claims is 80% less on average than comparable products. The company offers volume discounts. The software runs on Windows PCs. Learn more about Workshare PDF Professional Plus 2.0.
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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.
