TechnoLawyer: Automation/Document Assembly/Macros

Originally published in the January 31, 2012 issue of SmallLaw: Thought leaders often write in the abstract, making it difficult for law firms to apply their expertise. Time to rethink thought leadership articles. Today in SmallLaw, we begin a series of "tough challenge" columns in which experts tell a story about how a small law firm successfully addressed a tough challenge. In today's first column, document automation and practice management expert Seth Rowland discusses how International Fertility Law Group achieved a seeming paradox — increasing its clientele while simultaneously having its lawyers spend more time with each client. Also, check out this issue's Newsletter Flag, and don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for Clark Stewart's review of Onlive Desktop for iPad.

How to Receive SmallLaw
Small firm, big dreams. Written by practicing lawyers who manage successful small firms and legal technology and practice management experts who have achieved rock star status, SmallLaw provides practical advice on management, marketing, and technology issues in small law firms, as well as comprehensive legal product reviews with accompanying TechnoScore ratings. SmallLaw also links to helpful articles in other publications about solo practices and small law firms. The SmallLaw newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Coming today to SmallLaw: Cedar Rapids Real estate lawyer Shannon Thompson tried some of the major cloud practice management systems but they didn't suit her workflow needs. So she decided to create her own cloud practice management system. Shannon is not a programmer. In this issue of SmallLaw, you'll learn how Shannon customized and integrated three general business cloud applications to create a practice management system that enables her to manage the client lifecycle from intake to task management to billing to payment and more. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for advice on spotting red flags in resumes from job applicants.

How to Receive SmallLaw
Small firm, big dreams. Written by practicing lawyers who manage successful small firms and legal technology and practice management experts who have achieved rock star status, SmallLaw provides practical advice on management, marketing, and technology issues in small law firms, as well as comprehensive legal product reviews with accompanying TechnoScore ratings. SmallLaw also ensures that you won't miss anything published elsewhere by linking to helpful articles (and podcasts and videos) about solo practices and small law firms. The SmallLaw newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Today's issue of TL Answers contains these articles:

Andrew Almond, How to Create and Enforce Usage of Word Templates

Bruce Gardiner, Read This Important Consideration Before Using Two Monitors

Caren Schwartz, Review: QuickBooks Online v. Quicken

Ronald Cappuccio, Review: Dragon NaturallySpeaking 12

Don't miss this issue — or any future issues.

How to Receive TL Answers
Do you believe in the wisdom of crowds? In TL Answers, TechnoLawyer members answer legal technology and practice management questions submitted by their peers. This newsletter's popularity stems from the relevance of the questions and answers to virtually everyone in the legal profession. The TL Answers newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Coming today to SmallLaw: With companies like Rocket Lawyer trying to drive inefficiency out of legal work product, document assembly has become hot. But is document assembly enough? How about putting your clients to work? Blue Burro's DraftOnce enables your clients to help you create documents by having them fill in the information they know better than you. In this issue of SmallLaw, New Jersey lawyer Ed Zohn reviews DraftOnce. He reports not only on the client participation aspect, but also on its core document assembly functions and integrations with other cloud products. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week to read about how a solo practitioner charges just $70 per hour yet makes big profits.

How to Receive SmallLaw
Small firm, big dreams. Written by practicing lawyers who manage successful small firms and legal technology and practice management experts who have achieved rock star status, SmallLaw provides practical advice on management, marketing, and technology issues in small law firms, as well as comprehensive legal product reviews with accompanying TechnoScore ratings. SmallLaw also ensures that you won't miss anything published elsewhere by linking to helpful articles (and podcasts and videos) about solo practices and small law firms. The SmallLaw newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Today's issue of TL Answers contains these articles:

Spencer Stromberg, Two Key Reasons to Start Document Names With Dates

Wayne Pierce, Review: Dragon NaturallySpeaking Plus Tips on Eliminating Errors

H. Daniel Smith, Tip for Using Old Templates With HotDocs 11

Neil Squillante, Beats Pill Battery Life and Security Issue

Don't miss this issue — or any future issues.

How to Receive TL Answers
Do you believe in the wisdom of crowds? In TL Answers, TechnoLawyer members answer legal technology and practice management questions submitted by their peers. This newsletter's popularity stems from the relevance of the questions and answers to virtually everyone in the legal profession. The TL Answers newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Coming today to SmallLaw: HotDocs recently shipped HotDocs Developer 11 for creating document assembly templates and HotDocs User 11 for using these templates. In this issue of SmallLaw, independent legal document assembly consultant Marc Lauritsen reviews HotDocs 11 from the perspective of both first-time and long-time users. He focuses primarily on the new features since the last major upgrade three years ago. Find out if HotDocs 11 can help your law firm automate your document creation. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for a tip on how to more quickly access the Acrobat functions you use most often.

How to Receive SmallLaw
Small firm, big dreams. Written by practicing lawyers who manage successful small firms and legal technology and practice management experts who have achieved rock star status, SmallLaw provides practical advice on management, marketing, and technology issues in small law firms, as well as comprehensive legal product reviews with accompanying TechnoScore ratings. SmallLaw also ensures that you won't miss anything published elsewhere by linking to helpful articles (and podcasts and videos) about solo practices and small law firms. The SmallLaw newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Today's issue of TL Answers contains these articles:

Edward Zohn, Review: Bulk Renaming Utility; Document Naming Tip

David Hudgens, Multiple Monitor Nuisances

Mark Olberding, Review: TheFormTool PRO

Kevin Maloney, Review: Calisto Pro Headset

Don't miss this issue — or any future issues.

How to Receive TL Answers
Do you believe in the wisdom of crowds? In TL Answers, TechnoLawyer members answer legal technology and practice management questions submitted by their peers. This newsletter's popularity stems from the relevance of the questions and answers to virtually everyone in the legal profession. The TL Answers newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Today's issue of TL Answers contains these articles:

Ed Detlie, The Golden Age of Legal-Specific Software Has Arrived

Jon Ladd, Review: Daylite, Billings, MyCase

Ted Palmer, Maybe You're Not Using It Right: The Case for Microsoft Word

Chuck Baranowski, Review: GoToMyPC and Dual Monitors

Don't miss this issue — or any future issues.

How to Receive TL Answers
Do you believe in the wisdom of crowds? In TL Answers, TechnoLawyer members answer legal technology and practice management questions submitted by their peers. This newsletter's popularity stems from the relevance of the questions and answers to virtually everyone in the legal profession. The TL Answers newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Today's issue of TL Answers contains these articles:

Abbie Hosta, Review: Pronto Marketing Plus More on Law Firm Web Site Design

Jeff Stouse, Tips for Using 3-4 Monitors; Review of NVIDIA Quadro NVS 420

Kent Davis, Review: HotDocs v. XpressDox

Thomas F. McDow, Review: Oral Argument

Don't miss this issue — or any future issues.

How to Receive TL Answers
Do you believe in the wisdom of crowds? In TL Answers, TechnoLawyer members answer legal technology and practice management questions submitted by their peers. This newsletter's popularity stems from the relevance of the questions and answers to virtually everyone in the legal profession. The TL Answers newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Originally published in the October 12, 2012 issue of SmallLaw: Legal technology consultant Seth Rowland thought he had seen it all given his many years in the industry. And he had until ActionStep arrived on the scene. A cloud application, ActionStep combines practice management (including accounting and billing) with document assembly, enabling solos and small law firms to automate document creation and their other business processes. Intrigued, Seth spend the last few months extensively testing ActionStep on his PC, iPad, and smartphone. In this issue of SmallLaw, Seth discusses ActionStep's Workflow technology and other key features and how well they work. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for the unwritten rules of law practice.

How to Receive SmallLaw
Small firm, big dreams. Written by practicing lawyers who manage successful small firms and legal technology and practice management experts who have achieved rock star status, SmallLaw provides practical advice on management, marketing, and technology issues in small law firms, as well as comprehensive legal product reviews with accompanying TechnoScore ratings. SmallLaw also links to helpful articles in other publications about solo practices and small law firms. The SmallLaw newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.