TechnoLawyer: Litigation/Discovery/Trials

Originally published in the April 27, 2012 issue of SmallLaw: "This brief looks amazing. What a joy to read!" These words rarely enter the thoughts of a judge, but not because they don't care. Judges and others to whom you submit documents read professionally typeset books and ebooks just like you. But for some reason, lawyers continue to use anachronistic typefaces and layouts for their documents. In this issue of SmallLaw, appellate lawyer and Pennsylvania legal technology specialist Joshua Auriemma explains how small law firms like yours can give your documents a competitive advantage by employing some simple typographical rules. Josh even links to a before and after example from his firm. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for email and web copywriting tips.

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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.

Originally published in the April 24, 2012 issue of SmallLaw: You've just written a world-class brief. Time to send it to your word processing department to create a table of authorities. What's that? You work in a small law firm and don't have a word processing department? Okay then just give it to your assistant. She still creates a table of authorities manually? Well, you're in luck. In this issue of SmallLaw, law firm technology consultant and Microsoft Word guru Ben Schorr provides step-by-step instructions for automatically generating a table of authorities in Microsoft Word. Make this article required reading at your firm. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for 19 alternatives to hiring your first (or next) law firm employee.

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.

Originally published in the August 23, 2012 issue of LitigationWorld: Social media users don't get paid, but they seem to enjoy working for free on their autobiographies one status update at a time, providing a treasure trove of evidence when litigation arises. In this issue of LitigationWorld, lawyer and ediscovery blogger Joshua Gilliland analyzes recent case law on the admissibility of social media, a form of electronically stored information. You'll learn how courts have ruled on issues of relevance, authentication, hearsay, prejudice, character evidence, and more. Also, don't miss the LitigationWorld Pick of the Week for Apple's closing argument, which should serve as an ediscovery wake up call to litigators.

How to Receive LitigationWorld
All practice areas evolve, but none faster than litigation. Written by successful litigators and other litigation experts, LitigationWorld provides you with practical tips related to electronic discovery, depositions, litigation strategy, litigation technology, and trial presentations. LitigationWorld also features in-depth litigation product reviews with accompanying TechnoScore ratings, as well as links to the most noteworthy litigation articles in other publications so that you'll never miss anything. The LitigationWorld newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Originally published in the August 14, 2012 issue of LitigationWorld: Briefs and other legal documents consist of paragraphs so it's worth exploring this important topic. Today in LitigationWorld, lawyer and legal writing expert Ed Good goes way beyond what you learned in high school by revealing four advanced paragraph techniques to amplify the persuasiveness of your analysis and arguments. Justice Blackmun of the Supreme Court lends a helping hand with some instructive examples. Also, don't miss the LitigationWorld Pick of the Week for a possible smoking gun in the Apple v. Samsung jury trial, which underscores the importance of ediscovery requests.

How to Receive LitigationWorld
All practice areas evolve, but none faster than litigation. Written by successful litigators and other litigation experts, LitigationWorld provides you with practical tips related to electronic discovery, depositions, litigation strategy, litigation technology, and trial presentations. LitigationWorld also features in-depth litigation product reviews with accompanying TechnoScore ratings, as well as links to the most noteworthy litigation articles in other publications so that you'll never miss anything. The LitigationWorld newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Originally published in the August 13, 2012 issue of LitigationWorld: "I want to use my last peremptory challenge for him. No, wait! I mean her." The perils of jury selection. One dropped or misplaced stickie note can wreak havoc. Because litigators often conduct voir dire while standing, the iPad is better-suited for this process than a laptop and less prone to human error than old school methods. In this issue of LitigationWorld, litigation technology consultant Brett Burney reviews the three leading jury selection apps and declares his iVerdict. Also, don't miss the LitigationWorld Pick of the Week for research on how people (such as jurors) perceive men (such as you) based on their hair or lack thereof.

How to Receive LitigationWorld
All practice areas evolve, but none faster than litigation. Written by successful litigators and other litigation experts, LitigationWorld provides you with practical tips related to electronic discovery, depositions, litigation strategy, litigation technology, and trial presentations. LitigationWorld also features in-depth litigation product reviews with accompanying TechnoScore ratings, as well as links to the most noteworthy litigation articles in other publications so that you'll never miss anything. The LitigationWorld newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Originally published in the July 30, 2012 issue of LitigationWorld: In Chambers v. Nasco, the Supreme Court held that courts have an "inherent authority" to sanction even if no procedural rules exists that addresses the offending behavior — provided the court meets two requirements. In this issue of LitigationWorld, Seattle litigator Kim Gunning discusses a recent Eleventh Circuit case that applied Chambers to overturn sanctions, and the lessons lawyers should draw from this case. Also, don't miss the LitigationWorld Pick of the Week for an explanation a to why you should not use bullets in your settlement or trial presentations.

How to Receive LitigationWorld
All practice areas evolve, but none faster than litigation. Written by successful litigators and other litigation experts, LitigationWorld provides you with practical tips related to electronic discovery, depositions, litigation strategy, litigation technology, and trial presentations. LitigationWorld also features in-depth litigation product reviews with accompanying TechnoScore ratings, as well as links to the most noteworthy litigation articles in other publications so that you'll never miss anything. The LitigationWorld newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Originally published in the July 19, 2012 issue of LitigationWorld: The growth of social media has irreversibly changed document discovery. Just when you finally got a handle on email, you now need technology for collecting potential evidence from Facebook, LinkedIn, Tumblr, and Twitter — not to mention traditional web sites. Nextpoint's Cloud Preservation exists to help you with this task. We asked litigator, ediscovery consultant, and senior LitigationWorld product reviewer Bruce Olson to evaluate Cloud Preservation. Bruce discusses how it works, how well it works, how much it costs, and more in this comprehensive review. Also, don't miss the LitigationWorld Pick of the Week for an article about quantitative legal prediction (using data to predict litigation outcomes).

How to Receive LitigationWorld
All practice areas evolve, but none faster than litigation. Written by successful litigators and other litigation experts, LitigationWorld provides you with practical tips related to electronic discovery, depositions, litigation strategy, litigation technology, and trial presentations. LitigationWorld also features in-depth litigation product reviews with accompanying TechnoScore ratings, as well as links to the most noteworthy litigation articles in other publications so that you'll never miss anything. The LitigationWorld newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Originally published in the July 16, 2012 issue of LitigationWorld: While you shouldn't write a legal brief in iambic pentameter, many litigators don't realize that many other stylistic tools can make their words more engaging and persuasive. In this issue of LitigationWorld, lawyer and legal writing expert Ed Good provides four rhetorical flourishes that can enhance your written work. As always, Ed provides examples for each of his tips, including one from Supreme Court legend Hugo Black. Also, don't miss the LitigationWorld Pick of the Week for a look at the renewed battle between Sanction and TrialDirector thanks to LexisNexis' recent acquisition of Sanction.

How to Receive LitigationWorld
All practice areas evolve, but none faster than litigation. Written by successful litigators and other litigation experts, LitigationWorld provides you with practical tips related to electronic discovery, depositions, litigation strategy, litigation technology, and trial presentations. LitigationWorld also features in-depth litigation product reviews with accompanying TechnoScore ratings, as well as links to the most noteworthy litigation articles in other publications so that you'll never miss anything. The LitigationWorld newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Originally published in the July 2, 2012 issue of LitigationWorld: A Rule 30(b)(6) deposition can change the dynamics of a case, and even short circuit the need for expensive ediscovery. In this issue of LitigationWorld, Seattle litigator Kim Gunning explains the nuts and bolts of Rule 30(b)(6) depositions. She then provides strategic tips on how and when to use them, and points out a crucial safe harbora for these organizational depositions. Also, don't miss the LitigationWorld Pick of the Week for Thomas Allman's "Ediscovery Bible" (that's not the real name of this free 68-page PDF file but it should be as it discusses all federal and state ediscovery rules as of May 2012).

How to Receive LitigationWorld
All practice areas evolve, but none faster than litigation. Written by successful litigators and other litigation experts, LitigationWorld provides you with practical tips related to electronic discovery, depositions, litigation strategy, litigation technology, and trial presentations. LitigationWorld also features in-depth litigation product reviews with accompanying TechnoScore ratings, as well as links to the most noteworthy litigation articles in other publications so that you'll never miss anything. The LitigationWorld newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Originally published in the June 29, 2012 issue of LitigationWorld: Yelling is counterproductive. A subtle approach works better at persuading people. For this issue of LitigationWorld, lawyer and ediscovery expert Joshua Gilliland has penned a thoughtful open letter about the current state of ediscovery ethics — the gap between what the ethical and civil procedural rules require and what's actually happening in most cases. However, rather than berate litigators, Josh demonstrates some relatively simple steps you can take starting today to ensure compliance. As an added bonus, you'll gain a strategic advantage in your cases. We suggest you take Josh's advice. Also, don't miss the LitigationWorld Pick of the Week for tips on how to tell an electrifying story in court (Mad Men, not C-Span).

How to Receive LitigationWorld
All practice areas evolve, but none faster than litigation. Written by successful litigators and other litigation experts, LitigationWorld provides you with practical tips related to electronic discovery, depositions, litigation strategy, litigation technology, and trial presentations. LitigationWorld also features in-depth litigation product reviews with accompanying TechnoScore ratings, as well as links to the most noteworthy litigation articles in other publications so that you'll never miss anything. The LitigationWorld newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.