TechnoLawyer: Online/Cloud

Coming November 20, 2007 to Answers to Questions: Caren Schwartz provides some tips on using QuickBooks for trust accounting, Thomas F. McDow explains how to make the most of your front and back office software, Paul Mathias shares his experiences with multiple monitors (and we point to nifty solution favored by hedge funds), Charlotte Quiroz discusses the costs associated with Tabs3 and the various training options, and Morris Tabush offers some suggested products for shared calendars (and we provide some suggestions of our own). Don't miss this issue.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published Thursdays, Answers to Questions is a weekly newsletter in which TechnoLawyer members answer legal technology and practice management questions submitted by their peers (including you if you join TechnoLawyer). Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

Coming November 6, 2007 to TechnoFeature: Movies, restaurants, cars, software ... all of these products get rated, making it easier for us to decide what to see, where to eat, what to drive, etc. Why should choosing a lawyer be any different? In this article, lawyer and blogger Mazyar Hedayat reviews Avvo, an online service designed to help the average joe choose the perfect lawyer. Most controversial is Avvo's rating system, which prompted a backlash and even some lawsuits when it launched this June. How did it all start? Does it really help? Mazyar answers these questions and more — but only if you promise to jack up his Avvo rating.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Tuesdays, TechnoFeature is a weekly newsletter that contains in-depth articles written by leading legal technology and practice management experts. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers a "getting things done" Web application (see below), a utility for creating a table of authorities in Microsoft Word, and an online office suite. Don't miss the next issue.

What Is Your Next Action?
By Taeho Lim

Back in law school, you may have used mnemonics and acronyms like IRAC to help you with exams. Now apivision.com has a new acronym for lawyers looking to organize their daily routines and long-term projects: Nozbe, which stands for N(ext Action) O(rganize and Process) Z(ero Problems). Simply put, Nozbe aspires to keep busy attorneys like you looking ahead at all times

The first set of features for Nozbe revolves around looking at your Next Action. Nozbe enables you to quickly jot down digital notes and tasks and add them to your schedule. Next, you can group your tasks and notes into projects and matters. Move tasks and notes between projects as necessary and arrange your folders based on your preferences. Finally, just as pro athletes always say they play the season "one game at a time," Nozbe enables you to designate a certain task as the main one you need to complete next.

Nozbe also provides features to help you Organize and Process your work. Group your tasks under "contexts" so you know what to do next and where to do it. For example, you can designate what you need to do at Home, at the Office, or what Errands you need to run. In addition, Nozbe enables you to attach pertinent files to your projects. Finally, Nozbe provides a number of ways to access your account, including printing your to-do lists on A4, pocket, and wallet-sized paper, and logging in via iPhone and other smartphones as well as iGoogle and Netvibes. Mac users can download a Dashboard widget.

If Nozbe sounds like a system for David Allen's Getting Things Done that's because it is. Overall, Nozbe claims to make it easy to share and delegate work, as well as edit your actions. In addition, the API enables you to connect Nozbe to your existing applications. Those in need of further guidance can contact Nozbe founder Michael Sliwinski personally.

Nozbe offers a free account for up to 5 projects, a $4.95/month Basic account for 30 projects, a $9.95/month PRO account for 100 projects, and the high-end Super! account for $14.95/month for 1,000 projects. Learn more about Nozbe.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Wednesdays, TechnoLawyer NewsWire is a weekly newsletter that enables you to learn about new technology products and services of interest to legal professionals. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

Coming October 26, 2007 to Fat Friday: Robert Rice reviews the conflict checking abilities of Amicus Attorney, Candace Carponter reviews the Web billing application Bill4Time, David Garretson reviews Mocha Remote Client for the Treo 650 as well as shares some handheld security tips, Sarkis Babachanian explains why he can't switch to an iPhone just yet, and Kevin Grierson provides an update on the AllofMP3 saga. Don't miss this issue.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Fridays, Fat Friday is a weekly newsletter that features a grab bag full of genuinely useful product reviews and tips on a wide variety of topics. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers a secure online storage service (see below), software that can digitize your paper forms and send the data into your legacy applications, and a practice management program for Mac users. Don't miss the next issue.

Three Steps to a Paperless Office
By Taeho Lim

You can never be too thin. That's a lie. Just ask Esther Canadas. You can never be too rich. That's also a lie if you don't want fame along with your fortune. You can never have enough storage or too little paper. Bingo!

File123's eponymous online service promises the most elusive of all technology promises — the paperless law office. As its name implies, File123 boils the storage process down to three steps: transfer digital files from your computer via upload or email, scan, or fax your paper documents, and then organize and back up your vault contents.

The functionality of File123 revolves around its searchable, sortable, sendable, and secure online file repository. To search for the file you need, enter a keyword and File123 looks for that term(s) and lists the relevant files. Add more files via fax, scan, email, or Web browser, or just drop them into File123's network drive application. When you need to share files, choose what you want to send and either email your recipients an attachment or a link that leads to a secure download page on the Web.

File123 also features a "Dashboard" from which you can add files, review recent account activity, and manage your folders. You add, delete, and reorganize folders just as you would on your Mac or PC — just drag and drop files and folders. Finally, File123 features 256-bit browser security to ensure that no one but you can access your storage vault.

A File123 account gives you 1 GB of free storage. Upgrading to a 10 GB account costs $4.95/month. Other plans exist for those who need even more storage since, after all, you can never get enough. No word on an unlimited plan though. Learn more about File123.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Wednesdays, TechnoLawyer NewsWire is a weekly newsletter that enables you to learn about new technology products and services of interest to legal professionals. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers a litigation document review application (see below), a new legal accounting and billing program, and an online service that helps you schedule meetings more efficiently. Don't miss the next issue.

Your Ticket Out of the Document Gulag
By Taeho Lim

Back in the day, law firms that handled document-intensive cases would often lease an entire floor just to house the documents. Associates would dread being assigned to such cases as it meant spending all their time in these document gulags instead of in their plush offices. With the advent of eDiscovery, these floors have gradually disappeared, but document review remains a dreaded task because the number of documents has increased.

Inspicio from Altep aims to streamline the document review process. Inspicio is a Web-based solution that enables you to review documents from anywhere. According to Altep, Inspicio features high-level navigability, flexibility, and powerful analytical tools that help ensure accurate and efficient review.

Inspicio features a spacious "data repository" in which you can store document collections for multiple matters. Inspicio supports hundreds of different file formats so you can open files right away in their native format without having to convert them.

As you review documents, you can use Inspicio's tagging technology to organize them. For example, mark a file with "Responsive," "Privileged," "Jones Deposition," etc. You apply tags by simply checking a box. You can apply a tag to one document at a time or multiple documents simultaneously.

Inspicio also enables you to search across all documents in the application for any matter. You can use "Basic Search" for simple searches and "Query Builder" to conduct more complex, custom searches with the Inspicio interface.

Inspicio's advanced reporting helps you keep track of document collections and progress on projects and matters. The ToDo List function enables you to plan a review and assign its components to members of the team.

Regarding security, Inspicio features "user domains" and "access levels" to determine who can see, create, access, or edit certain files. In addition, you can track every user action in any part of the application. Finally, Inspicio has its own messaging system so you can communicate with other users. Messages stay within Inspicio to preserve confidentiality. Learn more about Inspicio.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Wednesdays, TechnoLawyer NewsWire is a weekly newsletter that enables you to learn about new technology products and services of interest to legal professionals. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers a comprehensive eDiscovery suite (see below), a new case management program for small law firms, and a Web-based intranet/extranet application. Don't miss the next issue.

All-In-One eDiscovery and Document Review
By Taeho Lim

Wouldn't it be nice to tap into every type of document analysis or search tool available today? If you want to do that with your eDiscovery cases, you have two choices — use multiple single-function programs and hope you can get them to integrate with one another, or use a single multiple-function program that does everything. If the latter approach sounds better to you, check out Discovery360 from InterLegis.

Discovery360 aims to streamline the eDiscovery process by providing the functionality of multiple eDiscovery applications in one convenient package. Its functionality includes: eDiscovery culling and processing, document attribute and conceptual clustering, natural language search, Boolean search, similarity matching, metadata filtering, email threading, proactive relevancy alerts, native or TIFF review, real-time reviewer reporting, on-the-fly productions, bulk issue coding, and more.

With all these tools in one application, Discovery360 simplifies each of the steps in the eDiscovery process, enabling you to cull and process documents, store, manage, analyze, review, and produce them as needed.

For example, the new "DataMapper" module enables case administrators to cull relevant documents using a wide range of criteria — keywords, custodian, date ranges, concepts, relevant metadata, or just about anything else you specify. Culling can eliminate 20-80% of irrelevant files depending on the situation. DataMapper can find and eliminate duplicates, and can also run "What If" scenarios so that you can get a sense of how many documents a certain decision would remove before actually doing so. DataMapper provides real-time reports throughout the process, all the while giving you control of your data and saving money too.

Once you have your data set in place, Discovery360 makes all document attributes searchable, including keywords, concepts, all metadata, timelines, and document relationships. During this process, Discovery360 also places documents into concept folders, identifies and groups email threads and similar documents (near duplicates), etc. — all aimed at reducing your workload. You can also add relevant paper documents to the mix to maintain a single, normalized database. Learn more about Discovery360.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Wednesdays, TechnoLawyer NewsWire is a weekly newsletter that enables you to learn about new technology products and services of interest to legal professionals. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

BlawgWorld enables you to explore and discover legal blogs (blawgs) without spinning your wheels. It features the best essays of the year from 77 of the most influential blawgs.

TechnoLawyer Problem/Solution Guide uses a question/answer format to help you find solutions to problems commonly encountered by law firms. It contains 185 solutions organized into 58 topics.

Thanks to the eBook's inspired design, you're never more than three clicks away from what you want to read. BlawgWorld 2007-08 with TechnoLawyer Problem/Solution Guide has received glowing reviews from many publications. For example, LLRX writes:

"The substance of both books is exceptional, while the eBook format is innovative and inviting.... [The eBook] was designed to open in just about any PDF viewer and it worked very well in my various tests.... The best part of the entire eBook is that it is free."

Download Your Free Copy Now
BlawgWorld 2007-08 with TechnoLawyer Problem/Solution Guide is truly free — no registration hassles.

So please download your copy now (PDF file).

And then enter our sweepstakes.

Coming September 28, 2007 to Fat Friday: Steven Schwaber implores general counsel to hire more small law firms, Mazyar Hedayat shares his thoughts on the new lawyer-rating Web site Avvo, Anna Marie Sossong reviews the Cirque Touchpad, Philip Franckel describes his document naming system, and Joyce Kawahata explains why her firm uses both WordPerfect and Microsoft Word. Don't miss this issue.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Fridays, Fat Friday is a weekly newsletter that features a grab bag full of genuinely useful product reviews and tips on a wide variety of topics. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers an online expense report service, stylish software for accounting, case management, and time-billing, and a business process integration tool that can communicate with just about any legacy system a law firm might have. Don't miss the next issue.

Below you'll find one of the three articles from today's edition:

Control Your Practice in Style
By Taeho Lim

Once upon a time no one seemed to care about user interface design. Then Apple released a music player with a breakthrough interface. Software companies changed their tune and focused their energy on simple, elegant interfaces. World peace ensued. Life was good. The end.

Of course, the story doesn't really end like that. Lots of bad software design still exists. But some software companies have embraced interface design as a competitive advantage. One such company is ESI Software, which recently released ESILAW 2007 (pronounced "easy law") — "time, billing, accounting, and client control software for law firms."

One of the most notable new features is not a feature per se, but a "Follow Me" help system that guides you through the functions of the program. Also new is the "QuickStart Navigator," which helps you set up the software. After setting up ESILAW, you'll find the "ESILAW Navigator," which takes you to any function in the program with one click. You can also create your own toolbar for even faster access to the functions you use the most.

If you bill your time, you can use ESILAW 2007's Timetracker to keep track of it for you. It features time codes, timers, an integrated spell checker, and more. You can also email your time entries when on the road and import your time from other programs such as Amicus Attorney. ESILAW 2007 also supports task-based billing, including UTBMS codes.

As a full-fledged accounting program, ESILAW 2007 contains many features you would expect such as check writing, accounts payable, accounts receivable, etc., and a few you might not such as expense tracking and cost recovery. In addition to entering expenses such as travel, you can also automatically capture equipment costs from virtually any cost recovery system, including Equitrac, PrintAudit, and Copitrak.

As you would expect, ESILAW 2007 enables you to generate many reports, including work-in-progress and collection realization. You can generate all your bills from a single screen. If you don't finish in one session, ESILAW 2007 will save your place so you can return later.

What the company calls "client control," you probably refer to as case or practice management. In this regard, ESI significantly beefed up its calendar in ESILAW 2007. At a glance, you can see your appointments and tasks. You can also create time entries from calendar items. Sharing calendars across your firm doesn't require any additional software.

Like many programs, ESILAW 2007 integrates with Outlook so that you can associate email with clients and matters. But ESILAW 2007 takes this integration one step further with an option to add Quickfile4Outlook, an Outlook add-on that enables you to file incoming and outgoing email into client/matter folders. Quickfile4Outlook can also archive and print email by matter.

ESILAW 2007 is compatible with Windows Vista as well as Windows 2000 and Windows XP. It sells for $249 by itself or $348 if bundled with Quickfile4Outlook. Learn more about ESILAW 2007.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Wednesdays, TechnoLawyer NewsWire is a weekly newsletter that briefly discusses and provides links to three hot new technology products and services of interest to legal professionals. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. You can subscribe here.