TechnoLawyer: SmallLaw

Coming today to SmallLaw: After reading today's issue of SmallLaw, it'll probably take you a few days to get the INXS hit song New Sensation out of your head for the second time in your life. However, that's a small price to pay because you'll learn how this band inspired Peoria Illinois business lawyer Joe VanFleet to successfully reengineer his small law firm after the financial crisis. For example, Joe's firm reduced its fees for LLC formation by 78% without sacrificing profits. Not only can Joe compete against any law firm, but also against Legal Zoom and its ilk. And so can your law firm if you apply Joe's advice. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for the top 31 iPad apps for lawyers according to Bill Latham of Hytech Lawyer fame.

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.

Coming today to SmallLaw: More than 77% of TechnoLawyer members use Outlook. But most of you likely use prior versions. If you're wondering whether you should upgrade to Outlook 2013, you're in luck. In this issue of SmallLaw, law firm technology consultant Ben Schorr takes you on a tour of Outlook 2013's most notable new features. Just as importantly, he discusses the features Microsoft axed. Finally, Ben provides advice on whether or not your law practice should upgrade. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for the top 20 mistakes law firm founders make.

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.

Coming today to SmallLaw: When Apple started shipping the iPad, many journalists reviewed it as an entertainment device because they lacked the ability to see beyond their own navel. Meanwhile, lawyers realized the iPad could replace paper and laptops in many situations. In this issue of SmallLaw, litigator and iPad for lawyers expert Jeff Richardson shares five tips on using your iPad at a deposition. By following Jeff's advice, you'll minimize the risk of making a mistake or missing out on an opportunity to obtain helpful testimony. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for a new study on how people find and hire lawyers.

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.

Coming today to SmallLaw: A few years ago, Charlotte real estate lawyer Richard Belthoff told Gavel & Gown founder Ron Collins that he wanted to enter billable time into Amicus Attorney Small Firm from his smartphone and tablet when out of the office. Earlier this year, Gavel & Gown shipped Amicus TimeTracker, a cloud application that enables you to enter and edit time entries from any device and securely send them to Amicus Attorney Small Firm in your office. Who better to review Amicus TimeTracker than the lawyer who asked for it? That's what you'll find in this issue of SmallLaw. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for John Heckman's review of our TL Research Buyer's Guide to Legal Billing Software.

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.

Coming today to SmallLaw: Microsoft has shipped Office 2013 (which includes Word 2013), but the company doesn't want you to buy a copy at Staples. Instead, Microsoft wants you to subscribe forever, and send you quarterly updates with new features. In this issue of SmallLaw, law firm technology consultant Ben Schorr discusses Word 2013's most interesting new features. He then explains your licensing options, including the pros and cons. Finally, he makes recommendations. Don't upgrade until you read Ben's advice. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for the impact of Google's recent changes on law firm web sites.

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.

Coming today to SmallLaw: We recently described legal billing software as a "must-have" for law firms. Seattle estate planning attorney John Creahan agrees. When he hung his shingle last year, he immediately started evaluating time-billing products. In this issue of SmallLaw, John reviews CaseFox, a cloud (web-based) product. You'll learn about CaseFox's unique pricing, the setup process, how well it handles time-tracking, time entries, trust accounts, invoicing, etc., and whether it can also serve as your practice management system. As with all our formal reviews, John bestows a TechnoScore. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for a review of the Ergotech VersaStand, a stand for iPads.

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.

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.

Coming today to SmallLaw: In the old days, a Yellow Page advertisement served as the equivalent of your law firm's web site. Back then, you could pay more for more visibility. But pay to play doesn't work online. In fact, paying to increase your search engine rank can get you into trouble if you run afoul of Google's rules. In this issue of SmallLaw, family lawyer Lee Rosen provides 10 "white hat" search engine optimization tips that will enable your web site to rank better for search terms such as your geographic location and practice areas. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for advice on when to report potential legal malpractice claims to ensure coverage.

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.

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.

Coming today to SmallLaw: The ABA Model Rules suggest that all lawyers perform pro bono work. But that's a much easier commitment for a junior associate at a mega-firm to make than a solo practitioner or a partner at a small law firm. In this issue of SmallLaw, Gadsden, Alabama lawyer Clark Stewart tackles this issue within the context of his popular A Lawyer's Life series. By chronicling his own positive and negative pro bono experiences, he may help you strike the right balance. As always, you'll find Clark's adventures entertaining and moving. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for the pros and cons of starting a law firm in the first place.

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.