TechnoLawyer: SmallLaw

Originally published in the July 31, 2012 issue of SmallLaw: In TL NewsWire in January 2012, we were the first to report on a new document assembly add-on for Microsoft Word called TheFormTool PRO. Since then, the company has shipped a new version. In this issue of SmallLaw, Microsoft Office expert Jeanette Otis, who works for a Bloomington, Illinois personal injury lawyer, reviews TheFormTool PRO. Jeannette used it for several months on real documents to find out if it's a worthwhile investment for a small law practice. In her review, Jeannette walks you through the installation, basic features, and advanced features — and also bestows a TechnoScore. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for good advice about how to escape a trap in which many managing partners find themselves.

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 July 24, 2012 issue of SmallLaw: The legal pad started dying long before the iPad arrived. But the iPad may kill what killed legal pads — letter size paper and laptops. In this issue of SmallLaw, legal technology consultant and iPad trainer Brett Burney reviews three iPad apps that enable you to take notes and automatically record audio and sync it to your notes. This way, you can play back what someone said when you jotted something down. For the first time in this series, Brett issues a split opinion in his iVerdict with two winners depending on your needs. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for a review of Kensington's new Virtuoso Pro Fine Tip Stylus, which you can use with the notetaking apps Brett reviews.

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 July 23, 2012 issue of SmallLaw: Each year Gavel & Gown ships new versions of its Amicus Attorney practice management systems. Today, Charlotte real estate lawyer Richard Belthoff reviews Amicus Attorney Small Firm Edition 2012, which is geared at small law firms with 1-10 users. Rich has used many versions of Amicus Attorney since 1995 so there's no one better suited to evaluate its new features, which include document management, referral tracking, telephone messages delivered by email, and more. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for a review of Time Master, an iPhone app for time tracking.

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 July 17, 2012 issue of SmallLaw: Read this issue of SmallLaw now before it's too late if you're a "Piler" (especially an Outlook-using Piler). Pilers leave all their email in their inbox. The Piler versus Filer debate is over. Filers are more productive and less likely to miss an important deadline. In this article, law firm technology consultant Ben Schorr discusses five essential steps to trimming your email inbox and keeping it in shape. Pilers in small law firms with thousands of messages can whittle down their inbox in just five hours with these tips. Even Filers will learn some new tricks. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for a double dose of Ben Schorr as he shares his favorite smartphone apps that everyone else hasn't already recommended.

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 July 11, 2012 issue of SmallLaw: Thanks to a prior issue of SmallLaw, you know how to quickly format your Word documents using Styles. Today, law firm technology consultant Ben Schorr explains how to take the next step — tweaking your Styles to complete perfection, adding these Styles to templates, and most importantly moving these Styles to other PCs so that everyone in your firm can create documents with the same look and feel. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for a sobering look at starting a law firm written by two young lawyers trying to make a go of it with a general practice in a big city.

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 July 10, 2012 issue of SmallLaw: We know you want to view your Google Calendar through your Google Glasses so we'll update today's SmallLaw article with that tenth tip in the future. In the meantime, law practice advisor advisor Erik Mazzone has nine Google Calendar tips you can use immediately. If you don't currently use Google Calendar, you may want to start after learning about its capabilities, especially since you can sync it with your existing calendar in Outlook, some practice management systems, and/or Apple's iCal. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for Lee Rosen's advice on when it's time to open a second office for your practice (which we have dubbed the 30% Rule).

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 July 6, 2012 issue of SmallLaw: Up until 2011, the legal technology world speculated which of the cloud practice management startups LexisNexis would acquire. Then LexisNexis surprised everyone by launching Firm Manager, its own cloud practice management system. In this issue of SmallLaw, practice management consultant Seth Rowland reviews Firm Manager from top to bottom and then some — features (including the new client portal and document management system), interface, speed, underlying technologies, etc. Seth tested Firm Manager on two PCs, a Mac, an iPad, an iPhone, and a Droid Pro. What's Seth verdict and TechnoScore? Read his review to find out. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for a visual walkthrough of Cloudon, the iPad app we recently reviewed that runs Microsoft Office on your 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.

Originally published in the June 26, 2012 issue of SmallLaw: Today we present a comprehensive review of Sage Timeslips 2012. And who better for this task than New Jersey lawyer and SmallLaw senior product reviewer Edward Zohn. Sadly, many reviewers use a product for an hour. By contrast, Ed used Timeslips in his practice for a few weeks. As a result, Ed's review evaluates everything from installation and customization to time entry to Timeslips eCenter to the QuickBooks link and much more — plus his TechnoScore rating. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for a solution to a serious problem in small law firms — training an associate only to have them leave and sometimes even steal your clients.

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 June 12, 2012 issue of SmallLaw: Howard Stern can help your law career. As a summer associate, TechnoLawyer publisher Neil Squillante listened to Howard every morning while commuting. A partner at the firm was a fan so each day he would swing by Neil's office to discuss that morning's show. It never hurts to have a kindred spirit among the partnership. But after you score a job, you need to earn your keep. Listening to talk radio won't help you bill hours. In this issue of SmallLaw, appellate lawyer and Pennsylvania legal technology specialist Joshua Auriemma explains how you can prepare your documents so that you can listen to them during your commute — and leave the office earlier as a result. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for lessons from a law firm web site redesign, including before and after screenshots.

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 June 8, 2012 issue of SmallLaw: Asymmetrical competition refers to succeeding by circumventing stronger competitors through reinvention rather than going head to head. The most well-known example is Apple's iPhone, which vanquished once dominant companies like Motorola, Nokia, and Research in Motion by reinventing the smartphone with a muti-touch screen, built-in App Store, and several other innovations. In this issue of SmallLaw, lawyer and law practice advisor Erik Mazzone analyzes the relatively recent success of food trucks, which have also used asymmetrical competition. Erik draws five lessons from these hyper efficient small businesses that your small law firm can apply, especially with LegalZoom and Rocket Lawyer engaged in asymmetrical competition of their own design aimed at you. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for a new search engine designed to complement Google.

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.