TechnoLawyer: SmallLaw

Originally published in the June 5, 2012 issue of SmallLaw: Last month, Above the Law published a series of colorful email messages sent by a (now former) lawyer at Cozen O'Connor to opposing counsel that led to a motion for sanctions. In light of this incident, we thought it would be a good idea to explore a law practice skill not taught in law school — interacting with opposing counsel. In this issue of SmallLaw, veteran litigator Kristin Branson provides five valuable tips. These pearls of wisdom will not only prevent you from being mocked on Above the Law or worse, but they will also give you a strategic advantage over opposing counsel regardless of your area of practice. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for a comparative review of the four major smartphone credit card processing apps and swipers.

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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 May 29, 2012 issue of SmallLaw: Given the prevalence of PDF forms, it's a shame that so many lawyers still print them out whether for the signature or even the entire form. After all, you're not always in your office. And if it's your client who needs to fill out the form, you don't want them sitting in front of your computer. But it would be cool to hand your client an iPad. In this issue of SmallLaw, legal technology consultant and iPad expert Brett Burney evaluates three iPad apps for filling in PDF forms and chooses a winner. He also explains how to create your own PDF forms so that you can make even greater use of these apps. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for a comparative review of four iPad styli.

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 May 25, 2012 issue of SmallLaw: Maybe it's still spring where you work, but Gadsden, Alabama lawyer Clark Stewart already feels the summer heat so he has decamped to his lake house with his family for some fishing and 7 and 7s. Unfortunately, emergencies are inevitable for criminal defense lawyers like Clark. Instead of using his Windows laptop to handle the paperwork that arises, Clark would prefer to use his iPad. So we sent him the Apple Wireless Keyboard, and Clark download the new CloudOn app, which provides iPad users with Microsoft Office. Can this combination replace your Windows laptop? Read Clark's review in this issue of SmallLaw to find out. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for an overview of Microsoft's Office 365 by SmallLaw columnist Ben Schorr.

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 May 25, 2012 issue of SmallLaw: Maybe it's still spring where you work, but Gadsden, Alabama lawyer Clark Stewart already feels the summer heat so he has decamped to his lake house with his family for some fishing and 7 and 7s. Unfortunately, emergencies are inevitable for criminal defense lawyers like Clark. Instead of using his Windows laptop to handle the paperwork that arises, Clark would prefer to use his iPad. So we sent him the Apple Wireless Keyboard, and Clark download the new CloudOn app, which provides iPad users with Microsoft Office. Can this combination replace your Windows laptop? Read Clark's review in this issue of SmallLaw to find out. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for an overview of Microsoft's Office 365 by SmallLaw columnist Ben Schorr.

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 May 24, 2012 issue of SmallLaw: Time flies when you're busy at work, which makes it all the more difficult to accurately capture and bill. Maybe someday we can build a time machine and persuade Reginald Heber Smith not to invent the billable hour. Until then, the most promising technology is automatic or passive time capture. In this issue of SmallLaw, estate planning lawyer Chandra Lewnau reviews the new version of the most actively developed and well-known of these tools — Chrometa 2012. Chandra has become a senior product reviewer for SmallLaw because of her thoroughness. True to form, her review leave no feature unexplored. As an added bonus, below the review you'll find a response from Chrometa. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for advice on how solos and small law firms can compete against LegalZoom now that we have more insight from its recent IPO filing.

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 May 23, 2012 issue of SmallLaw: Raise your hand if you have never sent an email message you regretted a few minutes later. Just as I suspected, I see no hands raised. Welcome to the club. In this issue of SmallLaw, law firm technology consultant and Microsoft Office expert Ben Schorr explains how to eliminate email mishaps from this point forward — or as Ben charactrizes it, unring the email bell. Just follow Ben's advice for Outlook, which takes just a few minutes minutes to implement, and you'll gain the ability to recall any email message you send (other email programs may offer a similar feature). Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for a review of WordPerfect Office X6.

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 May 11, 2012 issue of SmallLaw: In the entertaining book, "Inside Apple," Adam Lashinky describes the NSA-like secrecy policies at Apple. It's unlikely anyone at Apple uses Dropbox or USB flash drives. But the iTwin might make the cut. Today, New Jersey lawyer Edward Zohn, SmallLaw's senior product reviewer, evaluates the iTwin, a remote access device that Ed describes as an "endless hard drive cable." As usual, Ed used the iTwin for about a month in his own small law firm before penning this review. He not only discusses its features in detail, including security, but compares it to alternatives such as cloud storage, portable storage, remote control, and virtual private networks. If you still don't have an ideal remote access solution, read Ed's review and share it with your colleagues. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for five secrets to winning over a company seeking outside counsel.

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 May 10, 2012 issue of SmallLaw: Mulder and Sculley have long since retired, but one of the great mysteries of our time has nonetheless been solved. Much like Deep Throat, Google itself recently unveiled its long-rumored Google Drive. In this issue of SmallLaw, cloud application expert and law practice advisor Erik Mazzone reviews Google Drive from the small law firm perspective. Erik analyzes Google Drive's storage, pricing, desktop and mobile functionality, web interface, feature set, and security. In short, it's the most comprehensive review of Google Drive not only among legal publications but among all publications. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for 10 tips on how to write articles for client development.

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 May 1, 2012 issue of SmallLaw: The United States Postal Service's glory days are long gone, but virtually all law firms still use mail. In this issue of SmallLaw, law firm technology consultant Ben Schorr explains how to wring more productivity from Microsoft Word when creating and printing envelopes and labels. Even if you're a power user, you probably don't know about all of these power tips — plus Ben also discusses POSTNET bar codes. So keep this article close at hand the next time you power up Microsoft Word. Also, can lawyers work in cubicles? Don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for a law firm that answered this question by experimenting with an open office design.

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 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.

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.