TechnoLawyer: TL Editorial

In an excellent article entitled The Power of Google Link Juice, venture capital legend Fed Wilson writes:

"I've thought about moving my blog from this lousy URL (avc.blogs.com) to something better. But I can never get past the google juice issue."

In other words, thanks to years of quality inbound links, Google thinks so highly of Fred's blog that his articles often appear on Google's first page when people search for keywords in those articles. If he changes his domain name, much of his Google link juice will evaporate.

What's the Lesson?

Carefully choose your domain name for your firm's Web site and blog(s). They should reside at the same domain name (which does not mean they must reside on the same Web server).

What Are the Consequences of Ignoring This Lesson?

Let's look at an all-too-common example.

A law firm launches a Web site at www.myfirm.com. Great. The site attracts links to its lawyer biographies, articles, etc. Great. A few years later, the firm decides to launch one or more blogs. Great.

But then the firm runs off the rails by placing its blog at a different domain name when instead the firm should use a subdomain of its existing domain name (e.g., asbestos.myfirm.com).

The upshot is that the blog will not benefit from any of the firm's existing Google link juice. The blog will have to start from square one.

Why Do Law Firms Make This Mistake?

Many law firms don't appreciate Google's dominance and how much power it wields. And so they wind up falling prey to one of three lines of faulty thinking.

1. Too Complex or Expensive

Some firms host their blog using a free service such as Blogger on the mistaken belief that it's difficult or expensive to host their blog at their existing domain name.

Blogger and other free services don't allow you to use your own domain name, but plenty of modestly-priced services do and the process is not difficult. You simply create a CNAME in the DNS settings of your domain name, and then domain map this CNAME using the tools provided by your blog hosting service.

Notwithstanding all that jargon, it will take you 10 minutes — 9 minutes to read the instructions and 1 minute to do the work. TypePad has the best explanation I've seen.

2. The Blog Beta Test

Some firms host their blogs at a different domain name because they're unsure about blogging and don't want the content on their main site. These firms should not bother blogging. You can't get a little bit pregnant after all.

3. Vanity URLs

Some firms want their blog at a vanity URL such as asbestoslawyers.com instead of at their firm's domain name. I understand the appeal of a memorable domain name, but from a search engine optimization perspective you then have to worry about juicing multiple domain names rather than one.

If you insist on going this route, at least envelope your blog in the same design template as your main site. This way, visitors can somewhat seamlessly go from your blog to your main site and back again. The URL will change, but people may not notice.

If you haven't built much equity around your current domain name and your site is small, you could move it to the more memorable URL that you now prefer for your imminent blog and use HTTP 301 redirects to preserve whatever Google juice you had.

Coincidentally, lexBlog CEO Kevin O'Keefe offers similar advice today about vanity domain names, including some tips on how to secure one, but he does not discuss the benefits of sticking with your established domain name (assuming you have one).

How About a Tasty Test?

Given that we're discussing "juice," it just so happens that I recently perfected a recipe after 4 years of tests. This fairly popular dish in the Northeast surprisingly pulls up only 1,570 listings on Google when the search terms appear in quotes and 35,500 without quotes.

Even though TechnoLawyer Blog doesn't usually cover food, it has considerable Google link juice. Therefore, I think there's a good chance Google will list my recipe on its first page. No tricks here. Just quality content written well.

Here's my recipe.

Here's the Google search with quotes.

Here's the Google search without quotes.

Check these Google searches on Thursday or Friday to see how the recipe is performing now and you'll see my recipe listed on the first page. Remember, people at this very minute are searching Google for keywords of great interest to you and your firm. Make sure they find you.

About TechnoEditorials
A TechnoEditorial is the vehicle through which we opine and provide tips of interest to managing partners, law firm administrators, and others in the legal profession. TechnoEditorials appear first in TechnoGuide, and later here in TechnoLawyer Blog. TechnoGuide, which is free, also contains exclusive content. You can subscribe here.

An ongoing discussion in our Fat Friday newsletter about large law firm recruiting and salaries brought back memories of an article published in the Winter 1997 issue of City Journal entitled My Life As An Associate.

Written by Jonathan Foreman, it struck a chord with me back then when I myself was a large firm associate, and remains in my opinion the best inside account of large law firm life I've ever come across. Foreman is a formidable writer who practiced law at Shearman & Sterling for two years before embarking on a career as a journalist.

I kept a copy of the article on paper for many years and eventually scanned it into PDF format. I read it twice a year at least — and I'm not one of those people who usually consumes media more than once (the movie Wall Street being the only other exception).

So imagine my excitement when I discovered that City Journal (an excellent publication incidentally) now has all of its past issues online for free in an easy-to-read and printer-friendly format — including Foreman's article. Here's a taste of Foreman's take on large firm life in the mid-1990s:

"Our corporate culture required the show of enthusiasm in all circumstances. A partner would come into your office and ask if you had any plans for the weekend. The correct answer was "no." And you would then be given an assignment to fill your empty Saturday and Sunday. The first time I was asked the question, I mumbled something about having hoped to go to Vermont. The young partner, who was nicknamed "Dave the Barracuda," looked at me with a combination of incredulity and sympathy, as if I had just confessed to a subnormal IQ. "It's a rhetorical question," he explained with an exasperated sigh, before proceeding to assign me 20 hours of research.

"Every week we had to fill out a form saying how many hours we had billed the week before and for which client. If you put down a number that suggested you had enjoyed an easy week, the assignments partner would soon wander through your open door and ask if you were busy. It was another rhetorical question: it meant that you were about to become extremely busy. It also meant that there was an incentive not to work too fast. The idea was to charge as many billable hours to clients as would seem reasonable sometime in the future. If you worked too fast, the firm would not be getting its money's worth, and you would be rewarded immediately with another assignment. So our progress was sedate even when we were billing over 100 hours a week.

...

"It seemed that only law students and their parents thought it was a big deal to work in a Wall Street megafirm. Anybody who had had the slightest contact with corporate law, from investment bankers to secretaries to dancers-cum-proofreaders, just felt sorry for us. Our amazingly high turnover meant that over two years most of the people I liked quit or were fired.

"Others, the real unfortunates, were broken to the system. Once the cream of the Ivy League, they had been told too often that they were useless, that they were lucky to have a job at all. Years of semi-brainless paperwork while their college peers were starting businesses or making movies had dissolved their self-confidence. After three or four years the outside world had come to seem a terrifying place. Some claimed they were trying to get out, but one look at their eyes told the whole story."

Read Jonathan Foreman's My Life As An Associate.

About TechnoEditorials
A TechnoEditorial is the vehicle through which we opine and provide tips of interest to managing partners, law firm administrators, and others in the legal profession. TechnoEditorials appear first in TechnoGuide, and later here in TechnoLawyer Blog. TechnoGuide, which is free, also contains exclusive content. You can subscribe here.

Today we bring you a clash of two personal injury firms.

McDivitt Law Firm: A Groundbreaking YouTube Video ...

McDivitt Law Firm handles personal injury cases in Colorado. A few hours ago, the law firm uploaded a video to YouTube that represents a breakthrough despite its flaws.

The video portrays the firm as a father-son (Mike and David) operation with Mom managing the business. Mike plays the role of the tough lawyer who has seen it all while David shows a softer, more compassionate side (as does his Mom). You can tell that they all rehearsed prior to filming. Preparation makes such a difference.

The camera moves in an unconventional manner with some frames purposely missing or sped up, which gives the video a reality TV show feel but does not detract from the message. In the end, the McDivitts make their point — they understand what you're going through and will fight for you.

I do have two quibbles. First, the description needs a link to the firm's site.

Second, Mike wears a frumpy-looking suit without a tie while his son David dresses casually. To better showcase the theme about the firm having both a hard and soft edge, Mike should have dressed in a power suit and tie. I think people like seeing their lawyers dressed well.

Reibman & Weiner: (A Lot More of) the Same Old, Same Old ...

Reibman & Weiner, a personal injury firm in New York, certainly seems to have done its research — to its detriment. Its YouTube video uses one cliche after the next, almost like an homage to all those late night TV commercials for legal services ("Have you been injured?" — yes, that line is in the video).

I will give Reibman & Weiner points for taking advantage of YouTube's longer format to delve deeper into the (well-worn) playbook than you would see on TV.

And The Winner Is ...

McDivitt Law Firm easily wins today's battle of the law firm videos. Bring on the sequel!

About TechnoEditorials
A TechnoEditorial is the vehicle through which we opine and provide tips of interest to managing partners, law firm administrators, and others in the legal profession. TechnoEditorials appear first in TechnoGuide, and later here in TechnoLawyer Blog. TechnoGuide, which is free, also contains exclusive content. You can subscribe here.

We have a vending machine in our office.

Popular items such as Peanut M&Ms disappear in a day or two after a refill yet the company that "manages" (I use that term loosely) the machine inserts the same number of packages each time rather than devoting an extra row or two.

What's worse, the vending machine often sits half empty for weeks before being replenished.

Yes, half empty as in half full. I think the Almond M&Ms date back to the Eisenhower administration.

So what can a poorly managed vending machine teach you about managing a law firm?

1. Capitalize on Definitive Trends: When a fad becomes a trend, jump on it. The earlier, the better though the greater the risk. Timing is everything.

Example: Twitter URLs may become as important as domain names, and generate trademark-related work.

2. Meet Deadlines: Obviously, you already meet court deadlines, but meet self-imposed deadlines as well — even something as simple as a promised phone call. When you announce a deadline and meet it, you foster trust, which results in more opportunities.

3. Walk a Mile: Try to view the world from your client's perspective. Don't offer what you want, but instead figure out what your clients want. They may not know so asking them may not help. At least, not directly.

Example: Lots of firms mail boring memos about new laws to their clients. Instead of writing a legal analysis, write the memo from the point of view of your clients, especially the non-lawyers. Work with a graphic designer on a layout that enhances comprehension. A better understanding of a legal issue by your clients may trigger a heretofore unknown legal need.

One last tip. Lay off the Sunkist orange soda. I recently noticed that it doesn't contain any orange juice.

About TechnoEditorials
A TechnoEditorial is the vehicle through which we opine and provide tips of interest to managing partners, law firm administrators, and others in the legal profession. TechnoEditorials appear first in TechnoGuide, and later here in TechnoLawyer Blog. TechnoGuide, which is free, also contains exclusive content. You can subscribe here.

TechnoScore: 4.4
1 = Lowest Possible Score; 5 = Highest Possible Score
www.hecklerdesign.com

Depending on whom you believe, 80-97% of New Year's resolutions fall by the wayside unfulfilled. I don't profess to know why so few resolutions succeed, but thanks to a small company in California I should have no trouble achieving my resolution this year.

For 2008, I resolved to become a minimalist. Or as the rapper Snoop Dogg once sang, "Never have a want, never have a need." Of course, that's an impossible ideal. Instead, I seek to become the antithesis of a pack-rat and possess only the bare minimum. I don't want anything I don't use, including desk space.

Thus, when I recently moved, I replaced my bulky Anthro desk with Heckler Design's sleek OneLessDesk.

It All Started With an Advertisement ...

I first encountered Heckler Design's OneLessDesk in an online advertisement on MacRumors in January. I immediately began an email dialog with Dean Heckler, the man behind the desk. Our discussions resulted in a special edition of TechnoLawyer NewsWire in which we covered OneLessDesk and four other unique desks. Measured by clicks, this issue was our most popular ever.

I also had a personal interest in OneLessDesk, having just moved into a new apartment. It seemed to perfectly address my new minimalist bent and my lack of space, but I had a few reservations. Dean eventually won me over and I placed an order.

Heckler Design limited the first production run of OneLessDesk to 100 units at $899 plus $100 shipping. I was among the early adopters, and for once it paid off. OneLessDesk now sells for $1,199 (including domestic shipping). The price has risen because the price of steel has risen. Dean is exploring other metals for a lower-priced version, but has not yet made any announcements.

The Skinny on OneLessDesk ...

OneLessDesk consists of two brushed steel desks that together take up about half the space of a traditional desk. The upper desk has a usable surface area of 33.5x12 inches, and a height of 30.5 inches. The lower desk has a usable surface area of 30.5x12 inches and a height of 25.5 inches.

The upper desk also contains a hidden shelf that opens at the back of the desk. Designed for accessories like hard drives, USB hubs, and the like, this shelf also features a cable management system in which you can wrap unused cord so that you don't end up with the usual nest of cables on your floor.

Both desks use two white plastic glides for feet, which enables you to slide the lower desk underneath the upper desk. The glides slide easily on my wood floor. I don't know how well they work on carpeting. Unfortunately, OneLessDesk does not have levelers so if your floor is uneven you may need to use a shim to prevent it from wobbling. I suspect this issue arises only on hard flooring, not carpeting.

OneLessDesk arrives in one box. If you open the box correctly (I didn't), the two desks will be standing upright ready for you to grab and move to their location. You'll need to install the glides. Each requires one countersunk Torx 20 screw.

Heckler Design provides everything you need, including a disposable Torx wrench, but I ended up using my own screwdriver for more control. You can watch a video tutorial of the entire unboxing process, including installation of the glides.

My box also contained a personal handwritten card from Dean, a nice touch that I hope he continues, and a package of Pledge stainless steel wipes. Because the desk arrives straight from the factory, you'll need these wipes to remove the grime.

Customer support is first rate. You always tend to receive the best service from the founder of the company. The real test lies ahead when Dean needs to hire employees to carry out this function.

My One Month Test Drive ...

I've now had OneLessDesk in my living room for one month and like it a lot. But I would not recommend it for everyone.

OneLessDesk looks striking. Having also just invested in two brushed steel barstools, I don't think anything compares to brushed steel if you seek a modern, urban look.

OneLessDesk has an inner beauty as well. Its bi-level design means that you can comfortably mouse and type with your feet firmly planted on the floor, minimizing the risk of carpel tunnel syndrome and other disorders. Those under 6 feet tall will especially appreciate the height of the lower desk.

So, should you buy one for your office? Probably not.

I'm about as paperless as it gets, but I have several paper reports on my desk at work at all times. Plus I like having an L-shaped desk at work for eating lunch, meeting with someone, or even power napping.

Most lawyers I know handle more paper and need more desk space than I do. Although OneLessDesk can hold letter-sized paper, it can do so only on one plane. There's no room to spread out.

What about for your home? Bingo.

OneLessDesk is best suited for home use — especially if you prefer modern design (think Design Within Reach), don't want your computer desk to overwhelm the room, and mostly use your home computer for paperless activities.

OneMoreDesk Please ...

My wish list for OneLessDesk is modest, especially for a version 1.0 product. I would like to see a more affordable version that parents could justify buying for their children. I also hope Dean designs glides with a leveler for use on uneven floors.

And finally, I would like to see other OneLess designs or at least the ability to buy OneLessDesk a la carte. For example, I could use another lower desk to hold an iPod speaker system in my bedroom.

Given the sameness in the furniture industry, it's refreshing to see something different like OneLessDesk — especially when it provides greater comfort than existing designs.

OneLessDesk will not only become a conversation piece in your home, but will provide you and your family with many hours of comfortable computer use thanks to its ergonomic bi-level design. It's not just for minimalists like me, but for anyone who seeks style and substance.

About TechnoEditorials
A TechnoEditorial is the vehicle through which we opine and provide tips of interest to managing partners, law firm administrators, and others in the legal profession. TechnoEditorials appear first in TechnoGuide, and later here in TechnoLawyer Blog. TechnoGuide, which is free, also contains exclusive content. You can subscribe here.

Once again it's time for Battle of the Law Firm Videos. This time we'll channel the WWE and pit no fewer than four law firms against one another. (No hitting below the briefcase, gentlemen.)

The Big Levowski ...

We begin with Even M. Levow, a New Jersey lawyer who specializes in DWI cases. In his video, State vs. Chun: The Biggest Case in New Jersey DWI History (video no longer available, possibly because of this review), Levow discusses his involvement in the Chun case, which challenged the use of the Draeger Alcotest, a computerized replacement for the traditional breathalyzer.

Levow claims that his experience in the Chun case enables him to better defend you should you find yourself on the receiving end of that test. I believe him, but Levow doesn't explain what happened in the Chun case.

A Google search shows that one month before Levow posted his video, the New Jersey Supreme Court held that the state police could use the Draeger Alcotest, but it imposed a number of requirements.

Perhaps Levow felt that this mixed decision was too complex for his YouTube video, but he talks up the Chun case to such an extent you can't help but wonder about its outcome.

Aside from death and taxes, the other certainty in life is that lawyers get paid to spin facts to suit the circumstances. And Levow is a lawyer. Levow should have simply noted that he helped impose certain requirements on the Draeger Alcotest, and that if the police don't follow these procedures you might walk. And just like that he could have explained the outcome of the Chun case.

Enough about the substance. Let's get to the mechanics. The video is well-produced. It shows Levow with a courthouse as a backdrop and his firm's phone number and Web address below. Levow clearly rehearsed. He handles himself well in front of the camera. At 1:52, the video might be a little long, but that's a minor quibble given Levow's good stage presence.

Regarding the accompanying copy, Levow lists his contact information, but because he fails to use the http prefix with his URL, the firm's Web address is not a live link. Also, the copy consists of one big paragraph — and it's poorly written — clearly not the work of a professional copywriter.

Is This a Legal Video or an Aaron Spelling Production?

When you play Michael H. Silvers' video, Los Angeles Personal Injury and Car Accident Attorney, you might think you got Dan Tana-rolled.

This clever video features a slide show of bus, car, motorcycle, truck, and train wrecks while a funky soundtrack plays. Thanks to the photos and accompanying titles, we learn that Silvers handles just about every imaginable vehicular accident without any exposition by Silvers himself. Yes, he practices in LA. Did you have to ask?

Unfortunately, Silvers forgets the golden rule of Hollywood — don't screw up the ending. The video ends with a blurry photo of Silvers staring into the camera with a bookcase behind him. Given the slick nature of this video, Silvers should have used an action shot of himself — perhaps walking up the courthouse steps or maybe examining the scene of an accident.

The accompanying copy reads like a cheap classified ad, which is a shame given the creativity that clearly went into the video. Silvers does link to his firm's Web site.

CHiPs, Esq. ...

John Gomez of the Gomez Law Firm has a potential winner in his video, San Diego Auto Accident Attorney, but it needs some editing.

Gomez, who looks a bit like Erik Estrada, makes a number of good points. For example, he tells viewers not to immediately accept blame for car accidents as he runs through a list of variables such as the sobriety of the other driver, road conditions, misplaced or missing road signs, etc.

Also, the video makes excellent use of graphics, including a split screen effect for bullet points and a title below Gomez that wouldn't look out of place on a CNN broadcast.

But at 3:18, the video is too long. Gomez doesn't have the screen presence to pull off such a long monologue. Worst of all, the opening title promotes the agency that created the video. Would BMW allow its ad agency to promote itself at the beginning of its advertisements? No, and neither should any law firm.

The accompanying copy is short and sweet, but it contains a typo (it uses "than" instead of "then"). Also, Gomez does not list his firm's contact information or Web address.

Ishtar, the Sequel ...

Steve Meshbesher of Meshbesher & Associates in his video of the same name has a lot of experience and good information to pass along, but he cannot make a convincing case thanks to poor production values. He sounds like he's in a cave. You can hear traffic outside his office. The camera faces his sun-filled office windows, resulting in a washed-out picture.

As for the script, it sounds extemporaneous, which is fine if you're Robin Williams. Steve is not. If he wrote the script, he didn't rehearse it enough.

Unfortunately, the accompanying copy is also a letdown. It contains a typo ("Meshbesher & Associates should be the Law Firm of you choose"). Who wrote this copy? Who proofread this copy? A 20-page brief will always contain a typo or two. But a typo is inexcusable in a 40-word blurb.

And the Winner Is ...

No one wants law firms to benefit from online videos more than I do. This explains my tough love in these ongoing reviews. Law firms should not create videos on their own nor should they hire posers who have clearly run up against the Peter Principle. Conduct due diligence and hire a true professional who will tell you to edit your script, rehearse, etc.

Michael H. Silvers is the winner today. His simple, slick video gets the job done better than the others. Just change that photo at the end and re-upload.

About TechnoEditorials
A TechnoEditorial is the vehicle through which we opine and provide tips of interest to managing partners, law firm administrators, and others in the legal profession. TechnoEditorials appear first in TechnoGuide, and later here in TechnoLawyer Blog. TechnoGuide, which is free, also contains exclusive content. You can subscribe here.

As many of you know, I have used a Mac as my main machine since 1990. As a company, we currently own 4 Macs and 3 PCs with 2 new Macs about to replace 2 old Macs and 1 PC (one of the new Macs — mine — will also run Windows). I even watch Steve Jobs' keynote presentations (they're more entertaining than most TV shows).

Mac users have a reputation for evangelizing their choice of computer platform to others — kind of like a missionary. I've done it myself. But I'll be the first to admit that when Mac users act with such speed and zeal that they miss the point and fail to make a cogent argument, they can become annoying.

Case in point.

In the April 2nd issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire we covered the Asus MK241H, a 24 inch LCD monitor with a built-in Webcam for video-conferencing.

Almost immediately, two Mac fans within Technolawyer responded. The first wrote:

"Or ... you could just get an Apple PowerBook — either the iBook or the MacBook Pro. Both have a camera built in along with video conferencing software which runs like ... well, like a Mac."

This response has several problems. First, a few factual errors. The iBook and PowerBook never had a built-in Webcam (iSight). Apple introduced this feature with the MacBook and MacBook Pro in 2006. The MacBook Air also has a Webcam.

Second, did he read the article? We covered a 24 inch display with a Webcam! Suggesting that those interested in such a display instead use a notebook with a 13, 15, or 17 inch display misses the point — by 7-11 inches.

Apparently, he forgot that Apple sells two "headless" Macs — Mac Pro and Mac mini. People who use these Macs need external displays just as much as those who use headless PCs. And I know that at least some of these people (like me) want an integrated Webcam. So the Asus MK241H doesn't appeal only to PC users, but to Mac users as well.

Unfortunately, Apple has ignored its very own customers in this regard. It has not updated its line of 20, 23, and 30 inch Cinema Displays since 2004. Yes, 2004! None of them have a built-in Webcam. (Apple changed the specifications slightly in 2006.)

The other person who responded wrote:

"For several years, Apple's iMacs (computers integrated with monitors) have included built in video cameras, along with their excellent video conferencing software iChat. It's good to see the PC world is catching up."

While the iMac line does include a model with a 24 inch display, the line about the PC world catching up again ignores all the Mac Pro and Mac mini users who want a display with an integrated Webcam.

So, why would someone want a Mac Pro or Mac mini in the first place? Many reasons exist.

For example, the Mac Pro is the fastest Mac by far. It supports dual displays out of the box. Its four hard drive bays eliminate the need for external drives and messy cables.

The Mac mini is extremely portable and cheaper than a laptop. Set up a 24 inch monitor, keyboard, and mouse at your home, office, and vacation home, and just shuttle the Mac mini among all three locations.

Sadly, this tale has a sad ending. The Webcam in the Asus MK241H does not work with iChat, the video-conferencing software in Mac OS X.

In other words, isn't it about time Apple caught up with the PC world?

About TechnoEditorials
A TechnoEditorial is the vehicle through which we opine and provide tips of interest to managing partners, law firm administrators, and others in the legal profession. TechnoEditorials appear first in TechnoGuide, and later here in TechnoLawyer Blog. TechnoGuide, which is free, also contains exclusive content. You can subscribe here.

In our first installment of this series, Levin Papantonio crushed Schlender Law Firm.

Today, Houston law firm Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Sorrels & Friend (Abraham) faces off against New York malpractice lawyer Gerald Oginski (Oginski).

In this corner ...

In Abraham's video, Commercial Litigation Lawyer/Attorney in Texas — Overview, partner Randall Owen Sorrels discusses his firm's experience helping the little guy take on large corporations. The video alternates between takes of Sorrels looking like he's being interviewed and some Ken Burns-style photos.

I admire any law firm that uses YouTube as a marketing channel because so few law firms do. That said, this video has several flaws.

The director should have used more than one camera angle when filming Sorrels. Since we don't sense the presence of an interviewer, perhaps Sorrels should have faced the camera like a news anchor. Also, I find the photos used for the B-roll segments lackluster. Perhaps the director should have used video footage of Houston and the law firm.

Sorrels makes some important points, but his script sounds like an ad (it shouldn't), including platitudes that we have all heard a zillion times. Instead, why not take advantage of YouTube's longer format to discuss a recent case with a successful outcome?

The video's best segment occurs when Sorrels describes litigation as being bad for business and his firm's attempt to minimize such disruption by resolving disputes as efficiently as possible. Also, he provides a link back to the firm's Web site in the About This Video section.

Finally, I understand the importance of search engine optimization, but videos should have real titles since they presumably tell stories. Besides, you can kill two birds with one stone. For example, Abraham's could have used something like: How to Find a Lawyer to Handle Your Commercial Litigation in Texas.

And in this corner ...

Oginski wins points before you even press play by using a clever red herring as the title for his video, Questions Never to Ask at a Deposition.

In the video, Oginski discusses why there is no such thing as a question to never ask. He explains why you need to learn about all the facts before trial, including those damaging to your case. Oginski provides real information here! He also scores points by facing the camera and addressing the audience.

On the downside, the video features some cheesy music at the beginning and the end. I wouldn't have a problem with it except it drowns him out at the end. His editor should have used a more gradual fade-in. Also, inexplicably for such a savvy online lawyer, Oginski fails to link to his site in the About This Video section.

The winner? Oginski by director's verdict. Case closed.

About TechnoEditorials
A TechnoEditorial is the vehicle through which we opine and provide tips of interest to managing partners, law firm administrators, and others in the legal profession. TechnoEditorials appear first in TechnoGuide, and later here in TechnoLawyer Blog. TechnoGuide, which is free, also contains exclusive content. You can subscribe here.

One of our favorite contributors, trial consultant Lynn Packer, posted a YouTube video two days ago that showcases his DepoDisplay paperless deposition system.

Lynn has written several TechnoFeature articles for us in which he recounted his struggle to modernize courtrooms in Utah. Therefore, it's encouraging to see his vision up and running, albeit not in a courtroom, but in a forward-thinking Utah law firm.

More impressive than the courtroom gear is the DepoDisplay deposition system, which features a large screen at the foot of the deposition table for displaying exhibits and two operator-controlled cameras for capturing all the action. Watching this video is like traveling forward in time to a deposition in 2015 (click here if you can't see the video below).

About TechnoEditorials
A TechnoEditorial is the vehicle through which we opine and provide tips of interest to managing partners, law firm administrators, and others in the legal profession. TechnoEditorials appear first in TechnoGuide, and later here in TechnoLawyer Blog. TechnoGuide, which is free, also contains exclusive content. You can subscribe here.

Blawg Review #152, TechnoLawyer Style

Blawg Review is not just a blog, it's a clever social networking concept. Every week, a different blawg hosts Blawg Review, pointing out what it deems the most interesting blawg Posts from the previous week. Sometimes, the hosting blog will develop a theme around Blawg Review.

As you can see, 151 Blawg Reviews have preceded this one. Today, at last, it's our turn. Don't worry. You're in good hands. Blawg Review is similar to our BlawgWorld eBook.

The former contains links to Posts whereas the latter reprints entire Posts. Both have the same goal — expose people to blawgs and the excellent content they publish free of charge.

Given our BlawgWorld legacy, we thought we would canvas the 77 blawgs that comprise the latest edition of our eBook to see what they've published lately.

And then we realized that 77 is quite a large number. Fine for an eBook, but maybe not for a blog post. Time for Plan B.

This being TechnoLawyer, we decided to canvas the law practice management and legal technology blawgs within BlawgWorld. A few of these blawgs have fallen off the radar, but most of them (29) continue to crank out great content as evidenced by our selections below. (My commentary appears in parentheses.)

Because many other bloggers were kind enough to send us submissions for Blawg Review, we have also showcased our favorite submissions.

Our Picks from the Practice Management and Technology Blawgs in BlawgWorld ...

Above the Law reports on the most shocking court transcript of the year. (Are you sure this isn't the latest Quentin Tarantino script?)

Adam Smith, Esq. debates whether a blog can benefit a large law firm. (No comment from Kevin O'Keefe yet. Three, two, one ...)

Anonymous Lawyer explains why there's not much Anonymous Lawyer lately. (We suggest Jeremy work as a contract lawyer for a month on one of the inevitable Bear Stearns lawsuits. That'll provide some inspiration.)

Between Lawyers announces a new book by Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell, The Lawyer's Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies: Smart Ways to Work Together. (We're awaiting our review copy.)

DennisKennedy.blog dishes out some advice to lawyers who want to start a solo practice. (Trail Carolyn Elefant for a week.)

Futurelawyer's Rick Georges further criticizes PaperPort 11, this time by proxy. (The joys of activation.)

Golden Practices provides some tips on responding to RFPs, including when not to respond. (How about wearing a swimsuit to your next beauty contest?)

In Search of Perfect Client Service reports on the "lost generation" of large firm associates. (I'm a proud member.)

JD Bliss Blog reports on a group of Stanford Law School students who have started a movement — 1,000 strong on Facebook — to improve associate life at large law firms. (Until they become partners, that is.)

Jim Calloway's Law Practice Tips Blog discusses the most important button on your mobile phone. (Try guessing before you click.)

LawBiz Blog finds a law firm profitability lesson in a college hoops game. (Go Bruins!)

Leadership for Lawyers comments on the ABA's "Blawg 100," a list of the top 100 legal blogs. (For the record, we was robbed!)

Legal Business Development explains why ignoring "good ideas" for growing your practice might actually help you achieve that goal. (Okay then, no swimsuit at your next beauty contest.)

Legal Ease Blog explores the risks associated with evaluating lawyers on the number of hours they bill. (Attach this Post when submitting your time.)

Legal Marketing Blog provides six tips on effective marketing in a weakening economy. (Tip Number 7: Stop reading this blog post and get back to work.)

Legal Sanity applies the broken windows theory to law practice, particularly keeping clients happy. (It's the little things ... like returning phone calls.)

Life at the Bar explains what it's like when a lawyer becomes a party to a lawsuit and needs to hire a lawyer. (If you really want to blow your mind, think about a lawyer hiring a lawyer to sue a lawyer for malpractice.)

Want an extra $100,000 on your W-2 this year? More Partner Income explains how. (No, you won't have to send a check or money order for $59.95 for a set of videotapes.)

Nerino Petro's Compujurist.com recently published an in-depth review of Microsoft OneNote 2007. (Shame on us for not doing so.)

Passion, People and Principles has assembled the 20 worst Beatles songs as proof that "no-one ever achieves a consistently high standard." (Someone doesn't like the White Album.)

Ross Ipsa Loquitur tells you how to email Steve Ballmer. (Because of the volume of messages he receives, his reply may come from a retirement community 40 years from now.)

Slaw unveils the Slaw Timeline, a PDF file that summarizes each blog Post published during the past week using a timeline. (Did they use TimeMap? TimelineXpress? Timeline Maker Professional? Do tell.)

Strategic Legal Technology discusses two new social networks for lawyers, JD Supra and Legal Onramp, describing them as "conceptually similar to Counsel Connect." (Let's not forget LawCommerce.com.)

The Common Scold's Monica Bay becomes the last person on the planet to buy an iPod. (Her Walkman bypassed eBay and went straight to the Smithsonian.)

The Mac Lawyer summarizes a recent seminar on using a Mac for trial presentations. (Tip: Hire Steve Jobs to give your closing argument.)

The Marcus Perspective delves into the world of surveys, and provides some tips on how to use and not misuse them. (Take that Richard Dawson.)

The [Non]Billable Hour concludes that the only real difference between a large law firm and a venture-backed startup company is the $5,000 espresso machine. (Does anyone sell cost recovery software for macchiatos?)

What About Clients? reports that cost cutting at large companies may benefit small law firms. (Or perhaps law firms in India.)

Wired GC explores the problems general counsel face when they cut legal costs. (Like having to pay in Rupees.)

Our Picks from This Week's Blawg Review Submissions ...

Slate's new legal blog, Convictions, argues that the Supreme Court has a pro-business bias. (Well, the Framers were wealthy businessmen.)

Death and Taxes has an excellent cross-selling suggestion for family law practitioners. (Ka-ching!)

Small Business Trends echoes our sentiments about the foolishness of not listing executive bios on your Web site. (We told you so.)

Sharp Brains suggests you try to relax a little. (Maybe we should have linked to just one blog post in this Blawg Review.)

Professor Marc John Randazza of the Legal Satyricon took Sharp Brains' advice and makes two important announcements as a result. (Congratulations.)

And that's all for Blawg Review 152! Next week, 153 at Declarations and Exclusions.

Blawg Review has information about next week's host, and instructions how to get your blawg posts reviewed in upcoming issues.

About TechnoEditorials
A TechnoEditorial is the vehicle through which we opine and provide tips of interest to managing partners, law firm administrators, and others in the legal profession. TechnoEditorials appear first in TechnoGuide, and later here in TechnoLawyer Blog. TechnoGuide, which is free, also contains exclusive content. You can subscribe here.