TechnoLawyer: TechnoFeature

Coming today to TechnoFeature: In today's troubled times, a "jack of all trades, master of none" approach to managing a law firm can result in lackluster financial performance or even failure. In this article, Brian Johnson, president of Minneapolis firm Halleland Lewis Nilan & Johnson, discusses the importance of what he calls hyper-specialization, and shares three principles required to dominate a niche. Espousing a "deep, not wide" philosophy, Brian challenges firms to distinguish themselves from the competition by drilling down to their core competencies as a way to not only stay afloat, but to flourish.

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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.

Coming today to TechnoFeature: You process much more information than you did ten years ago. But do you have more time every day to do so? Unfortunately, while the practice of law has changed, the laws of physics have not. A day still has only 24 hours and you still need to sleep. Enter D-A-F-T — a new organizational system created by virtual assistant extraordinaire Andrea Cannavina. D-A-F-T incorporates some of the principles of other systems such as FAT, Getting Things Done, and Zero Inbox, but with two important differences — less of a time commitment and more flexibility. Put it to work in your law firm today.

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.

Coming today to TechnoFeature: Apple's iPhone recently surpassed Windows Mobile in market share and will soon overtake the BlackBerry. While only a few legal-specific apps currently exist, Bill4Time being the most notable, this situation will likely change. In this article, New Orleans lawyer and iPhone expert Jeff Richardson shares his ten favorite iPhone shortcuts. From typing contractions without entering an apostrophe to locating a wayward 3G signal to finding the elusive .net and .org keyboard keys, even Steve Jobs could learn a thing or two from Jeff.

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.

Coming today to TechnoFeature: Did you know that recipients of your PDF files can insert comments even if they don't have a copy of Acrobat? In this article, attorney and Acrobat enthusiast Roy Greenberg shares this and nine other helpful tips for Acrobat 9 Professional. From bookmarking to redaction to document comparison to online collaboration, Roy's favorite tips will quickly become favorites of yours as well.

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.

Coming today to TechnoFeature: With the recent state of the economy, many companies are tightening their belt — and law firms are no exception. But sometimes you have to spend money to make money. According to legal technology consultant Seth Rowland, now is the time to redouble legal document automation initiatives. In this comprehensive two-part series, Seth explores document automation, first from a technology perspective, and then from a business case perspective. This week, Seth explains how to get started, constructing a bridge between mere templates to a full automation system.

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.

Coming November 18, 2008 to TechnoFeature: Imagine the excitement of sitting inside a high performance car — the rich texture of the finishes, the high-tech gadgetry and electronics that scream performance and speed. What if your law office could evoke the same feelings? In this article, law firm planner and architectural designer Richey Madison explores how to put together an optimal audio/visual technology plan to shape the future of your firm, and what mistakes to avoid. With the right process, people, and good planning, Richey shows you how the latest and greatest in audio/visual equipment can improve your effectiveness with clients, thus increasing your bottom line.

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.

Coming November 11, 2008 to TechnoFeature: Sometimes repetition works in your favor — practicing an instrument, dining at your favorite restaurant, etc. But repetition in your legal practice often wastes time and hinders productivity. For example, preparing agreements such as a real estate closing, trust, etc. In this article, attorney Daniel Fennick reviews Zetadocs, PDF software with a twist that aims to automate the production and delivery of documents created in Microsoft Office and elsewhere. Daniel discusses the Stationary and Attachment modules in depth, as well as his experience with technical support. Thanks to this detailed review, you'll be able to assess whether Zetadocs can help your law firm become more productive.

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.

Coming November 4, 2008 to TechnoFeature: Steve Martin famously complained that most celebrity biographies focus only on the fame, but not on the path to fame. Electronic discovery is similar. For many years, lawyers have outsourced the processing phase — transforming raw electronic data into a load file for document review software. But for smaller cases, law firms increasingly want to perform this processing on site. In this article, legal technology consultant and eDiscovery expert Brett Burney reviews Discovery Cracker 5.2, a processing tool that can prepare hundreds of file types for import into just about any review platform. If you would like to prep electronic files at the earliest stages of litigation, read Brett's in-depth review of Discovery Cracker.

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.

Coming October 21, 2008 to TechnoFeature: With the economy dipping (okay, diving), you may see a bleak future. But cheer up. Opportunity abounds if you have the right strategy and tools. In this article, attorney and consultant Steven Best shares his top ten tips for making it through the downturn and preparing for the eventual upswing. From the proper software to the way you bill to unique marketing efforts, Steven aims to help your firm emerge from the current downturn stronger than ever.

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.

Coming October 13, 2008 to TechnoFeature: Adobe has released Acrobat 9, the latest version of its document processing software. But should you upgrade? In this article, attorney Bryan Sims examines the changes Adobe has made to several preexisting features and discusses some of the new features found in the Pro and Pro Extended versions. From Bates stamping to Forms to the new PDF Portfolios feature, Bryan walks you through the new offerings so you can make an informed decision for yourself and your firm.

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.