|
Law Practice Management Resources
PMA Tip of the Week(2/23/10): (This tip is from the LPM Practice Management Advisors Task Force)
Plain English vs. Legalese
I recently saw the following quote by Mark Cooney, Associate Professor at Thomas M. Cooley Law School discussing the use of plain English in the legal environment. When you start using big words and long sentences in your writing, remember Professor Cooney's advice.
"The utilization of inflated language characterized by exceptional verbosity is not the most efficacious methodology for accomplishing the communication of sophisticated ideas. To sound smart, make it simple".
View Recent Tips
Other Law Office Management Resources...
 |
EXCELLENT PUBLICATION FROM ABA LAW PRACTICE MANAGEMENT SECTION AND 15% OFF FOR MSBA MEMBERS |
How Good Lawyers Survive Bad Times
By: Sharon D. Nelson, James A. Calloway and Ross L. Kodner (all of whom have been speakers at MSBA programs) |
In order to get the 15% discount, MSBA members must login here in to obtain the MSBA Product code.
View book details |
|
SOCIAL MEDIA RULES
The Virtual Marketing Officer Blog has a good post of 20 things law firms need to have in their social media guidelines.
KMSpace
Another excellent set of rules for social media for law firms is at the blog KM Space. This site gives very specific rules and wording for blogs and social media sites.
DO YOU YOUTUBE?
At TechnoLawyer Blog, they highlight YouTube "ads" by practitioners and point out why it works effectively. In this entry, they review a video by the The Chinese Dry Wall Lawsuit Lawyer (I am not making this up) Richard J. Serpe, a small firm lawyer in Virginia. You can view the video and read the review which can be helpful if you are considering using YouTube at http://blog.technolawyer.com/2009/04/youlaw-richard-serpe-drywall.html
METADATA: WHAT IT IS AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT?
Hidden within the word processing and spreadsheet documents that lawyers use all day long are telltale signs that can reveal potentially confidential or privileged information. Understanding what metadata is and how to properly find it and remove it from your documents is a critical skill for practicing law in the twenty-first century.
http://www.llrx.com/features/metadata.htm
STEPS ALONG THE PAPERLESS PATH - Keys to a Successful Scanning Implementation
Without a doubt, the first step to a "paperless" office is scanning. This article from the ABA LPM Magazine discusses in detail all the information for establishing the strategy for getting this first step correct. It is a whole lot more than "Which scanner should I buy?"
http://www.abanet.org/lpm/magazine/articles/v35/is2/pg39.shtml
GOOGLE VOICE: IS THERE ANYTHING IT CAN'T DO
Google is beta testing its newest product, Google Voice, which is supposed to deliver a high end digital phone system to everyone for free. According to a number of blogs, it is going to be a great product. Two blogs, TechCrunch and LifeHacker provide two good reviews:
Tech Crunch - http://tinyurl.com/bpwypk
Life Hacker - http://lifehacker.com/5173793/a-first-look-at-google-voice
LEGAL TECHNOLOGY DECISIONS MADE SIMPLE
For solo and small firm practitioners sometimes making the decisions about technology can be even more complicated than the technology itself. In an excellent free podcast from the ABA, Simplifying Technology Decisions for Solo and Small Firms, three excellent legal tech experts have done a good job discussing how to make decisions. Sharon Nelson and John Simek were keynote speakers at the 2006 Solo and Small Firm Conference and were well received. The podcast is available at http://www.abanet.org/abastore/books/inside_practice/2009-04.html#podcast
I-PHONE APPS FOR LAWYERS
In an article from TechnoLawyer. Jeffery Allen, a California lawyer and tech guru, lists his favorite smartphone apps for lawyers.
ZEPTOLINER
Software for using outlines for taking notes, preparing arguments, etc. ($7.99)
MY EYES ONLY
Stores your passwords, credit card number, and other sensitive information in an
encrypted state on your iPhone. ($8.99)
I-CLICKR POWERPOINT REMOTE
Transforms your iPhone into a remote control for PowerPoint presentations ($9.99)
MOBILEFILES PRO
enables you to move documents on and off your iPhone for easy portability. ($9.99)
SPREADSHEET
Enables you to handle relatively simple spreadsheet work on your iPhone and to transmit
a file readable by Excel. ($5.99)
TIMEWERKS
Provides a basic time recording and invoicing system for use on your iPhone. ($4.99)
DOCUMENTS
Calls itself an "iPhone Office Suite ($4.99)
TWITTER WOES
And finally, if you are like many people who can't figure out the fuss about Twitter and have 5 minutes to spare then view The Twouble with Twitter.
YOU SEND IT.
Allows you to get large attachments
FINEPRINT
Allows you to delete extra pages from print jobs or print to pdf
AMERICAN SOCIETY OF TRIAL CONSULTANTS
Tips on the art of jury selection
ONLINE BANK DEPOSITS
Scans checks and makes secure same day bank deposits. Works with Quickbooks
HANDANGO
Apps for Palm, Blackberry, or Windows mobile.
|
