I spend a fair amount of time watching my nephews and niece, ages six, four and two, respectively. They tend to cycle through the kids’ shows, but there’s one they keep going back to, time and again: The Wonder Pets. I know. At first, I thought it was a typical, cheesy children’s show. But between trying to start a business […]
Originally published October 10, 2011If you're feeling a little goofy about just how deeply in love you are with your nifty new tablet, don't be. Even the hardcore techies are a bit over the moon about the changes it's making in their work and lifestyles. Just to prove our point, we asked some of our favorite legal technologists to tell us what they love most about their tablets, along with their most-favorite apps. We learned a few things. Lesson number one: Make sure you have plenty of room if you're going to ask about the object of a techie's affection. Lesson two: There is some really cool stuff out there!
Originally published October 7, 2011Mobility is a bedrock consideration for modern business practice, including the practice of law. But today’s mobile tool kit may be incomplete without a portable scanner, that will allow you to roam free, and paperless, wherever you happen to be.
Originally published October 6, 2011While the combined topics of surveys, technology and purchasing might have you running for the hills, results from the International Legal Technology Association's 2011 ILTA/InsideLegal Technology Purchasing Survey contain some “good to know” take-aways for legal professionals, regardless of your technology IQ. Focused on ILTA member law firms with 50 or more attorneys, the survey covered detailed budget questions, updated information on firm social media preferences, an in-depth analysis of cloud computing, and sections on technology outsourcing and favorite legal applications. So, what can you learn from all this?
Originally published October 5, 2011Anyone who knows me knows I haven’t figured out what I want to be when I grow up. I just haven’t found that single passion to follow. Another thing: I was described as “old and cynical” when I was only 26. So, why listen to anything I have to say about pro bono work? Because no one will tell […]
Originally published October 4, 2011So here’s a fun—and potentially very powerful—thing to do: Hop over to Vizualize.me and create an infographic resume for yourself. The result, I think you’ll agree, is high on the cool spectrum. Even better, it's low on the difficulty scale.
Originally published October 3, 2011The news is bleaker not better since we asked the "Should I Go to Law School" question here last year. So, when a good friend told us her brilliant daughter was considering pursuing a JD, we began desperately rattling off statistics, warning that law school guarantees nothing but a house-sized loan balance at the end. After killing that conversation, we began second-guessing our assumptions: Were we being too harsh? So, for this week's Five, we decided to mine for any glimmers of hope that law school might someday turn out to be a wise move for our daughters (and sons).
Originally published September 30, 2011Job hunting best-case scenario? A friend or colleague introduces you to an employer who wants to hire you. The more likely scenario? You’re going to have to dive onto the Internet with the rest of the searchers and file many, many electronic applications. That’s okay. It’s child’s play, actually. Just like Musical Chairs, your task is to avoid elimination and make it to […]
Originally published September 29, 2011Who are these "enterprising lawyers" anyway? Actually, they are easy to spot. Look for the more successful, more engaged and happier lawyers in the crowd. They are deeply invested in the power of the work they do for their clients, but have ample interests beyond the practice of law. And they seem to have more energy than anyone around them for getting things done. You probably know one or two—you may be one yourself! Beyond all that, though, you just know an enterprising lawyer when you meet one, and we're going to introduce you to a few more. Attorney at Work's new interview series begins today with Steve Harhai—a matrimonial lawyer who foresaw the marriage between computers and law before IBM was making PCs.
Originally published September 28, 2011Why does a lawyer need an advertising agency? Well, most lawyers don’t have the knowledge and expertise to create a marketing campaign for their services unaided. You may be knowledgeable about every aspect of your practice, but when it comes to marketing, advertising and promoting your services to the public, you need expert help. And while advertising professionals […]
Originally published September 27, 2011