ABA Site-tation

In Case of Emergency – Disaster Recovery Resources

Tonya L Johnson — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:31:32 GMT

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September was National Preparedness Month which emphasizes the responsibility of individuals, families, and communities -- including the private and nonprofit sectors -- to do their part before an emergency. While September is behind us, the potential for disaster is ever present.

The ABA Disaster Law Resources consist of a collection of resources for disaster survivors and lawyers about disaster preparedness and recovery. For Lawyers and Law Firms there are resources that are specific to your practice area as well as helping disaster survivors. Additionally, The ABA Young Lawyers Division (YLD) in collaboration with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has created the Disaster Legal Assistance Program to provide pro bono disaster related legal services to low-income victims of a federally-declared disaster when asked to do so by FEMA.

The ABA Legal Technology Resource Center (LTRC) can help you and your firm in preparing for digital disasters. Contact LTRC directly at 312.988.5465 or ltrc@abanet.org with your questions regarding the use of technology in the practice of law. Following is a selection of LTRC resources that can help minimize the impact of unexpected downtime.

· Securing Your Tech: More Than Just Data - September 2009 ABA Section of Family Law eNewsletter (Scroll down to the bottom to the Tech Corner Column)

· Protect yourself: Tips on using online passwords and password recovery system security - Your ABA eNewsletter, August 2009

· Avoid Loss of Law Firm Data and Business Downtime by Keeping Software Updated - July 2009 ABA Section of Family Law eNewsletter

· Hope for the Best, Prepare for the Worst: Protecting Your Firm from Disaster - September 2008 ABA Section of Family Law eNewsletter

· It Could Happen to You: Disaster Preparedness - ABA Site-tation

· Three Internet scams and solutions lawyers should know about Your ABA eNewsletter, November 2008

· To catch a thief—tips and tools to protect your computer investment - Your ABA eNewsletter, June 2008

· FYI: Data Backup - ABA LTRC Resource

· FYI: The Ethics of Online Backup Systems - ABA LTRC Resource

· FYI: Playing it Safe With Encryption - ABA LTRC Resource

Category: Online Research

Published: 10/27/2009 8:30 AM

SaaS and Cloud Computing Data Portability--Bulk Export from Google Docs Now Available

Stephen Stine — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:45:46 GMT

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In August we wrote about the importance of data portability and the efforts of some companies to allow users of Software as a Service (SaaS) and cloud computing services to easily download their data, for purposes such as keeping local backups and transferring the data to other services.

Google has finally enabled a feature that has been long awaited for their Google Docs application--the new "Convert, Zip, and Download" feature allows users to select some or all of their documents and download all of them in a single zip file, whereas previously documents could only be downloaded one at a time.

If you are using or considering using any SaaS and cloud computing services, whether webmail, online collaboration, or online legal case and practice management software, be sure to investigate their data portability features to ensure that you can keep your data safe and easily available.

Here are other resources on data portability issues:

ABA LTRC

Data Portability: Google Data Liberation Front and Legal SaaS

Avoiding Rain in "the Cloud": Ensuring Access to Your Online Information

FYI: Software as a Service (SaaS) for Lawyers

FYI: E-mail Backup (You've Got Mail! - And Lots Of It)

Compujurist.com

Red Gorilla Redux? Why you need to select your online storage company carefully

There’s No Cure for Stupid – How Failing to Backup Killed JournalSpace

The Economist.com

Unlocking the Cloud

InformationWeek.com

Google Data Liberation Front Fights 'Evil' Lock-In

Category: Web/Communication Technology

Published: 11/5/2009 4:44 PM

Friday PMA Blog Roundup - 10/30/09

Poje, Joshua — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:03:03 GMT

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Another busy week of blogging for the law practice management advisors, and a new blog joins the list:

Beverly Michaelis wrote an interesting post on what lawyers can learn from dentists about running a solo practice.
Laura Calloway posted a suggestion about identifying yourself in emails and highlighted some ABA TECHSHOW discounts.
Erik Mazzone blogged about writing better email newsletters for your clients and about Evernote for Lawyers.
David Bilinsky wrote about marketing yourself graciously and shared some thoughts on the future of lawyers. Over at Slaw.ca, David pointed to an article on the revised guidelines for laptop searches when crossing the border.
Nerino Petro posted a vivid demonstration of what can happen when you allow your domain registration to lapse.
Jim Calloway offered a guide to declaring e-mail bankruptcy, shared his view on Twitter for legal marketing, and posted about the FTC Red Flag Rules.
And finally, joining the PMA blog roundup for the first time, Sheila Blackford put out a call to mentor new lawyers, offered some email management tips, and warned about fraud and embezzlement.

You can stay up-to-date on the latest blog posts from practice management advisors by subscribing to our PMA Pipe RSS Feed.

Category: Technology News

Published: 10/30/2009 1:03 PM

Dictionaries on Demand: Mobile law dictionaries

Tonya L Johnson — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:26:22 GMT

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The ABA Journal announced Black’s Law Dictionary Now in iTunes. This is the first iPhone/iPod Touch app from West Publishing and features the most recent edition of the dictionary. At $49.99 it is less than the Amazon price for the print edition.

Shortly afterwards came the announcement of a Free Plain-English Law Dictionary iPhone App Released. Nolo, a publisher of do-it-yourself legal books and software, has created Nolo's Plain English Law Dictionary, a free dictionary app for the iPhone with plain-English definitions of nearly 4,000 legal terms. According to a Nolo press release, “you’ll find both the legal standards—Latin terms, courtroom jargon, contract basics—and newly minted terms that reflect the ever changing language of the law today."

Most recently, attorney Jeff Richardson reviewed Barron's Law Dictionary for his iPhone J.D. blog. Available in the iTunes store for $14.99, the Barron's Law Dictionary, according to its website, defines more than 3,000 legal terms in non-technical language, but without sacrificing legal accuracy. The iPhone J.D. blog posting provides a comparison and contrast amongst the three law dictionaries along with screenshots.

Each of the dictionaries is available in traditional hardcopy format with Nolo’s dictionary also conveniently available for purchase as an eBook.

Category: Technology News

Published: 10/27/2009 8:23 AM

Friday PMA Blog Roundup - 10/23/09

Poje, Joshua — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:56:34 GMT

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It was a busy week for the law practice management advisors, with plenty of great posts going up. Here's what they wrote about:

Jim Calloway blogged about social media for lawyers, time capture software, the benefit of ABA magazine subscriptions, and a blog with tips for trial lawyers.
Ellen Freedman wrote about planning for postage costs in your practice in 2010.
Nerino Petro posted about the need to secure your domain name, and about the legal implications of cloud computing.
David Bilinsky blogged about an important topic for attorneys stuck at a desk most of the day - ergonomic desk chairs.
Jared Correia debuted the Massachusetts Law Office Management Assistance Program's new podcast, The UnBillable Hour.
Laura Calloway wrote about a helpful book for Alabama attorneys and about migrating to Windows 7.
Courtney Kennaday posted about the "Read Out Loud" feature of Adobe Acrobat, and about managing your Outlook contacts.
Beverly Michaelis blogged about unclaimed IOLTA funds and offered a Credit Cart FAQ for lawyers.

You can stay up-to-date on the latest blog posts from practice management advisors by subscribing to our PMA Pipe RSS Feed.

Category: Technology News

Published: 10/23/2009 10:56 AM

Update on Windows 7

Stephen Stine — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:00:11 GMT

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Microsoft will release its newest operating system, Windows 7, on Thursday, October 22. Microsoft Vista, released in 2007, proved to be unpopular with businesses and consumers, which cited problems like driver and software incompatibilities, high memory usage, and slow startup times. Many users stuck with older operating systems such as Windows XP instead of upgrading to Vista. According to the 2009 Legal Technology Survey Report, 74% of attorney respondents reported that their primary computer uses Windows XP, compared with 9% Windows Vista and 6% Windows 2000. Likewise, Forrester researchers report that 71% of enterprise PCs and 80% of commercial PCs still run on Windows XP.

What is the outlook for Windows 7, and are there compelling reasons for attorneys to upgrade? So far Windows 7 has received a bevy of positive reviews--however, one columnist notes that Windows Vista also received positive reviews early on, which were not a good indicator of Vista’s subsequent poor reception. Here are some considerations for law firms considering a switch to Windows 7 from other operating systems such as Vista and XP.

-Computer hardware may need to be upgraded, especially if a firm is using older computers and operating systems such as Windows XP. Remember that listed system requirements are just a minimum, and to achieve better computer performance exceeding the minimum requirements is often recommended. Microsoft goes so far as to recommend that users with PCs running Windows XP or older operating systems should purchase a new PCs to run Windows 7 instead of installing Windows 7 on their current PCs.

-If not installing from scratch on new computers, installation may be tricky depending on the version of operating system firm computers currently have installed. There are third party software programs designed to help ease the installation process. Microsoft provides a free Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor to scan PCs for Windows 7 compatibility issues. Making a backup of any data and software before installation can be critical in case anything goes wrong with the installation process.

-Any current firm software and drivers may experience compatibility problems with Windows 7.

-Many IT professionals have traditionally recommended waiting until a first "service pack" is released for a new Windows operating system before making the switch from an older operating system. Service packs are designed to fix bugs and add features to operating systems, so the operating system should be more stable and dependable after the release of the first service pack. Research firm Gartner lists a few reasons why business IT staff might not want to wait for the first service pack this time around but that advice might apply more to more tech-intensive organizations than typical law firms.

-Microsoft will eventually stop providing support for older operating systems. This may be one of the main reasons law firms may eventually consider switching to Windows 7 from other operating systems such as Windows XP. Windows XP was dropped from "mainstream support" to "extended support" in April, meaning that Microsoft now only provides paid support for Windows XP. Extended support is scheduled to end in 2014. Since law firms depend on maintaining and protecting firm and client data, access to operating system support can be essential to maintain system stability and security.

Other resources:

PC World

Windows 7: A Complete Survival Guide

CNET

Which Windows 7 is right for you?

Lifehacker

Prep Your PC for Windows 7

Microsoft

Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor

Windows 7 Compatibility Center

ABA Site-tation

Avoid Loss of Law Firm Data and Business Downtime by Keeping Software Updated

Windows 7 Hits Shelves October 22nd

Category: Law Office Technology

Published: 10/21/2009 1:59 PM

Google's Reputation Management Advice

Poje, Joshua — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:17:03 GMT

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In a society that increasingly relies on the web as its first and primary source of information, lawyers need to be cognizant of their presence online. Potential clients, hiring partners, and opposing counsel often form their initial impressions of a lawyer based on the results of a simple Google search. While a well constructed professional web site may provide a boost to that first impression, embarrassing college photos or controversial postings could easily drive the potential client or hiring partner in another direction.

Last week Google offered some advice on its official blog for those interested in managing their online reputations - specifically in the context of Google searches. The post contains many helpful tips, including basics like "think twice before putting your personal information online" and more advanced tips like setting up a Google Profile to put the best information forward.

Another key step in managing your online reputation is keeping track of what people are saying about you. Setting up Google Alerts for your name, the name of your practice, and other relevant keywords is a great way to know immediately when something is put online that may require your attention.

Category: Web/Communication Technology

Published: 10/19/2009 11:17 AM

Friday PMA Blog Roundup - 10/16/09

Poje, Joshua — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:16:04 GMT

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More great posts from the law practice management advisors this week. Here's a sampling:

Nerino Petro wrote about creating a personal brand, an important marketing strategy for lawyers.
David Bilinsky wrote about some interesting discussions that arose out The Pacific Legal Technology Conference this year, and shared his recent thoughts on Macs for lawyers. David also has a post up at Slaw.ca on identity theft.
Laura Calloway shared her PMA Tip of the Week - a link to a great article on a variety of lawyer friendly applications.
Jared Correia blogged about the QuickJump utility for quickly navigating Windows folders, and about data privacy and personal identifying data.
Finally, Beverly Michaelis offered some tips on locating clients that have gone missing.

You can stay up-to-date on the latest blog posts from practice management advisors by subscribing to our PMA Pipe RSS Feed.

Category: Technology News

Published: 10/16/2009 10:16 AM

Got the Wrong Bob? New Gmail Labs Feature

Poje, Joshua — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:23:12 GMT

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It's an all too common e-mail goof: you type a quick e-mail to a friend or colleague and in your rush you accidentally send it to another person with a similar name. While such mistakes are usually just inconvenient and embarrassing, they can have severe consequences for attorneys using their e-mail to transmit confidential or sensitive information.

Google recently added a new tool to their Gmail Labs (we've written about Gmail Labs before) which may help you avoid this kind of mistake. The feature - "Got the Wrong Bob?" - tries to identify when you've included the wrong person on an e-mail, and adds a small warning that reads something like: "Did you mean: Bob Smith instead of Bob Jones".

The feature is no substitute for simple care and attention to detail - especially as it's still experimental - but it may be worth trying as an added level of security.

Microsoft Outlook users concerned about similarly misdirected e-mails may want to take the stronger step of disabling AutoComplete entirely. Forcing yourself to enter e-mail addresses manually, or to navigate your address book and deliberately select your recipients, should help you avoid problems. To disable AutoComplete in Outlook 2003/2007:

Go to the "Tools" menu and select "Options"
Click "Email Options"
Click "Advanced E-mail Options"
Uncheck the box next to "Suggest names while completing To, Cc, and Bcc fields."

Read: New in Labs: Got the wrong Bob?

Category: Web/Communication Technology

Published: 10/15/2009 10:23 AM

Tech Simplified

Tonya L Johnson — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:42:57 GMT

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Technology can be a veritable alphabet soup of acronyms and redefinition of traditional words (think SPAM® = a canned meat product or spam = unsolicited email subject to applicable law) and just when you think you are getting a handle on technology…..it changes! Are you embarrassed to ask “what does it mean?” Following are several websites that will de-mystify computer jargon and keep you up to date on the latest terms.

· FYI: Technology Terms Defined – an LTRC resource

· eDiscovery Glossary of Terms – an LTRC resource

· Tech Terms Wiki at LegallyMinded is a collaborative reference guide that defines terms relating to the Internet, computers, and other technology areas. It is the community's go-to area for technical jargon.

· Geek Speak for the Rest of Us - A Technology Glossary for Non-Technical People by attorney Jeffrey Allen and Mark Rosch, vice president of Internet for Lawyers

· Tech for Luddites, providing tips and tricks for navigating the technological world we've all come to depend on—whether we like it or not!

Category: Law Office Technology

Published: 10/13/2009 11:41 AM

Friday PMA Blog Roundup - 10/09/09

Poje, Joshua — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:14:40 GMT

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Lots of great posts from the law practice management advisors this week. Take a look:

Courtney Kennaday posted about an interesting WordPress blog theme, a new book on How Good Lawyers Survive Bad Times, and fine tuning Word 2007 to eliminate extra blank lines.
Beverly Michaelis blogged about filing client e-mails and about e-filing/e-notice malpractice traps.
Jared Correia wrote about knowing when to say no.
Laura Calloway linked to some valuable resources for lawyers who find themselves suddenly solo.
David Bilinsky, posting on Slaw, wrote about the H1N1 virus and its potential impact on law offices.
Jim Calloway highlighted a free exhibit stamping tool from Adobe Acrobat and gathered together a bucketload of technology news and tips.
Dan Pinnington summarized some common misconceptions about lawyers being targeted in fraud attempts.

You can stay up-to-date on the latest blog posts from practice management advisors by subscribing to our PMA Pipe RSS Feed.

Category: Technology News

Published: 10/9/2009 2:14 PM

Strong Passwords - Google's Advice

Poje, Joshua — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:03:29 GMT

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On Tuesday we wrote about the alarming news that thousands of webmail users - including users of Hotmail, AOL, Gmail, and Yahoo! - had their passwords revealed as a result of phishing attempts. In that post, we stressed the importance of password security and linked to our recent article on strong passwords and password recovery.

Now Google has weighed in on the topic, echoing several of the points made in the LTRC article. Google consumer operations associate Michael Santerre advises using a unique password for each website. The passwords "should be a mixture of letters, numbers, and symbols" and shouldn't include personal information (including "names of pets or children, birthdays, phone numbers, addresses, or the like"). He also warned against the all-too-common habit of users leaving their passwords on sticky notes next to their computer, and encouraged everyone to update their password recovery information (like their e-mail address or security question) so that forgotten passwords can be reset or recovered.

Previously: Hotmail, AOL, Gmail, Yahoo! Mail Passwords Exposed

Category: Technology News

Published: 10/8/2009 9:03 AM

Hotmail, AOL, Gmail, Yahoo! Mail Passwords Exposed

Catherine Sanders Reach — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 20:45:54 GMT

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News is that Microsoft admits that "several thousand" Windows Live Hotmail user accounts may have been procured through a phishing attempt. Microsoft apparently is now blocking access to the affected accounts and will help users to reclaim their accounts. However, if you are a Hotmail user it is probably best to go ahead and change your password now. In fact, it is probably a good idea to think about your passwords to all your web accounts. According to the BBC the same phishing attack that gathered the Hotmail passwords has also targeted AOL, Gmail, Yahoo!, Comcast and Earthlink accounts. Are you using the same password for all of them? Are they easy to guess based on information generally available about you from free public records on the web, or information you've divulged in social networking sites? If so now is the time to update or change those passwords!

Category: Technology News

Published: 10/6/2009 3:44 PM

Friday PMA Blog Roundup - 10/02/09

Poje, Joshua — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:33:06 GMT

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More great content from the law practice management advisors. Here's what they wrote about this week:

Jim Calloway took a new look at a classic topic -- Internet search -- and reflected on the Oklahoma Bar Association Tech Fair and TECHSHOW Roadshow.
Ellen Freedman blogged about a serious security threat: the "next generation" of banking Trojans.
Nerino Petro pointed to Illinois Lawyer Now Quarterly, a new publication from the Illinois State Bar Association.
Jared Correia wrote a great overview of the current options on the market for practice management software.
Laura Calloway noted a list of top laptops for under $650 and wrote about in-flight WiFi service.
Beverly Michaelis blogged about the importance of preparing your law office for flu season.

You can stay up-to-date on the latest blog posts from practice management advisors by subscribing to our PMA Pipe RSS Feed.

Category: Technology News

Published: 10/2/2009 10:33 AM