Many lawyers think that it's impossible to be paperless at trial. It's not, but you have to understand that "having a paperless law practice" doesn't mean you never deal with paper. So let's see how this plays out at trial. And, let's start with an obvious real-world observation. Most courts aren’t set up to be all digital. They receive exhibits in paper form. And so guess what? You're going be dealing with paper. Does this fact mean that your whole carefully crafted quest to … [Read more...]
Example of paperless workflow involving faxes
The other day I got a fax from my local bar association asking me to confirm by way of a return fax that I would be attending a committee meeting. It would have been more efficient if they had simply asked me to send a response email, but we'll get to that later. The workflow process that I used to respond to the fax illustrates a couple of great features in Acrobat. It also shows how most workflow problems can be handled without any paper whatsoever. The fax from the Louisiana State Bar … [Read more...]
Ethical considerations of online file storage
Last September the New York State Bar Association issued Opinion 842 (link to official site) which addressed the question of 'cloud storage' or online storage of client information. In today's world, where cloud storage is cheap and easy to use, lawyers are increasingly embracing online storage services such as SugarSync and DropBox. The NY Bar opinion is a good starting point for any discussion about the ethical implications of online storage, even if you are located in a state other than New … [Read more...]
Presenting a MindMap with iThoughtsHD
I recently appeared before the New Orleans City Council to argue that food truck vendors should be allowed to operate in the city, addressing various issues such as health concerns, regulatory oversight, parking, zoning, etc. I could have used Powerpoint slides, but instead I decided to use a mindmap. I presented my mindmap using an iPad Mini and an $9.99 app called iThoughtsHD. The presentation went extremely well, and I’m now convinced that presenting from a mindmap on an iPad is a powerful … [Read more...]
Ask a question, and your phone responds immediately.
Do you regularly use the Siri personal assistant on your iPhone or iPad? If you don’t, or aren’t sure if you have Siri, visit this Apple web page to get the scoop. If you have Siri, but only use it infrequently, you are missing out on some serious computing power. First, Siri works best when you have a decent Internet connection (Wi-Fi is best, but not mandatory). You need to enunciate clearly, which at first might require you to repeat a question or command. To invoke Siri, hold down the HOME … [Read more...]