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Archive for December, 2010

December 28, 2010

Digging into Survey: Mobile Devices

The new year will be here at the end of the week, and there was an interesting bit from our 2010 Apple in Law Firms survey we wanted to share: Mobile Devices.

Half of respondents use iPhones. Not surprising. Almost a third of respondents use BlackBerries. Again, not surprising. BlackBerries were the favored business smart phone until the iPhone appeared and Apple demonstrated it took data security concerns of businesses seriously.

What was surprising? The nearly 10% of respondents who use Android-based devices. And then there were these two interesting bits:

  • 27% of respondents plan on switching their primary mobile device in the next year,
  • Of those planning to switch devices, 65% plan on switching to an iPhone; 21% plan on switching to an Android device; only 7% plan on switching to BlackBerry

Most of those planning to switch mobile devices in the next year plan on switching to an iPhone, which in and of itself is not surprising. It is no secret iPhone owners rave about the device, its usefulness in all types of situations and, of course, the many applications available from Apple’s App Store. What will be interesting to see next year, especially in the United States, is how many switch to an iPhone AFTER it becomes available on a different network. Right now, in the United States, the iPhone is only available on the AT&T network. And it should be noted that this survey was conducted before there was much talk of the iPhone coming to other networks, like Verizon. It will be interesting to see how, or if, that plays out next year.

It was also surprising to see switching to Android devices surpasses switching to BlackBerry devices. Android is Google’s mobile operating system, found on a number of devices from Motorola, HTC and others, and across a number of networks, including AT&T and Verizon. Its availability might be one reason it is attractive. Its integration with Google applications, such as Gmail and Google Calendar, makes syncing simple and easy, especially for law offices already using Google Apps. And its App Store has many of the same applications found in the Apple App Store.

What do you think?

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December 21, 2010

#cliotraining Tuesday Tip: Clear your Browser Cache

Browsers are an every day tool, and like every day tools, they need to be cleaned every so often so they continue to function properly.

Cleaning your browser, be it Mozilla FireFox, Google Chrome, Apple Safari or Microsoft Internet Explorer, means clearing its cache. A cache is stored content. When a browser makes a call to a website, it may store some of that information for later use. This helps cut down bandwidth usage and perceived load times.

After awhile, though, the cache becomes laden with information, which can make the browser seem sluggish. You might also be viewing out-of-date data since the browser might load cached information instead of new, updated information. So to help with browser performance, view up-to-date pages and also open up some space on your hard drive, it’s good to clear the browser cache once in awhile.

Clearing a browser cache is usually done through the “Tools” menu, but there are some exceptions. Safari, for example, has a “Clear History” option under its “History” menu. The name for the action may also vary. Google Chrome says “Clear Browsing Data” while FireFox says “Clear Recent History.”

Have no fear. WikiHow has a good tutorial on how to clear your browser’s cache.

And be sure to check out our Support section for other useful information.

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December 20, 2010

Clawbies 2010 Nominations #clawbies2010

Most people know about the ABA Journal Blawg 100, but we’d like to take a minute and introduce you to the Canadian Law Blog Awards, affectionately known as the Clawbies. It aims to highlight “great blogs published by the Canadian legal industry.”

So without further ado, here are top picks for #clawbie2010 nominations:

  • Law21: Written by Jordan Furlong, a well known name in the blawgosphere, it is deserving of a Clawbie because of its consistent delivery of common sense commentary and observations on the law, and the legal landscape. He can take an article, like the Time magazine piece, “The Men Who Changed the World,” and apply its points to the legal industry. In other words, he can take what we read every day, and interact with every day, and offer practical uses and observations that apply to your law practice.

  • Slaw: A “cooperative Canadian weblog on all things legal,” it is deserving of a Clawbie because of its depth and breath of legal coverage with its crop of knowledgeable contributors and columnists who can discuss a host of complicated topics in plain, simple English. Legal information, technology, actual law, marketing, you name it, there is someone who can write intelligently and clearly on the topic.

Now, technically, we’re supposed to nominate only three blogs, but we couldn’t decide between these two so we offer them both:

  • Canadian Privacy Blog: Chances are, you’ve heard a good deal about privacy this year, especially in the context of anything Facebook. And odds are just as good that most of what you’ve heard has come out of the United States, with a sprinkling of information from the European Union. David T.S. Fraser (@privacylawyer), who writes this blog, provides not only a Canadian perspective, but a review of anything related to privacy the world over. Despite calls, the blog demonstrates that privacy is not yet dead. From privacy policies to court rulings to government collaborations and even random observations, Canadian Privacy Blog is deserving of a Clawbie.

  • Now, Why Didn’t I Think of That?: Truth be told, the title of the blog caught our attention before we knew what it was about. Written by Sander Gelsing, who is a Canadian Patent and Trademark lawyer, the blog brings to life patent and trademark issues that would put the rest of us to sleep. Unless you have a real interest in the stuff, it just doesn’t hold your attention. Gelsing’s writing, though, brings the topic alive, and his analysis makes you say “Now, Why Didn’t I Think of That?!” For making an otherwise sleepy topic enjoyable, at times humorous and making us pay a little bit more attention to think of “that,” it deserves a Clawbie.

We live in an increasingly interconnected world, and laws will keep bumping into each other, so take a minute to browse some of the other Canadian law blogs. Who knows what you may find?

And good luck to all nominees!

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December 20, 2010

2010 ABA Journal Blawg 100 Highlights

The end of the year brings with it many things, like family gatherings, sledding or skiing and yes, awards. The ABA Journal’s Blawg 100 list is one of those awards, and we wanted to take blog post to point out a few.

If you’ve follow us on Twitter and/or Facebook, you’ve no doubt seen posts from 3 Geeks and a Law Blog. It covers any manner of topics related to the law, even law librarians, but we especially like its Elephant Posts, which poses a question each week and then posts responses, complete with the particular “perspective” of the commenter.

In the same category, lawbiz, there are a few others to note. We’ve tweeted and posted to Facebook links from all of them as they each offer something a little different, yet helpful or interesting, from the rest:

  • 22 Tweets: An inventive use of Twitter. Each week, Lance Godard interviews a lawyer via Twitter. Follow the #22tweets tag and you’ll learn something new every week.
  • Law21: Jordan Furlong’s often insightful, common sense commentary on practice management issues and the “revolution” of law. And what’s common sense commentary without advice? You get some of that from Law21, too.
  • Legal Practice Pro: Common sense commentary with advice that has more of a technology and productivity bent.
  • Lawyerist: Its call-it-like-they-see it approach covers all the bases.
  • MyShingle.com: Written by Carolyn Elefant and geared toward the solo lawyer, of which there is a growing number. Practically anything you want to know about starting you own practice can be found on the site.

And since we’re “legal tech,” we often post from such ABA Journal Blawg 100 blawgs:

  • Rick George’s FutureLawyer for useful gadget information.
  • Robert Amrbogi’s LawSites for more in-depth information on Web improvements for lawyers and legal professionals.

Though we aren’t a Mac-only application (we run on Windows, too), we do enjoy Josh Barrett’s Tablet Legal blawg, which offers some really helpful iPad tips and tricks, not to mention apps.

A blawg to keep an eye on, if you aren’t already, is Ron Friedmann’s Strategic Legal Technology. He’s found the pulse of the shifting legal landscape, and shares.

We’d like to congratulate everyone who was nominated this year, and good luck!

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December 17, 2010

GP Solo Article asks “Is Cloud Computing Green Computing?”

Clio President and co-founder Jack Newton recently had an article published in the December issue of the ABA’s GPSolo Magazine: Is Cloud Computing Green Computing?

The article addresses cloud computing’s capacity for “greening” traditional computing. The article highlights some important aspects of the environmental impact of both cloud-based and on-premise computing:

  • Computing is being transformed into a utility thanks to the increased use of virtualization
  • Cloud computing promises, through virtualization, to increase server utilization, and therefore efficiency
  • Meanwhile, 94% of on-premise servers sit idle, draining power but not doing any work

Be sure to take a minute and read the full article on cloud computing as green computing, and check out the complete December issue of GPSolo Magazine for more tips on “greening” your law practice.

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December 16, 2010

Industry Leaders Join Together to Form Legal Cloud Computing Association

CHICAGO, IL – December 16, 2010 – Recognized leaders in legal cloud computingannounced today the formation of the Legal Cloud Computing Association (LCCA), an organization whose purpose is to facilitate the rapid adoption of cloud computing technology within the legal profession, consistent with the highest standards of professionalism and ethical compliance.

The organization’s goal is to promote standards for cloud computing that are responsive to the needs of the legal profession and to enable lawyers to become aware of the benefits of computing technology through the development and distribution of education and informational resources.

The LCCA also announced the publication of its response to the ABA Commission on Ethics 20/20 Working Group with respect to the Commission’s September 10, 2010 call for comments on Client Confidentiality and the Use of Technology.

The group, consisting of Clio (Themis Solutions Inc.), DirectLaw, Inc., Rocket Matter, LLC and Total Attorneys, LLC, will cooperate with Bar Associations and other policy-forming bodies to release guidelines, standards, “best practices,” and educational resources relating to the use of cloud computing in the legal profession. An informational website for the group links to members and their response to the ABA Ethics questions.

“This is a promising development for the profession,” said lawyer Niki Black , author of the Sui Generis and Legal iPad blogs and author of the ABA’s upcoming book on cloud computing.” As technology evolves and continually provides us with better ways to manage our practices and serve our clients, it’s important that lawyers have workable – and practical – guidelines to follow on issues like security and ethical concerns. The formation of the LCCA is a step in the right direction. It opens up a dialogue between legal cloud computing providers and ensures that they’re on the same page on these issues.”

The LCCA’s response suggests the desired form for the Commission’s recommendations to be a set of technology standards for cloud computing providers, and a model terms of service for cloud computing providers. In addition, the LCCA offers practical insight on security and addresses the issue of whether cloud computing can be deemed a form of “outsourcing.”

The LCCA believes that the education of the legal profession is a primary objective to achieve as cloud computing continues to grow, and intends to take full advantage of the combined practical experience, knowledge and insight of all its members to accomplish that goal.

About Themis Solutions and Clio
Clio, a comprehensive web-based practice management Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) product, is specifically designed for solo practitioners and small law firms using PCs and Macs.  It can be accessed from any Internet-enabled computer or mobile device.  Secure and easy-to-use, Clio provides case/matter management, time tracking, billing/reporting, client contact and document management, task scheduling, trust accounting, and performance metrics for independent lawyers to benchmark their business goals.  In addition, Clio includes Clio Connect, a secure portal for document sharing and collaboration with clients, and Clio Express, an offline time capture application.

Clio’s parent company, Themis Solutions Inc., is based in Vancouver, British Columbia.  The company was founded by Jack Newton and Rian Gauvreau.  Visit www.goclio.com, e-mail info@goclio.com, call 1-888-858-CLIO or follow on Twitter @goclio.

About DirectLaw, Inc.
DirectLaw, Inc, based in Owings Mills, Maryland and Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, provides a virtual law firm platform to solos and small law firms that enables these law firms to deliver legal services over the Internet without developing complex software applications on their own. For more information visit DirectLaw.com.

About Rocket Matter, LLC
Rocket Matter, LLC provides Rocket Matter®, an online legal practice management and time tracking application for small to mid-sized law firms. The benefits of Rocket Matter®, a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) application, include increased security, business continuity, decreased technology infrastructure and maintenance costs, and improved return on investment for information technology expenses. Launched in February 2008, Rocket Matter’s corporate headquarters is in Boca Raton, FL.

About Total Attorneys, LLC
Total Attorneys is a managed service provider that helps small law firms and solo practitioners improve operations and grow their businesses. Total Attorneys offers a broad range of evolving services tailored to the needs of small law firms, including virtual law office technology, search enginemarketing, a professional call center and customizable answering services. Founded in 2002, Total Attorneys now serves solo attorneys and small law firms across the United States. The company was ranked in the top five on the Crain’s Chicago Fast Fifty lists for 2008 and 2009 and listed 169th and 219th on the 2008 and 2009 Inc. 5000 lists of fastest-growing private companies in the U.S.

Contact:
Jack Newton
Acting President
Legal Cloud Computing Association
1-888-858-2546 x5

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December 15, 2010

Announcing 35 New Clio Certified Consultants Including Brett Burney

Vancouver, BC – December 15, 2010 – Vancouver-based Themis Solutions Inc., provider of cloud-based legal practice management offering www.goclio.com, today announced that 35 new consultants have joined the Clio Certified Consultants Partner Program (see list below) including noted legal technology expert Brett Burney of Burney Consultants. Other Clio Certified Consultants include staff members at several bar associations, including the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Wisconsin, the State Bar of Michigan, and the District of Columbia Bar.  The Clio Certified Consultants (CCC) Partner Program now has a membership of 67 consultants spanning 28 states, as well as several international markets.

Burney signed on as a CCC because “cloud computing provides the vital security, flexibility, accessibility and confidentiality that lawyers require for managing their practice and client information.  In my consulting practice, I support some lawyers who use Macs.  Traditionally, legal practice management software has been Windows-based, so there has been limited choice for Mac lawyers.  Clio is a superior practice management system that provides the security and confidentiality law firms need while allowing them to work either on PCs or Macs.”

Burney is currently writing a book entitled Macs in Law, which will be published in 2011 by the ABA Law Practice Management Section.  He also recently launched a blog, Macs in Law, a valuable resource for Mac-using lawyers.

New Clio Certified Consultants include:

Clio President and Co-founder Jack Newton comments, “IT consultants continue to play an integral role in helping their clients shift from traditional desktop-based software to cloud-based applications.  The fact that our CCC program is growing explosively proves that IT consultants recognize the validity and increasing popularity of Software-as-a-Service systems like Clio and the instrumental role they can play in helping their clients transition to the cloud.”

For more information or to apply for the Clio Certified Consultant Program, visit Clio Consultants.

About Themis Solutions and Clio
Clio, a comprehensive web-based practice management Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) product, is specifically designed for solo practitioners and small law firms using PCs and Macs.  It can be accessed from any Internet-enabled computer or mobile device.  Secure and easy-to-use, Clio provides case/matter management, time tracking, billing/reporting, client contact and document management, task scheduling, trust accounting, and performance metrics for independent lawyers to benchmark their business goals.  In addition, Clio includes Clio Connect, a secure portal for document sharing and collaboration with clients, and Clio Express, an offline time capture application.

Clio’s parent company, Themis Solutions Inc., is based in Vancouver, British Columbia.  The company was founded by Jack Newton and Rian Gauvreau.  Visit www.goclio.com, e-mail info@goclio.com, call 1-888-858-CLIO or follow on Twitter @goclio.

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December 9, 2010

Law Students Get to Know Clio via Free Clio Educational Use Program

Vancouver, BC – December 9, 2010 – Vancouver-based Themis Solutions Inc., provider of cloud-based legal practice management offering Clio, is bringing real-world, practical legal technology skills to law students by providing Clio at no charge for educational use in law schools across North America. Since its inception, the Clio Educational Use Program has provided free Clio subscriptions to several law schools across the country, allowing them to use Clio in their classrooms and computer centers.

While law schools educate their students on the substance of law, they rarely teach students other important skills that they will need once they become lawyers, including technology usage. This disconnect is highly problematic as law school graduates leave schools largely unprepared for the practical side of running a practice.

Jack Newton, President and co-founder of Clio, states, “Law students are keen on getting exposure to practice management software during the course of their education, as they are increasingly aware that practice management is a skill they need the day they graduate. Because Clio is cloud-based, deploying it in the classroom is much easier than it was with traditional desktop-based systems: teachers can get their students up-and-running on Clio in minutes without needing to ask for support from IT. By making it easy to use a real-world practice management system in a classroom environment, we’re hoping more law students will be able to graduate with the knowledge of how to run an efficient and error-free law practice.”

Clio is currently implemented at the law schools such as Columbia, Georgia State University, CUNY, Loyola, Widener, Indiana State, Texas Tech, and Portland Community College. In some instances, students at these schools are afforded the unprecedented opportunity to simulate managing an active caseload like a practicing lawyer would.

For example, Clark Cunningham, Director of the National Institute for Teaching Ethics and Professionalism and the W. Lee Burge Professor of Law and Ethics at Georgia State University College of Law, introduced Clio to his law students with distinctive success. Over two-thirds of the students surveyed after the completion of the course rated the use of Clio as helpful or very helpful. Cunningham notes, “Clio is web-based so the students could access it from anywhere. We wanted to simulate a real-world law firm experience for our students so they could familiarize themselves with new technology. As a result, they will graduate better prepared for the challenges of running a law practice.”

According to Jonathan Call, one of Cunningham’s students, “Clio is great. I think it should be a requirement for every law student to use some kind of practice management software before graduation. It is a key skill that every lawyer needs and is incredibly useful.”

LegalTalk Network’s Kennedy-Mighell Report recently published a podcast online entitled “Integrating Practice Management Tools in Law School” which featured Newton, Cunningham and Call as well as legal case management expert Andy Adkins, who recently left University of Florida’s Levin College of Law and still runs the Legal Technology Institute.

As law schools realize the necessity of educating their students in practical as well as substantive legal skills, Clio is there to help. For more information about the free Clio Educational Use Program, e-mail info@goclio.com.

About Clio and Themis Solutions
Clio, a comprehensive web-based practice management Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) product, is specifically designed for solo practitioners and small law firms using PCs and Macs. It can be accessed from any Internet-enabled computer or mobile device. Secure and easy-to-use, Clio provides case/matter management, time tracking, billing/reporting, client contact and document management, task scheduling, trust accounting, and performance metrics for independent lawyers to benchmark their business goals. In addition, Clio includes Clio Connect, a secure portal for document sharing and collaboration with clients, and Clio Express, an offline time capture application.

Clio’s parent company, Themis Solutions Inc., is based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The company was founded by Jack Newton and Rian Gauvreau. Visit www.goclio.com, e-mail info@goclio.com, call 1-888-858-CLIO or follow on Twitter @goclio.

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December 7, 2010

Law Practice Strategy Webinar: The Security and Ethics of Cloud Computing

On Thursday, Law Practice Strategy is hosting a webinar, The Security and Ethics of Cloud Computing, featuring Clio President Jack Newton.

The webinar will cover the “nuts and bolts” of cloud computing, providing attendees with a solid understanding of how cloud computing works, its benefits and risks and how to perform due diligence before choosing a cloud computing provider.

Points that will be addressed include:

  • How cloud computing using a Saas model differs from traditional software
  • Why you want to choose a Saas model
  • How Saas solutions work for solos and small firms
  • Security, privacy, and data availability
  • What a Service Level Agreement (SLA) is
  • What terms you need in an SLA
  • Review ethics opinions related to ethical obligations in cloud computing

Registration is still open for the webinar.

The last point is particularly relevant as the comments deadline for the ABA Commission on Ethics 20/20 draws near. Comments on two important issues papers, “Client Confidentiality and Lawyers’ Use of Technology” and “Use of Internet Based Client Development Tools,” are due December 15, 2010.

For an overview of the two issues papers, check out our post on Take Aways from MyShingle  ABA Ethics 20/20 Teleseminar. You can also

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of the teleseminar, and view Carolyn Elefant’s slide presentation.

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