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The last week of December, a time to reflect on the year past before looking to the year ahead.

Just like 2010, education was a staple in 2011. Our CEO and co-founder, Jack Newton, spoke on the security and ethics of cloud computing at conferences and webinars throughout the year. We celebrated our third year anniversary by announcing integration with Dropbox, Box.net and a referral program. And we also released a number of new features, like two-factor authentication, a new look and calendar improvements, like Statute of Limitations reminders.

A new thing we started this year was the #GoneClio blog and podcast series. The series features a Clio user who is a solo or small firm lawyer, and the discussion covers anything and everything from technology in the solo or small law firm to starting and running a law firm. It’s been an exciting series, and we’ve discovered that, while there are features every user likes, each user has also uniquely adapted Clio to his or her practice. Some of those adaptations made their way into our #cliotraining Tip series.

Speaking of our #cliotraining Tip series. What started as a one-off idea, a way to highlight features, new and old, became a weekly fixture this year. And you, our users, obliged and submitted some rather useful tips! User tips this year included adding tasks on the go, using QR codes for quick client file access, a creative method of tracking scanned documents and user productivity reports to help your bottom line. We’re rather excited to see what tips you’ll submit in 2012!

And let’s not forget our second annual Apple in Law Firms Survey! The results showed Apple made significant in roads into law offices in 2011, and as did Android and cloud computing applications. And no worries. We’ll dig deeper into the survey results at the start of the new year, much like we did last year.

There were some posts, too, that took an in depth look at current issues in the legal industry as it continues to shake, rattle and roll with the economic climate. 2011 saw a shift in focus from the plight of the laid off big law firm and the newly solo, and struggling lawyer to that of the law student, and legal education. We took a look at the changing legal education landscape, and if the continued discussion is any induction, 2012 may see more changes to legal education, too.

This year also saw a shift to the mobile platform, raising the question of whether or not the tablet spells the end of the desktop. The subject brought up another: native v. mobile apps. It will  be interesting to see what direction the debate takes in 2012.

2011 saw cloud computing take center stage in the legal ethics arena.

The ABA Commission on Ethics 20/20 published its recommendations on amending ethics rules related to Client Confidentiality Issues Raised by New Technologies, and state bar associations came out with ethics opinions in favor of lawyers use of cloud computing.

The state bars of Pennsylvania, Iowa, North Carolina and, most recently, Oregon, joined the state bars of Arizona, New Jersey, Main and New York in issuing ethics opinions on lawyers use of cloud computing services. Bob Ambrogi put it best in his Catalyst post, “Two New Legal Ethics Opinions Suggest Clear Skies Ahead for Cloud Computing:”

it is ethical for lawyers to store client documents in the cloud and use cloud-based applications, provided the lawyers take reasonable safeguards to ensure the safety and security of the data.

In other words, lawyers need to perform due diligence for client confidentiality and security of data as with anything else. And instead of presenting a list of restrictions, bar associations, so far, have opted to offer guidance on what to look for in a cloud computing provider. From data backup to retrieval, security audits to notification of unauthorized access and areas in between. One can see that bar associations are making an effort no to outright restrict their members use of new technologies that help them continue to be zealous advocates for their clients.

In addition to Ambrogi’s post, Beverly Mitchell has a nice write up of Oregon’s recent ethics opinion on cloud computing, and Internet for Lawyers has a nice summary complete with links to current bar association opinions on cloud computing.

It will be interesting to see the Ethics 20/20 Commission’s final proposals in 2012, and other bar association ethics opinions related to cloud computing, and technology, too.

The ABA Commission on Ethics 20/20 is holding a public hearing during the 2012 ABA Midyear Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana. According to the Notice of Public Hearing (PDF), the mail focus will be on the proposals the Commission plans to submit to the House of Delegates for its consideration in August 2012.

The proposals include:

• Rule 5.5(d)(3)- Unauthorized Practice of Law; Multijurisdictional Practice of Law
• ABA Model Rule on Admission by Motion
• Outsourcing
• Rule 1.6- Confidentiality of Information
• Technology and Client Development
• Technology and Confidentiality

The public hearing is scheduled for:

Thursday, February 2, 2012
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Sheraton New Orleans Hotel
500 Canal Street
Gallery Room, Lobby Level

The public notice also states that:

Appearances are limited to five minute presentations followed by a five minute question and answer period. The Commission will work to accommodate all appearance requests. Individuals or organizational representatives interested in testifying should contact Natalia Vera at natalia.vera@americanbar.org or 312/988-5328, no later than January 14, 2012. To assist the Commission in preparing for the hearing and to facilitate discussion, please provide to Ms. Vera, by January 14, 2012, via email or hard copy, a written submission outlining your anticipated testimony and providing citations to relevant resources.

You can email submissions to Ms. Vera, or send them vial snail mail to her attention:

ABA Center for Professional Responsibility
17th Floor
321 N. Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60654

If you can’t make it, no worries. Written comments sent to Ms. Vera will be given to the Commission. And the notice states that written submissions may be posted to the Commission’s web site.

Last week, Bessemer Venture Partners published a chart of what it sees as major cloud players. Clio is included under the Vertical segment. Needless to say we’re pretty excited to be included, and in such excellent company. One thing that struck us though, looking over the complete chart, is the growth of the entire cloud computing landscape, not just Software-as-a-Service.

In “Bessemer Cloudscape: A map of the major cloud players,” recently published on GigaOM, Byron Deeter of Bessemer Venture Partners says:

Cloud computing is no longer at the leading edge of the software world, but rather from the perspective of a growth investor, entrepreneur, or technology buyer, cloud computing IS the modern software industry. This multi-billion dollar, high-growth segment of technology now encompasses hundreds of exciting companies, covering every major segment of the software ecosystem.

While the majority of cloud computing companies, including Clio, are Software-as-a-Service and cater to the end user, the areas of Platform-as-a-Service and Infrastructure-as-a-Service, are also growing. Cloud computing is maturing, and that looks like it’ll continue into 2012.