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Archive for June, 2012

June 29, 2012

Legal Disruption: Lawline and the CLE Space

Technology like cloud computing, or devices like the iPad, are often pointed to as examples of disruptors. They demolish the status quo and leave us with a new way of doing things. And nowhere has the status quo been more steadfast than the legal industry. 

While cloud computing has done its part to disrupt the legal industry, leading to state bar ethics opinions, and legal education is going through its own transformation, other areas of the industry remain the same. Continuing Legal Education (CLE), for example. Most lawyers get CLE credits by attending conferences like ABA TECHSHOW, or state bar solo and small firm conferences. A fair amount of time is needed to arrange being out of the office, accommodations and travel. And what if you have a trial and can’t make the conference? 

Enter Lawline.com

As Bob Ambrogi points out on Lawsites, Lawline.com has redesigned, and retooled itself. It’s extensive library of CLE courses is now free. Solo and small firm lawyers, as well as the general public, can browse and access programs in audio or video format. For free. To earn CLE credit, however, payment is required. Lawline lets you watch or listen to the course first, and if you like it and want credit, you just have to click the “Get Credit” button to pay.

While the method is intriguing, it also serves a greater purpose: educating the public.

Technology itself is a disruption, and companies like Lawline leverage it to break out of the status quo and improve access to legal information for all.

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June 27, 2012

ABA Commission on Ethics 20/20 Issues Paper Concerning Model Rule of Professional Conduct 5.5 and the Limits on Virtual Presence in a Jurisdiction

While America anxiously waits for the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Affordable Care Act, the ABA Commission on Ethics 20/20, specifically its Working Group on Uniformity, Choice of Law and Conflicts of Interest, recently released an Issues Paper Concerning Model Rule of Professional Conduct 5.5 and the Limits on Virtual Presence in a Jurisdiction (PDF).

The paper describes the issue as follows:

The Commission has learned that, since 2002, the proliferation of lawyers’ use of technology has raised new questions about the meaning of the phrase “systematic and continuous presence” in Rule 5.5(b). In particular, technology now enables lawyers to be physically present in one jurisdiction, yet have a substantial virtual practice in another. The problem is that it is not always clear when this virtual practice in a jurisdiction is sufficiently “systematic and continuous” to require a license in that jurisdiction.

Currently, Comment 4 to Model Rule 5.5 identifies the issue, but provides limited guidance as to how to resolve it. The Comment states that a lawyer’s “[p]resence may be systematic and continuous even if the lawyer is not physically present” in the jurisdiction. 

Neither the Rule nor the Comment provides any clarity as to when a lawyer who is “not physically present” in a jurisdiction nevertheless has a systematic and continuous presence there.

It’s easy to think “jurisdiction” is now irrelevant since the Internet puts goods and services at our fingertips. We don’t need to go to the store to buy groceries, we can order them online and have them delivered using PeaPod. We don’t have go to the bookstore to pickup the latest bestseller, we can order it, and other goods we think of at the same time, from Amazon. It practically seems a no brainer legal services should operate the same way.

The catch, though, is defining “systematic and continuous presence” in a digital age. Carolyn Elefant of MyShingle.com offers up a good overview of Rule 5.5 and the issue around virtual law offices, and some additional commentary.

The Issues Paper proposes some solutions:

  1. Identify the factors that lawyers and disciplinary authorities should consider when deciding whether a lawyer’s presence has become sufficiently systematic and continuous to trigger Rule 5.5(b)’s requirement that the lawyer become licensed.
  2. Make no proposal in this area and refer the issue to the Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility for an opinion on the meaning of “systematic and continuous presence” in the context of virtual law practice.
  3. Make no proposal in this area, but identify the relevant issues in an informational report that the Commission could file with the ABA House of Delegates to help educate the profession about this issue

The Commission is seeking comment “from lawyers who have a virtual practice and learn if those lawyers have encountered difficulties because of the ambiguous scope of Comment [4] to Rule 5.5(b).”

Comments are due July 31, 2012 and can be sent to Natalia Vera at natalia.vera@americanbar.org.

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June 22, 2012

#cliotraining Tip: Two Ways to See List of Document Versions

We’ve gone over our document version feature before, and how it helps you keep track of the same document without having to continually rename the document every time changes are made and you have to re-upload it to Clio.

Today, we wanted to point out a couple ways to find the list of versions for a Document.

You can see versions in two ways.

  1. Click the number.
  2. Click “other versions.”

So whether you are under the Documents tab, or looking at Documents within a specific Matter, you have easy access to all the versions of a particular Document.

To learn more, check out the Documents section of our Support site.

Got a tip to share? Let us know. We’d love to hear them!

 

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June 21, 2012

Jack Speaking: Don’t Lose your Head in the Cloud

Tomorrow, June 22, our CEO and co-founder Jack Newton is co-presenting with Jessica L. Franken, Partner, Quarles & Brady LLP, at the State Bar of Arizona Convention. The topic? Cloud Computing.

The full title of the presentation is: “Don’t Lose your Head in the Cloud”- Leveraging the Power of the Cloud to Run Your Law Firm and the Legal and Ethical Risks for Attorneys Using Cloud Computing.

By this point, the benefits of cloud computing are obvious. We’ve been using cloud computing in our personal lives, be it Gmail or Google Apps, Dropbox or Instagram. It is seeping into law firms as well, allowing lawyers to access documents and Client information from a laptop, iPad or other mobile device while in court, at home, on the road or otherwise out of the office.

What remains an area of concern, though, are the risks, ethical and otherwise, of using cloud computing in a law firm setting.

So to address both the benefits and risks of cloud computing for lawyers, the presentation is broken up into two parts:

  1. What lawyers should know about cloud computing.
  2. Risks and ethics of cloud computing for lawyers.

The presentation is at 10:30 tomorrow morning, so if you’ve been wondering how to use cloud computing in your law practice, or already use it but are concerned about risks or just want to learn more about the pros and cons of cloud computing, be sure to attend.

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June 19, 2012

New #GoneClio Podcast: Bahgat Law LLC

The latest #GoneClio podcast highlights Attorney Joe Bahgat of Bahgat Law LLC. Jack and Joe talk about cost savings through Clio, hiring a virtual assistant, tools to help you stay organized and the capabilities of Clio’s document management and Clio Connect features. 

Listen:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

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June 14, 2012

#cliotraining Tip: RightSignature and Clio bring Electronic Signatures to your #Paperless Workflow

Earlier this week, we announced a new integration with the Clio Platform: RightSignature. The integration brings solo and small law firms that much closer to a paperless workflow. A literal paperless workflow. Instead of emailing a document that your Client has to print out, sign and then either mail or scan and email back, your Client can, instead, sign the document electronically.

Yes. That’s right. Electronically. And the electronic signature creates a binding, legal document, complete with a Signature Certificate and time-stamped audit:

You receive an email confirmation with a link to the signed document. Your Client also receives an email confirmation when signed, and an additional email for access to the secure archive.

You don’t need to print, your Client doesn’t need to print, sign and mail or otherwise scan and send back. It can all be done within a browser, online, bringing your solo or small law firm that much closer to a completely paperless office.

To get started, sign up for a RightSignature account, if you don’t have one already. Then do the following:

  1. Click “Your Account” and go to “Integrations.”
  2. Scroll until you see the Clio logo.
  3. Click the Clio logo.
  4. Click the green “Activate” button to connect RightSignature to your Clio account.
  5. Click the green “Yes, Let’s Connect” button to grant appropriate permissions.

And that’s it! Now, when you go to RightSignature and click the “Send a Document” button, you’ll see the Clio logo:

Just click it, and a list of invoices from Clio appears. Select the one you want, fill in the “People Involved” fields, which can also pull your Clio Contacts, and send the document through RightSignature normally.

Your Client gets an email with a link to the PDF. Your Client simply clicks the link, which opens the PDF in the browser so he or she can review the document and then sign it. Once signed, both you and your Client receive an email notification confirming the signature. A PDF link is included that shows the signature as well as the Signature Certificate and time-stamped audit. 

The document is in the RightSignature secure vault that you can access, and your Client can also access for his or her own records and piece of mind.

Both you and your Client have a record of the document, when it was sent and when it was signed. And neither side has had to print out a single piece of paper.

To learn more about the RightSignature and Clio integration, check out the RightSignature video, and visit our Support site.

Got a tip to share? Let us know. We’d love to hear them!

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June 11, 2012

#cliomeetup @statebaroftexas Annual Meeting @corksoakers Houston #sbot12

Yep. That’s right! We’re coming to Houston, Texas this week for the State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting! While we’re in town, we’re hosting a #cliomeetup at Cork Soakers. So if you’re in town for the annual meeting, or already in the Houston area, come join us for drinks, appetizers and good old face-to-face conversations. Clio co-founder Rian Gauvreau (who recently created a Twitter account) will be there along with the Clio Crew, Clio users, consultants and anyone else interested in engaging conversations.

Like past #cliomeetups, you’ll want to RSVP so you don’t miss out!

When:

Wednesday, June 13, 2012 from 7pm to 9pm.

Where:
Cork Soakers
2024 Rusk Street
Houston, TX 77003

Hope to see you there!

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June 11, 2012

RightSignature and Clio: A Boost to Solo and Small Law Firm #Paperless Workflows

By leveraging the Clio Platform, RightSignature users can send invoices and other Clio documents for signature with the click of a button.

Vancouver, BC, and Santa Barbara, CA — June 11, 2012 — Solo lawyers and small law firms just got a boost to their paperless workflows. Clio, the leading cloud-based practice management system for solo and small firm lawyers, is pleased to announce an integration with RightSignature, the simplest and most efficient way to sign documents online.

By leveraging the Clio Platform, RightSignature users can send invoices and other Clio documents for signature with the click of a button. No need to print out and mail documents, confirm the client received them, and then wait for them to be signed and returned. And since Clio contacts are also accessible, adding additional parties for signature is simple.

“We’re pleased to integrate with RightSignature. Using Clio has helped many solo and small law firms establish paperless workflows, and RightSignature takes the paperless workflow a step further by allowing for legally binding digital signatures,” said Jack Newton, co-founder and CEO of Clio.

RightSignature counts many lawyers and law firms among the ranks of users, and is thrilled to be able to provide this extra level of service for them. Clio’s full-featured, all-in-one suite is a perfect solution for any small firm or solo practice, and represents a perfect fit for RightSignature.

“Clio’s growing attorney user base has a daily need to obtain signatures on engagement letters, new client forms, declarations, and other documents. The RightSignature-Clio integration brings together two leading cloud solutions for the legal community to help attorneys boost efficiency, streamline client onboarding, and improve client service,” said Daryl Bernstein, CEO of RightSignature.

 

ABOUT RIGHTSIGNATURE
RightSignature LLC provides cutting-edge, on-demand electronic signature software. RightSignature’s technology empowers small businesses and the world’s leading companies to send documents for e-signature with a few clicks.

Parties fill out and sign documents online quickly and easily, saving time, money, and paper. Documents executed on RightSignature are legally binding and stored on a secure server for future reference.

RightSignature is a software-as-a-service and is available anytime, anywhere, through a web browser. RightSignature is headquartered in Santa Barbara, California.

ABOUT CLIO
Clio is a comprehensive web-based practice management product specifically designed for solo practitioners and small-to-medium-sized law firms. Clio can be accessed using PCs and Macs as well as mobile devices including iPhone, iPad and other mobile devices.

Secure and easy-to-use, Clio provides case/matter management, time tracking, billing/reporting, client contact and document management, task scheduling, trust accounting, and detailed reporting. In addition, Clio includes Clio Connect, a secure portal for exchanging information and collaborating with clients, and Clio Express, an offline time capture application.

Clio is based in Vancouver, B.C., and was founded by Jack Newton and Rian Gauvreau in 2007. Visit www.goclio.com, e-mail info@goclio.com, call 1-888-858-CLIO or follow on Twitter @goclio.

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June 7, 2012

Jack Speaking: Cloud Computing Have You in a Fog? #MOSOLO12

It’s June. It’s conference season. Time to continue to educate!

Today at the Missouri Solo and Small Firm Conference, Nerino PetroNatalie Kelly and Jack Newton are talking cloud computing.

Cloud computing continues to be one of the hottest trends in legal technology, and is quickly become a staple of legal conferences. And though we may use “the cloud” on a daily basis, we’re just beginning to see its mass adoption by solo and small firm lawyers as a way to manage their practices, and run their businesses.

So come listen to Nerino, Natalie and Jack describe how “the cloud” can be leveraged by law offices to become more efficient and effective.

As with any new technology in the legal sphere, there are ethical questions that arise. They’ll also review the ethics issues relevant to cloud computing and provide a survey of recent ethics opinions related to cloud computing.

Session Details:

Date: Friday, June 8th
Time: 3:50 – 5:00 p.m.
Location: Fall Creek

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June 7, 2012

#cliotraining Tip: Work in Progress Report

We’ve had a couple tips on Reports. One came from a #GoneClio interview on how User Productivity Report helps the bottom line, and another took a look at the Revenue Report. Since Reports are an important aspect of keeping tabs on your solo or small law firm, today we’re going to take a look at the Work in Progress Report.

As your practice grows, from time to time it is useful to see what Client work remains ongoing/unbilled. There could be any number of reasons, of course, and perhaps those reasons are noted. But instead of clicking through each Matter to check, you can simply run a Work in Progress Report. Whether you want to see a full Client list, Activity Type or Responsible Attorney, for the whole year, or just the Quarter, the Work in Progress Report can show you what remains ongoing.

To generate a Work in Progress Report, simply do the following:

  • Log into your Clio account.
  • Click the “Reports” tab.
  • Under “Client Reports,” click “Work in Progress.”
  • Select a Report Detail, Grouping and Date Range.

And now you have the option to either view it via the Web, or download a PDF.

If you need to just make a quick glance, you can simply view it via the Web. The report opens up in Clio and you can scan it and see where things stand. If you need to print it out and review it with staff, or perhaps with a Client, you can download the PDF.

Either way, you have a method to keep tabs on the progress of your business.

Got a tip to share? Let us know. We’d love to hear them!

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