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David Whelan |
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Director |
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ABA Legal Technology Resource Center |
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http://www.lawtechnology.org |
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wheland@staff.abanet.org |
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New to the legal profession |
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Opportunity to develop business procedures to
support practice |
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Identify where technology can provide assistance |
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Fewer organizational obstacles than for lawyers
automating paper-based or other processes |
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Bring fresh insight upon joining a firm for
adapting technology to procedures |
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Rely on more experienced lawyers to avoid
automation difficulties |
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Where technology is more hassle than not |
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Opportunities that exist due to experience |
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Significant use of laptops as primary computer |
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All firm sizes |
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58.6% have access
to laptop |
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12.7% use laptop
from firm “pool” |
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Most lawyers only use their laptop, on the road,
in hotels (46.3%) |
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Client office 3% |
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Courtroom 1.5% |
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Opposing or co-counsel’s offices .8% |
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Courts are adding support for laptop users, both
electrical and resources |
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Eliminate transfer of information from paper to
computer by having PC with you |
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Bottom line:
flexibility |
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One computer to learn to use with one
configuration of software |
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Use it wherever you go |
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Ability to use it more often, in more locations,
can make up for the added cost in purchasing a laptop |
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Does not restrict your ability to keep a
monitor, keyboard, and mouse on your desk! |
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Everything in your office should be connected |
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Desktops, laptops, server computers |
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Printers, fax machines, copiers |
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Saves time wasted in transit, and in checking on
job completion |
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Saves money because one device can be shared by
many people |
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Jetdirect Printers |
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Use the Jetdirect Web server (internal access
only) to see status of every HP printer in your office, including toner
levels and paper jam information |
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Fax Servers |
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Send faxes from your desk, see if the fax
machine is online |
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Review fax log remotely to see what is going out
and what has come in |
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Wired networks are inexpensive and fast, but are
fixed to one location |
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Similar to phone jacks |
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Wires carry data through network, provide access
to Internet |
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Internal wired networks can carry 100 Megabits
per second or more of data |
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Typical “broadband” Internet connection is 1.5
Mbps or less |
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Some wired networks support 1000 Mbps or more |
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Two computers or devices that transmit and
receive data via radio frequency or infrared waves |
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Pros |
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Supports flexibility of laptops |
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No fixed network jacks |
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Connection wherever two antennas link |
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Easier to install and update than wired |
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Cons |
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Encryption is weak |
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Speeds are not as fast as wired |
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Differing standards of hardware can mean that
one antenna will not communicate with another |
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Mobility does not stop with laptops |
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Variety of new devices support lawyers outside
the office |
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Lighter, less expensive, but not as powerful |
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Allow lawyers to choose just the functions they
want or need |
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Goes well beyond communication |
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The most common portable device is the wireless
phone |
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71.8% of lawyers have access to one |
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Other options include: |
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Wireless e-mail devices, like Blackberry |
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Handheld computers, like Visor or iPaq |
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Integrated devices, like Treo or Kyocera |
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No device does everything |
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Most devices excel in one area |
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Do you use a phone or e-mail more? |
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Do you create documents? |
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Do you give presentations? |
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Do you have software that synchronizes to a
certain kind of PDA? |
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2/3ds of lawyers don’t have a PDA |
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Primary uses are for basic information |
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Scheduling (30.8%) |
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Contact management (1.6%) |
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Document creation (.3%) |
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Most legal technology software either has, or
will soon have, links to support PDAs |
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… is here! |
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Options will increase to use small devices to do
tasks that used to be reserved for primary computer |
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Wireless e-mail and Web |
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Documents, spreadsheets, presentations |
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Greater flexibility, lower cost, than current
technology |
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Increasing attempts to combine communications
and productivity |
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Courts are supporting use of technology |
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Federal courts adopting across the board |
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State court jurisdictions vary |
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Ranges from videoconferencing for hearings to
multimedia exhibits |
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Use of presentation software for statements and
arguments |
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Litigation support tools |
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Management of documents, exhibits, and
depositions |
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Outlining and chronologies |
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Presentation software especially designed for
organizing visual exhibits |
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Typically software |
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Focused, performing a specific task |
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Real-time transcription of depositions |
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Immediate access to deponent testimony |
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Can be highlighted and annotated live |
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Online depositions |
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Adds video and audio to real-time transcription |
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Allows remote participants |
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No need to install this yourself |
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Call the Federal court nearest you to find out
if they have a high tech courtroom |
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Ask for a tour or, even better, if they do
training |
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Spend an hour |
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Testing the system and different gadgets |
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Viewing content you are likely to use in court |
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If you do not appear in high tech courts, you
might purchase technology to fill that gap if your courts allow you to use
it |
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Some thoughts |
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$2,500 portable LCD projector (less than 5
pounds) |
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$3,500 portable document camera (aka Elmo) |
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Hire a consultant to provide you with all the
equipment and to manage it for you in trial |
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Use technology to support your practice |
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Identify the problem you face and then find a
technology that can solve it |
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Be willing to experiment with new devices and
software to improve your practice |
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David Whelan |
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Director |
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ABA Legal Technology Resource Center |
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http://www.lawtechnology.org |
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wheland@staff.abanet.org |
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Notes