law firm essentials
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Low Cost Office Low Cost Office Technology EssentialsTechnology Essentials
Low Cost Office Low Cost Office Technology EssentialsTechnology Essentials
Craig Bayer: [email protected] Bayer: [email protected]
TYPE WHO YOU ARE SPEAKING FOR HERE
ESSENTIAL BOOKS
●●“How to Start and Build a Law Practice” by Jay Foonberg
●“Flying Solo” – Bill Gibson
●“2008 Solo & Small Firm Legal Technology Guide” –Nelson, Simek & Maschke
●“The Business of Law” by Edward Poll
●Visit www.lawpractice.org for ordering information
HARDWAREHARDWARE
▸ Desktops, Laptops, Tablets ▸ Windows Small Business Server
▸ Scanners▸ Network Printer
▸ Gigabit Switch
Peer-to-Peer NetworkPeer-to-Peer Network
Local Area NetworkLocal Area Network
WIFI NETWORKING
● Configurations
▸ The most common type is now the faster 802.11g - many laptops come with it already
▸ 802.11n (now called “Pre-N”) is the system to buy when it becomes formally available
▸Causes problems running client server applications
● Cost▸WAP - $10 to $750▸WiFi PC Access - $5 to $100▸Wireless Print Servers - $50 to 300
THE CLOUD
SAAS
Small Business Server
● Microsoft Exchange● Automatic Patching (WSUS● Fax Server● SQL 2005 (Premium Edition)● Backup Solution● Outlook 2007 to all Users● Monitoring Reports● Access to Workstation And Data
Remotely● Cheaper then Server 2008● Included in the Price of Server
Server
● Choose over Workstation● 4GB Ram (At Least)● Redundant Systems● Raid 5 Configuration (3 Drives)● Affordable● Harder to Setup● Must have Warranty
PowerEdge 2900: $2500
DESKTOP PC
● Intel Core 2 Duo● Windows 7 Professional● 4GB RAM● Sound● 20 Inch Wide Monitor● DVD-ROM● 80 GB 7200 RPM SATA 3● 3 Year Warranty
Dell OptiPlex 360: $945
NOTEBOOKNOTEBOOK
● Intel Core 2 Duo● 4GB RAM ● DVD-ROM● Encrypted Drive● Bluetooth● Weight/Size● 9 Cell Battery● Docking Station
Dell Latitude E5500: $1300
TABLET PC’sTABLET PC’s
TABLET PCTABLET PC
● Intel Core 2 Duo● 4GB of Ram● 8 Cell Battery● 160gb Hard Drive● No XP, Vista or 7
Thinkpad X200: $1800
LASERJET PRINTERS
●Type ●RAM●Speed●Networkable●Multiple Trays●Brand / Model●Color●Price●Paperless Office
LaserJet 1720DN: $339
Desktop Scanner
●50 Sheets●Duplex●Adobe 9.0 Standard●ABBYY Fine Reader●Scan to Word
ScanSnap S1500: $399
Portable Scanner
●USB Powered●Duplex
ScanSnap S300: $275
Switch
●Gigabit●No Daisy Chains●Cat 5 or 6●Most Critical Piece of Hardware
Gigabyte Switch: $109
USB Hard Drive
●Tape vs USB●Easy to Restore●Rugged●Used with Small Business Server●Test Restore●Have 2 or 3
Lacie 250GB: $139
HANDHELD DEVICES
●BlackBerry●Smartphones (Palm)●Smartphones (Palm Web OS)●Smartphones (Windows Mobile)●iPhone (Apple)
●Considerations ▸BlackBerry syncs with Outlook and to check more than e-mail,
you need the BlackBerry Enterprise Server software and Exchange Server!
▸Palm Smartphones - 100% Palm devices - maximum sync ability with legal apps - real-time email with software like VersaMail
▸Windows MobileSmartphones sync with Outlook and Microsoft apps primarily – Easiest to setup and has Push SynchronizationBEWARE BLUETOOTH SECURITY
●Pricing: Anywhere from $200 to $600 depending on the cell service provider and available rebates
SOFTWARE
▸ Word Processing▸ Adobe Acrobat or other PDF writer
▸ Billing/accounting software▸ Case management system▸ Document management system▸ E-mail software▸ Internet access for research▸ Data backup, security and anti- virus software
BUNDLED SOFTWARE
Microsoft Office Basic – Outlook, Excel, and Word, Adobe Standard (docx v doc)
Adobe Acrobat 9 Standard Edition
Corel WordPerfect X4 Suite Less costly to buy OEM version separately
with any new PC systems
Adobe
● Pro allows Bates Stamping
Upgrade to Pro: $159
Best Adobe Blog: http://blogs.adobe.com/acrolaw
BILLING & ACCOUNTING SYSTEMS
● Most packages are becoming integrated.
● Timeslips requires you to also have an accounting package like Quickbooks or Peachtree
● PCLaw, Tabs 3, Juris, and Billing Matters have billing and accounting functions.
● Legal specific accounting software makes it hard to commit malpractice
PCLaw: $2270 (4 Users)
CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
● Combines ▸ calendaring/docketing
▸ tickler functions
▸ case information tracking,
▸ address book functionality
▸ conflict of interest searching,
▸ document assembly capabilities
▸ Palm and laptop portability
● Turn wasted time looking for case info and documents into billable time
● Avoid malpractice
● Look at Amicus Attorney, TimeMatters, PracticeMaster, PCLaw and ProLaw
● Don’t Practice Law Without One!PCLaw: $2270
DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
● Opened Ended vs. Close Ended
● SharePoint is a DMS
● Most Practice Management Software include an Open Ended DMS
PCLaw: $2270
Dictation
● Dragon Natural Speaking ▸ Has a legal edition ($1200)
▸ Get Preferred ($199) or Pro ($899)
● Vista has Dictation Software Built into it.
● Tips▸ Must Train Software▸ Use a Quality USB Headset▸ Learning Curve
WINDOWS XP / VISTA / 7
=
=
Buy a new computer with Windows 7
Upgrade to Windows 7
LEGAL RESEARCH
● Get it online!
▸ Dump the CD-ROMs
▸ Discontinue books
● There is no single “best” legal research service
▸ Combine Lexis, Westlaw, LOIS and the Internet
▸ Look at the best small firm packages negotiated by your State or County
Bar
● Resources
▸ LLRX.com
▸ “Fact Finding On The Internet”
ANTI-VIRUS
● Trend Micro Client Server Messaging▸www.trendmicro.com▸Includes anti-virus, anti-spam, anti-spyware▸Available in small office and “Corporate” editions
● ZoneAlarm: www.zonealaram.com
● Norton Anti-Virus www.symantec.com Buy corporate not Internet Security
● McAfee VirusScan: www.mcafee.com
● CA eTrust and Trend PC-Cillin: www.ca.com
www.trendmicro.com
TrendMicro: $330
PRICING
Leverage Web-based PC component pricing engines and save a fortune!
Membership Discounts ABA, ATLA , ALA or
other legal association member
Prices change daily
TRAINING
Top Training Tips
TASK-ORIENTED not FEATURE-ORIENTED
NO GENERIC TRAINING
PROFESSIONAL TRAINERS
TRAIN OFTEN, TRAIN GENTLY
MAKE TRAINING MANDATORY
LIVE IS ALWAYS BETTER, BUT IF NOT TRAIN ONLINE
THE TRAINER’S PHYSICAL LOCATION IS IRRELEVANT
Fifty or fewer employees. In business in the state for at least three years,
contributing and in full compliance with state UI tax laws. Training costs cannot exceed $3,000 per trainee per state
fiscal year (July 1 - June 30). http://www.laworks.net/WorkforceDev/IWTP/
IWTP_Overview.asp
Fifty or fewer employees. In business in the state for at least three years,
contributing and in full compliance with state UI tax laws. Training costs cannot exceed $3,000 per trainee per state
fiscal year (July 1 - June 30). http://www.laworks.net/WorkforceDev/IWTP/
IWTP_Overview.asp
FREE TRAININGFREE TRAINING
Thank You For Listening! Thank You For Listening!
Gulf Coast Technology Centerwww.gulfltc.org
Law Office Technologywww.lawot.com
Tom O’Conner ([email protected])Craig Bayer ([email protected])
Gulf Coast Technology Centerwww.gulfltc.org
Law Office Technologywww.lawot.com
Tom O’Conner ([email protected])Craig Bayer ([email protected])