| Session Title |
Session Description |
| 2009 |
| Tag, You're It! Calls, Voice Mail, E-mail & Practice Management |
Follow a day in the life of Linda the Lawyer as she effectively uses technology from the breakfast table to bedtime to improve her work/life balance, improve the delivery of legal services and boost her bottom line. This real-life technology will improve your profitability and the quality of your life, too. Our first session follows Linda from waking and using her home PC to useful technology for the daily commute and in the office. Whether you're a transactional lawyer or a litigator, you'll find technology that will let you practice with ease throughout the day. |
| The Trial Tech Toolkit |
Waiting too long to determine the technology tools you'll need at trial can be costly–for you and your client! The range of trial-specific and general-use software is overwhelming. Our experts will discuss when you should start thinking about those tools and which ones to pick–based on both the type of case you have and your budget. Come learn the benefits and drawbacks of various products, and how to most effectively use them–before and during trial. |
| Security: Hardening Data in an Age of Cyber Warfare |
Protecting confidential client information has never been more important, and the challenges have never been greater, as cyber-criminals reach out to steal data and disrupt e-commerce. Come learn best practices to keep your firm (and your clients!) off the front pages. From anti-malware to physical security, audits to procedures, including protecting your data from inside as well as outside threats, our experts will bring you up-to-date on what your firm should be addressing to stay safe. |
| Getting to Paperless: A Lawyer's Step-by-Step Guide |
In this session we’ll construct a paperless law office from start to finish - in only one hour - using proven systems designed especially for law office workflows. You'll be surprised at just how easy and inexpensive it really can be. Take away practical advice about what to get, who should have and use it, and even where it should be placed within your office. |
| Assessing the Big Picture: Planning and Implementing the Litigation Hold |
Changes in the FRCP and enactment of similar state statutes mean that attorneys must spend considerable time and effort planning for electronic discovery. This how-to session will focus on developing an electronic discovery response plan and meeting the many challenges in design, implementation, and maintenance of an effective litigation hold. Come learn tools, techniques and technology for planning and implementing the litigation hold. |
| Excel Q & A |
What can you do with a spreadsheet? What should you not do? Excel is used, and abused, by many but fully understood by few. Whether you are ready to take your use of Excel to the next level or you just want to explore beginning to use it in your practice, come hear about Excel successes in the law firm, when it is right for the job, and when it’s not. |
| Show & Tell: Meetings and Presentations |
Stay with Linda the Lawyer throughout the day as she uses technology. In this session she'll prepare for her morning client presentations. Learn how she uses PowerPoint and charts created with SmartDraw to effectively communicate the benefits of estate planning to potential new clients. Then see her use CaseMap and TimeMap to create a chronology on the fly to manage the facts of a case and map out a timeline that can be used to best understand the story and identify the strengths and weaknesses of her case. |
| Electronic Briefs: A How-To Guide |
From hyperlinks to embedded audio and video, PDF files are the way to go for electronic briefs–even simple ones. With little more than a tabbed table of contents your electronic brief becomes easier to read and, therefore, more persuasive. Come learn how to take advantage of all the features of Adobe Acrobat to make your e-brief so convenient that judges will naturally work from your brief, rather than your opponent’s, when it’s time to draft the final opinion. |
| Migrating to Vista: Necessary Trip or Dangerous Detour? |
Much has been said and written, both favorable and unfavorable, about Windows Vista. Many have duly made the switch from XP when offered the opportunity, and some have lived to regret it. But is it inevitable in the enterprise? Our experts will present the issues to consider if you're exploring (or being forced into) a conversion to Vista. We’ll also cover making a multi-user move as painless as possible with a well-thought-out rollout and training strategy. |
| Hardcore Scanning for Law Offices of ANY Size |
From entry-level scanners through large multi-function machines, we’ll help you understand how to choose the right scanner for your particular law practice. Then we’ll teach you great and creative new uses for the scanner in the law office and show you how to make the most of the software that comes with your scanner. Finally, we'll demystify the OCR process so that you can convert a hard copy into to a word processing document you won't have to spend hours cleaning up! |
| Searching and Analysis: Are Keywords Really the Key? |
Recent cases have discussed some of the considerable pitfalls associated with ineffective keyword searching. This how-to session will cover some of the new developments in concept searching and clustering, as well as tech tools that permit rapid analysis of large data sets. Techniques and tools for developing an audit trail sufficient to meet the demands of a defensible process will be outlined, too. |
| Litigation Hold Q&A |
Do your clients have an electronic discovery action plan? What steps and actions do you advise at the first sign of potential litigation? In this roundtable discussion our experts on litigation holds will answer your questions and help you navigate through this sometimes complex issue. If you've got war stories to tell, come contribute to the discussion. |
| Document Generation: Still the Backbone of Every Practice |
Follow Linda the Lawyer throughout the day as she uses technology. It's afternoon as Linda returns from lunch and uses document generation software to prepare several complex documents. Dual monitors and the latest document comparison tools allow her to review and compare documents. A digital recorder and docking station allow for automatic transcription of letters that are then sent to a folder for her secretary, James, to polish up and send out as PDFs through certified e-mail. Finally, Linda uses a combination of web conferencing and shared online documents to collaborate on revisions with co-counsel. |
| Supercharged Video Depositions |
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then for YouTube–generation jurors a video may be worth a million bucks! These powerful tools can provide a compelling psychological advantage to your courtroom presentation by including non-verbal cues that would otherwise go undetected in a printed transcript. Come learn techniques for bringing your video depositions to life, such as using simultaneous transcripts and split screens showing exhibits while the witness testifies about them. Enhance your presentations and gain credibility with video-generation jurors. |
| Virtualization: Something for Nothing, or Too Good To Be True? |
Virtualization technologies continue to mature. Is it time you started to adopt them? Come learn how your firm can use virtualized PCs and servers to get the most from your hardware, facilitate disaster recovery and business continuity, cut costs and improve performance. Our experts will bring you all the latest information on how to expand your technology offerings without expanding your server room or blowing your budget. |
| What's Your Favorite Flavor? PDF Tools for the Paperless Practice |
Come see 30 PDF tools and techniques that will help any lawyer in any practice setting, whether it's transactional, trial or appellate. Our experts will also show you how to maximize the benefits of the Portable Document Format through many other products you probably already own, like Microsoft Outlook, Word and Excel. Let PDF help you improve the delivery of legal services for your clients. |
| Review: Techniques and Technologies to Keep Costs Low |
Anecdotal evidence suggests that approximately 70% of the costs associated with e-discovery lie in attorney review. This how-to session will focus on ways and means that can assist in keeping costs in line with the value of the case to the client. Our expert instructors will also discuss effective use of contract attorneys, both onshore and off. |
| Outlook Tips and Tricks |
MS Outlook is widely used by law firms, from simple e-mail management to a quasi-practice management application. The Lawyer’s Guide to Microsoft Outlook 2007 has helped hundreds of lawyers put Outlook to better use, and in this informal session author Ben Schorr and noted law firm trainer Adrian Linares will answer your questions about tasks, contacts, calendar, journal and other features. You will leave with more than a few good tips to help you use this powerful application more effectively. |
| On the Move: Mobile Strategies for Getting Work Done |
In our final segment showing how Linda the Lawyer uses technology throughout the day to improve the delivery of legal services, follow Linda as she prepares and reviews pre-bills, then heads out the door to do more work on her commute back home. Her tablet PC lets her quickly markup bills in PDF, then e-mail them to the office for revision and transmission to clients. Linda uses document management software on her laptop to work with client documents that she checked out before she left, and connect remotely to retrieve documents from home. |
| Quiet on the Set: Star Power Courtroom Presentations |
Wearing a $3,000 suit won’t win your case, and neither will the best digital projector and latest version of PowerPoint–alone. Find out what juries do–and don't–like, what works in the courtroom and what doesn't, and when to use computerized demonstratives or just a simple flip chart. Come learn how to go beyond bullet points and use technology–or not–to advance your client's case most effectively. You’ll leave this session with newfound presentation skills! |
| IT Toolbox: Essential Apps to Get the Job Done |
What applications are available for enterprise IT to keep the network up and running smoothly? Tired of those weekend or late-night emergencies? Want to avoid spending the night babysitting a network update? Find out about diagnostic tools, network administration applications, and other essential items no IT department should be without. Many of the tools are low-cost or free! Come follow our experts down the aisles of their favorite IT superstore to see what you should drop in your shopping cart. |
| DMS: The "Must-Have" Tool for Every Practice |
Discover all the benefits of implementing a document management system, including how this technology can help your firm become more unified, improve your delivery of legal services, and save enormous amounts of time (and money) by making any electronic file just seconds away from viewing. Along with security benefits you'll get version control and web access to your document repository from anywhere. Come see how this investment can revolutionize the way your firm practices law. |
| Production: Format Traps and How to Avoid Them |
Recent amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and analogous state statutes permit the requesting party to specify the "form or forms of production" for electronic data. This session will focus on the complexities associated with which forms of production should be requested for which types of data. Courts have been reluctant or unwilling to bail out parties who have failed to request appropriate production forms. Learn how to avoid these traps. |
| Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Small Firms Migrate to Vista |
Did you buy a PC with Vista pre-installed and have growing pains? Should you give up and quit, paying more to downgrade to XP? Need a new computer and wondering whether to wait for Windows 7? Come hear the good, the bad and the ugly. Learn which third-party legal applications are compatible, what types of peripherals work best, and how to minimize the learning curve. Share your experiences to help others make the right decision, too. |
| E-Discovery for the Rest of Us: What You Need to Know, Now ! |
In smaller cases with smaller budgets, counsel's responsibility to identify, process and produce ESI still looms large. Don't let your client's best case be a legal malpractice action for botched e-discovery! This session delivers practical, productive e-discovery strategies at a scale and cost that lets you meet your digital duties in every matter. |
| Taking the Leap: Essential Technology for the New Law Practice |
From day one, technology should be an integral part of your strategic planning and should include all the systems you need to deliver ethical, cost-effective and professional legal services. This session will provide an overview of the legal-specific applications available and the questions you should ask to make smart purchasing decisions - for now and later. Come get a budget-minded roadmap for all the technologies you'll need to succeed in the practice of law - whether you're "suddenly solo" or just in need of a technology overhaul. |
| Case Management: The Benefits of Matter Centricity |
In the business environment, time is money. Gain in efficiency and productivity by managing your matters centrally. Come learn how to do it with a look at the available solutions - from high-end to DIY! Our experts will give you an overview of all the new case management tools for large firms and legal departments, including SaaS products, and how changing your approach to matter management can boost your bottom line. They'll even throw in information on security issues and TCO, too! |
| Software as a Service: Can You Say Goodbye to Upgrade Headaches With SaaS? |
Would you like to skip installing software on your local computer? Ubiquitous high-speed Internet and remote hosting of legal-specific web applications let you. Software as a service is one solution for tech overload, but is this IT nirvana or just another round of failed ASPs waiting to happen? Learn the pros and cons of SaaS and how you can position your firm to get the benefit of this trend, without falling into the traps. |
| A Project Management Approach to E-Discovery |
Every case involving e-discovery is a project waiting to be managed. Our experts will discuss in detail the steps necessary to appropriately organize and control e-discovery, from the smallest matter to the megacase. Come learn methodologies for clear communication, efficient workflow processes, cost containment techniques and how to budget effectively. Your client will be glad they chose your firm. |
| Day in the Life Q&A |
Yesterday, we walked through the day of Linda the Lawyer and saw what a difference technology made in her practice. From word processing to Adobe Acrobat, document assembly to specialized practice-specific applications, mobile tools and more, learn from others what workflows and products that make getting the job done more effective and efficient. If you are ready to take the next step, bring your questions and get moving in the right direction. |
| Desktop HR: Managing Personnel in the Information Age |
Most small practices don't have the necessary resources for a full-blown human resources department, but you can obtain many of the benefits, without the expense, by using easy and innovative tools on the Internet. From employment websites to virtual assistants, from payroll to telecommuting, from policies and procedures to staff monitoring, we'll cover the best tools available for solos and small firms, plus the ethics of using them. |
| Cover your Assets: Affordable IT Support for Small Practices |
Tired of late, incompetent or non-existent computer support? Not to mention the cost? This session will let you in on the latest resources for timely and competent IT support for small practices. We'll cover Exchange hosting, remote IT support, how to get the best from the Geek Squad and free versus paid support, including getting the most from IT subscriptions, and more. Unless IT runs seamlessly in your small firm, you can't afford to miss this session! |
| Building Bridges: Collaboration Tools Corporate Clients Will Love |
There is no room for inefficiency or insecurity during information exchange between client and law firm. Save your clients money and provide a unique experience by mastering the wealth of collaboration tools available to work with clients, co-counsel, and even opposing counsel. Extranets, webinars, SharePoint, online project management, online video conferencing and many more tools provide alternatives to voice and e-mail communication. Come learn about the different options, both synchronous and asynchronous, to share information and collaborate on work product with these effective new technologies. |
| Web JD: If You're Not Serving Your Clients Online Someone Else Will Be |
Come see examples of successful e-lawyering ventures - by law firms AND non-lawyers. Our experts will discuss the nuts and bolts, as well as the ethics, of providing legal services online, and give you pointers on how lawyers can communicate the superiority of their services over the new competition, such as LegalZoom. Online legal services have already changed the future of law practice. Don't watch your practice disappear! |
| Meet & Confer: What the Judges Really Expect |
Our panel of distinguished judges will share their experiences in e-discovery and give you the rundown on what they really expect from lawyers appearing before them during the "meet and confer" stage of e-discovery. You'll want to know what they have to say before your next appearance regarding this crucial issue. |
| Can I Really Throw it Away?! |
How many times have you asked yourself that question when thinking about going paperless?! In this roundtable we'll discuss document types and tell you when you must keep the blood-signed original and when you can toss it. Learn why maintaining a dual system (paper and electronic) is highly inefficient and very expensive. Share your experiences in getting over the psychological hump. You can quit being a paper pack rat! |
| Research on A Dime: Effective, Authoritative Sources for the Budget-Minded |
Research costs can be a substantial part of any small firm's budget, whether it's legal research, corporate information or skip tracing. Our experts will lead you to the best sites for authoritative, low-cost legal, business, people and fact-finding research on the web. Come learn how to find everything you've been looking for. |
| A Buoy for Your Inbox: Conquering the E-mail Perfect Storm |
Are you drowning in e-mail? Have you gone from calm to a squall? Then join us for strategies to throw a lifejacket to your inbox! Learn to make the most of common e-mail applications like MS Outlook, explore customizations and add-ins that improve functionality, and get rid of spam. Our speakers will discuss e-mail management philosophies and talk about the tools and techniques that work best for lawyers. |
| From a Different Vantage Point: Technology and the In-House Counsel's Perspective |
In-house counsel see things differently. They must deal with outside counsel, control fees and evaluate and choose technology and vendors. Come learn the secrets of how the use of search engines, enterprise content management, litigation support software, collection tools and processes, litigation hold software and case management systems can be fine-tuned for better decision making on behalf of the corporate client, or to make your firm so tech-savvy you'll be the one the corporate clients can’t do without. |
| Smart Ways to Work Together: Collaboration Tools and Technologies for Lawyers |
Cut out the phone tag and down time while getting more work done with your colleagues. Learn what new or ripening technologies are available, how to select the right tool for the job, and practical tips for using collaboration tools in common settings, including ethical issues and other considerations. Shared calendars and documents, meeting managers, IM, wikis, video conferencing - it's all waiting to boost your productivity, and much of it is FREE! |
| E-Discovery Ethics: An Ounce of Prevention... |
The ethical considerations applicable to e-discovery are significant. Attorneys have been subjected to substantial sanctions for their ignorance, or even reckless disregard, in handling electronically stored information. Let us alert you to recurring problems, before you or your client discover them for yourselves. Our experts will explain the ethical implications of dealing with ESI, and provide you with the knowledge to avoid ethical dilemmas others have faced. |
| Is that an iPhone in Your Pocket? |
Are you already are an iPhone devotee? Have you wondered with envy if the iPhone can work in your practice setting? What about the G-Phone? Is it a better alternative for lawyers? Come join us for a lively discussion and share your questions and experiences. This roundtable will compare the two, cover network integration, the latest cool tools, web applications and much more! |
| Techno Ethics: Be Safe, Not Sorry! |
Technology is just one more tool in the lawyer's arsenal. Unfortunately, the speed and freedom of technology present unique opportunities to violate ethical rules written before the technology was even dreamed of. From mobile devices to outsourcing technology and IT support, from e-mail to blogging and beyond, come learn how to protect your clients, your firm and your reputation from the growing ethical and malpractice threats created by technology. We'll cover Internet usage, Security, SaaS, websites and a whole lot more. |
| The Greatest Hidden Windows and Office Tricks for Lawyers |
Want to be better, stronger, faster? No, on your computer, silly! Find out how to tap the potential of the most common desktop applications and operating system from our experts. Learn shortcuts for common tasks, tap into powerful yet underused features and create customizations galore. Learn to control Windows and Office applications, instead of the other way around. Make your desktop applications worth the investment. |
| Records Management Policies and Systems: Back to the Drawing Board? |
Now, more than ever, corporations and law firms must acquire and maintain complete control of the information they create and store. If tasked with drafting a records management policy for a client or your own firm, would you know where to begin? And how do you implement a policy or ensure employee compliance? Come learn to automate every step of any document’s life cycle to conform to legislation and court expectations, and even fit existing systems into appropriate management and retention schedules. |
| Guerrilla Research: Mining the Social Networks and More |
There's a lot more to online research than just Google. Learn how to find out about people, places, and organizations with specific sites and tools that will help you lift the veil on hard-to-find information. Social networking sites, public records tools, and government resources are full of facts that can help you learn more about current and prospective clients, opposing parties and counsel, witnesses and other key players in your cases. |
| E-Discovery Treasure Chest |
Our panel of noted e-discovery experts will provide you with a map to buried treasure as they discuss various ESI resources and tools you may not be aware of. This session is designed for the attorney wishing to gain an in-depth understanding of the changing face of this rapidly developing aspect of modern law practice. Come take a tour of the best websites, blogs and enterprises to stay abreast of everything e-discovery! Don’t miss this ride! |
| Collaboration Tools for Lawyers |
The authors of Collaboration Tools & Technologies: Smart Ways to Work Together will lead this roundtable discussion, which will cover the many technologies, both general and legal-specific, that lawyers can use to work together more effectively. Come hear what works for others, and share what has worked for you. |
| Billing Done Right: From Nightmare to Nirvana |
You practice for love of the law, but you have to get paid to stay in business. A big deposit brings a smile to your face, but billing time in a law firm is always painful. Let us show you ways to make the billing process the best time of the month. Come hear about timekeeping tips and tricks, software programs that make the job easier, best billing practices and measuring monthly billing trends to help predict cash flow. |
| Identity Marketing: Creating & Protecting a Brand Called "You" |
No matter the size of your firm, you should be known by your brand. Come learn how to create a unique brand - and how to ethically use it in print and online. The growth of online communities and networks has made your professional reach much wider than ever before. Learn to promote your brand through social networks and virtual worlds to increase your business. We'll also discuss online reputation management. Make sure you stay on top of what others are saying about you! |
| Got Apple Envy? Macs in a PC World |
Do you want to switch to a Mac, but don't know how to tell your firm? Are you a solo who's tired of constant upgrades, updates and anxiety over security? Can a lawyer really switch from a PC to a Mac without missing a billable hour? From software to enterprise integration, from remote access to productivity tips, we'll help you successfully (and proudly) use a Mac within a Windows-based law firm. Yes, we can! |
| Telecommuting 101: Take the First Step |
Have you considered working from home a few days a week? Have any of your staff asked to? More than ever, lawyers are looking to improve their work/life balance and be more productive by finding non-traditional places, and ways, to work. Do you travel yet have to get work done? If you answered yes to any of these questions, come learn how lawyers and staff can effectively and securely work when outside of the office. We’ll cover VPNs, remote computing applications, phone systems, policies and procedures, and more. |
| E-mail Archiving: So, What’s Wrong With Saving Everything ? |
With the revised FRCP, many public and private institutions are working toward “total” e-mail archiving solutions. A “save everything” approach has promises and perils. Come learn records management strategy and how various solutions work to mitigate e-discovery and regulatory compliance risks. From online systems, backup tapes, RMAs and archived repositories of all kinds–our experts will cover it all, including public sector e-mail archiving and FOIA and other applicable statutes. |
| Defining the Bottom Line |
You‘re a lawyer, not an accountant. Why aren’t financial statements in plain English? Come learn how to read them, what to look for and, when they are not always the true measure of the financial health of your firm. With better ways to measure your timekeepers' productivity, manage your accounts receivables and analyze collections, you can put your financial information to work for you and make better business decisions for your practice - and your life! |
| Supercharge Your Referrals with Technology |
It’s easier (and cheaper) to keep an existing client than to develop a new one. In this session we'll discuss how to keep in touch with all of your clients, past and present, and even ethically contact potential clients, by providing them with valuable information about you, your firm, the changing legal landscape and how those changes will affect them. From newsletters and education to blogs and social network sites, learn how to keep your name before your clients and potential clients, for new business opportunities. |
| Mac@Trial |
Litigators need powerful, dependable, and easy to use computers at trial. Can Macs do the job? You betcha! From trial notebooks to visual presentations, from video depositions to litigation support, we'll cover what every litigator needs to know to make the right decision for his/her trial technology needs. Our experts are always fair and balanced! |
| Lawyering in the Cloud: Creating a Virtual Firm |
Intrepid lawyers are finding ways to eliminate the “office” altogether. They work with clients over the Internet, make "house calls" or rent a conference room when needed. They use outsourced services for assistants, paralegals and researchers, and rent a post office box for physical mail (not that they get much snail mail anymore). And what about serving clients in virtual worlds like Second Life? Interested in hearing more about how to be a virtual lawyer? Come to this session! |
| Capturing Quicksilver: Records Management for All That Other Stuff |
E-mail was only the beginning. Ephemeral ESI presents new and complex RM issues of preservation, formatting, and providing access. How do you handle IM, voice mail, unified messaging, VOIP and a variety of Web 2.0 applications like wikis, blogs, RSS feeds, and virtual modalities (islands on Second Life)? Do the private and public sector records laws (SOX, FOIA, etc.) cover these new forms of electronica? How do RMAs capture these applications? And what is the risk to organizations that fail to manage these new forms of information? Our experts have the answers. |
| 60 Sites in 60 Minutes |
ABA TECHSHOW closes with a review of the most innovative and popular websites for the legal profession in “60 Sites in 60 Minutes.” With millions of websites available, our panelists will sort and present their preferred web resources on legal technology. Visit www.techshow.com to view the 60 Sites Hall of Fame with favorites from the past eight years of ABA TECHSHOW. |
| 2008 |
| The Formula for High Tech Trial Success: A Solid Pretrial Strategy |
Planning and preparation are critical to a successful trial, and more and more the use of technology in the pre-trial phase is a big part of that equation. How can technology help give you the advantage going into trial? In this session you'll learn, see, and feel the process -- from client intake, to discovery and motions practice, and on to final preparation for trial. Litigation support technology can give you the edge in preparing for trial. Our experts will offer insight on the technology tools, tricks, and pre-trial strategies that are sure to make your day in court a success. |
| A Real-World EDD Motions Hearing |
Our Electronic Discovery Track showed you the best arguments to make when handling EDD issues before the court -- now let's see how it works in practice. Without the anxiety of winning or losing, you'll have the opportunity to observe a judge, attorneys and expert witness address a motion to compel and for sanctions. This mock hearing will feature it all -- uncivil attorneys, unexpected expert witness testimony, creative arguments, and a busy judge just trying to clear a docket of busy cases. |
| Showtime at the Courthouse: A Demonstration of Courtroom Tech Toys |
All of your pre-trial preparation is simply a rehearsal for the big show: the trial. Courtroom technologies can give a trial more of a theatrical atmosphere, and juries increasingly expect animations, video depositions, and other bells and whistles. But do these tech toys really enhance a trial lawyer's persuasive abilities? Absolutely! This session will show you how the effective use of trial presentation technology is guaranteed to have an impact on the decision maker, be it the judge, a jury, or even a mediator or arbitrator. |
| Online Alternative Dispute Resolution: The New Frontier |
Sometimes your case is not ready for trial, and you need to explore other ways of resolving the matter. New online ADR sites make it easy for parties to settle disputes more quickly and at a reduced cost. What online dispute resolution services are available to you, and how do you decide which one is right for you? What are the best online dispute resolution sites, and what services do they offer? What are the advantages and disadvantages of online dispute resolution, and what are the limits of this technology? At this session you'll find the answers to these and other critical questions, as you learn about this new frontier in alternative dispute resolution. |
| Controlling Business and Personal Data: Yours AND Your Clients' |
The records management plan in many law firms is pretty simple: keep everything, forever. Unfortunately, this strategy can lead you down a path to ever-increasing file storage costs, and overwhelming amounts of data. In this Records Management 101 session, you'll get answers to important questions about documents and data: what are the differences between managing paper and electronic records? How do you classify records and set up a retention schedule? When is it safe to delete information and how should that be accomplished without running afoul of the ethics rules? Join our experts to learn the best practices for controlling the data in your law practice. |
| The Law Firm Guide to Records Management: It's Not Just Your Data Anymore |
In the not too-distant past, you could more or less do what you liked with your data, so long as you retained certain key documents. No more. Now there are countless laws and regulations governing the retention of data. Ethical obligations concerning document retention are among the most important. Then there are the duties regarding conflicts of interest, preservation and production of data, and a host of related issues. Can you - should you - outsource all this? Come to this session to learn your obligations - and your options for meeting them. |
| Nuts and Bolts of Records Management: Avoiding a Rube Goldberg System |
When you build a records management system, it pays to be thoughtful and organized so you have easy access to all your data. Your data should also be treated as potential evidence, so you'll need to think about how you would handle electronic discovery and impose a litigation hold. In this session we'll show you how to get buy-in from management as well as measure the return on investment when it comes to implementing a system for managing your records. Most important, you'll learn to build a records management system that would impress even Rube Goldberg. |
| Records Management Technology: It's a Small World After All |
Once you're on board with the idea of records management, the host of issues to consider can be daunting. In this session, we'll unravel some of those mysteries, including currently available search technologies, network scanning appliances, electronic case management and RFID. This session will also cover the nuances of managing instant messaging and voicemail, mobile devices and the data stored on them, the benefits/perils of off-site storage and retrieval, and whether automation can solve all your problems. Our experts will share the latest thinking on all these issues and offer their vision for where records management is going in the foreseeable future. |
| Virtualization for the Law Office: Doing More With Less |
Virtualization - the creation and management of virtual devices or resources such as servers, storage devices, or operating systems - is one of the hottest concepts in IT today. It can range from a bank of virtual servers to a virtual machine on a desktop computer. Virtualization enables more efficient server consolidation, system maintenance, test environments, enhanced disaster recovery, and more. This advanced session will explore the basics of virtualization, options for employing it, and its benefits and challenges for lawyers and law firms. |
| Anatomy of a Law Firm Data Breach: The Threat is Real |
Almost weekly there are news reports on data breaches at high-profile companies, with the confidential information of hundreds or thousands of people compromised or stolen. Here's another news flash: security breaches can and do occur in law firms, too. And firms that are victimized by data breaches may face malpractice claims, or grievances by clients as a result. Our security experts will demonstrate the breach of a law firm network, complete with a forensic investigation to locate and contain the attack. This advanced session will explore how breaches occur, the best strategies for responding to them, and measures to implement stronger security on your network. |
| Building Resilient Networks |
Users of law firm networks expect high availability -- to lawyers and other legal professionals, 100% uptime is a rule, not an exception. Resilient networks minimize unplanned outages and facilitate prompt recovery when they occur, whether the outage stems from a hardware failure, software glitch, or major incident. Our network experts will tell you all you need to learn about building resiliency into your network, including options like redundancy and advanced network technologies. Implementing the strategies in this session will help you create the bullet-proof network. |
| Authentication, Encryption and Log Management: Critical Steps for Security |
Information security is a constant challenge for law firms of all sizes. New threats seem to appear almost daily and old ones turn up again and again. This advanced session will explore three critical security measures all law firms should consider. Authentication gives authorized users access and keeps the bad guys out. Encryption makes data at rest and data in transit readable only by those with decryption keys. Log management provides important security information about what is happening in the network. Learn how to employ these measures in your law firm, and you'll go a long way to making your network more secure. |
| Eliminating the Paper Chase - From Boxes to Bytes |
The two hardest parts of going paperless: scanning the mountains of paper you already have, and figuring out how to handle the paper that keeps showing up at your front door. Where and how do you start? Our experts will demonstrate methods for implementing paper-reduction strategies in any size firm. We'll discuss the best scanners for lawyers, paper reduction techniques that facilitate electronic court filing and compliance with applicable statutes, and, most important, the return on investment you can expect from reducing paper in your practice. This session will show you the concepts, protocols and legal-specific software you'll need to make the transition a snap. |
| PDF-ing For Lawyers |
PDF files are firmly entrenched as the format of choice when exchanging documents with clients and other lawyers. Most federal courts now require that all pleadings be filed as PDFs, and many state courts prefer PDF filings. In this session you'll learn about the key features of Adobe Acrobat 8 that lawyers can really use, such as metadata removal, redaction, bates stamping, PDF Packages and more. We'll show you how to keep PDF file sizes small, apply document security and digital signatures, scan documents to PDF, and archive your email. You'll also discover new ways to combine files to create trial notebooks, document binders, and e-briefs. |
| Document Management In the Digital Law Office |
The vast majority of a law firm's "knowledge" is stored in non-structured data forms like word processing documents. Unfortunately for most firms, actually finding and using this knowledge is, at best, inefficient and chaotic. Our document management experts will show you how to set up a system so users can quickly find and retrieve documents, track different versions of a document, and control security and access to your documents. They'll also explain uniform document labeling and storage, and how to easily add email, voicemail, PDF files and other scanned documents to your system. |
| Technology for the Paperless Mobile Lawyer |
The truly mobile lawyer shouldn't be bothered with paper while on the road. If you're out of your office, and especially if you travel a lot in your practice, it's time to ditch the big briefcase and stop using paper to take notes and messages. Learn how technologies like tablet PCs, portable scanners, smartphones, voice recognition and VoIP can assist you with client interviews, legal research, document review, drawings, depositions, discovery review and trial presentations. We'll also discuss software for the mobile lawyer, and how you can make it work with the programs you already have in your office. Here's to a lighter briefcase and saving a few trees! |
| Keeping Up with the Joneses - Upgrading to Office 2007 |
It's not uncommon for clients to lead (or pull!) their lawyers to adopt the latest technology, and many law firms are discovering that their clients are moving to Microsoft's Office 2007. It offers a completely re-imagined interface and terrific features for legal professionals. Attend this session to learn how to upgrade to Office 2007 without disrupting your practice or jeopardizing your technology relationship with your clients. And if you're not ready to make the leap, we'll show you some compatibility tricks so you can work with clients that have upgraded. |
| The Lawyer's Guide to Managing Client and Case Information with Outlook |
Look around your office - count the yellow pads, sticky notes, random scribbles and "While You Were Out" slips. It doesn't have to be this way! Outlook can help keep you better organized with your client, contact and case information, including email, phone calls, dates, to dos and miscellaneous notes. It can also help you to be more organized, which in turn will improve client service. Attend this session to learn how today's most popular information management tool can take you to a new level of organization and client service. |
| Pictures ARE Worth a Thousand Words: Visual Communication Tools for Lawyers |
Effectively communicating your message is critical when it comes to creating and securing relationships with clients and advocating on their behalf to others. Fortunately, two components of the Microsoft Office suite are masters of communication, but in very different areas. PowerPoint helps you create persuasive presentations for use with judges, juries, or mediators. And for cranking out newsletters and brochures, Publisher is your electronic marketing department. In this session our experts will demonstrate how you can unleash the power of these desktop publishing and presentation tools to create educational brochures, RFP's, proposals and more. |
| The Data Mix and Mingle: How to Get Your Data Into Other Applications |
No application is an island. The components of Microsoft Office software applications are designed to import, export, copy, paste and otherwise collaborate with each other, and they will even allow you to repurpose data for use in other software programs. Don't retype data if you don't have to! Did you know you can easily send a client's address from an Outlook Contact to a letter template in Word or create mailing labels from a list in Excel? Learning to use tools like the Office Clipboard and the “Send To” options in your Office suite can make your law practice more efficient and improve the delivery of client services, and it’s easier than you think! This session will show you how to stop those applications from standing alone in the corner and get them mixing and mingling with each other. |
| VoIP: Should I Convert and What's It Going to Cost Me? |
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), or using the Internet to talk on the phone, is one of the hottest technology tools around, and law firms are flocking to it in droves. But you still have questions or concerns about the features, reliability, cost, security and impact of using VoIP. Our panelists will cut through all the hype and let you know the pros and cons of going to an Internet-based phone system. Hear what the REAL cost of VoIP is and whether or not it's the right technology for your firm today. |
| Moving to Office 2007 |
You've seen it in the stores and maybe even on your clients' computers, but your firm still uses an older version of Office. Is it time to upgrade? This session will address the issues and concerns that may arise if you convert all of your documents to the new Office 2007 file format, and how this will impact the use of your old files. Our experts will answer all your questions and give you the steps you must take to make your upgrade to Office 2007 a snap. |
| Practical E-Discovery Issues |
You've learned about the new rules, and you understand that e-discovery is here to stay. But when you receive a request for your client's electronically stored evidence, what's your first step? What e-discovery consulting services do you really need, and what should they cost? How do you identify the location of relevant electronic evidence? Do you need to preserve everything? What are the steps for instituting a "litigation hold" with your client? How will you manage and review the electronic files? Bring your questions and hear our e-discovery veterans describe real world situations in dealing with electronic evidence. |
| Outlook Tips and Tricks |
Our Outlook session is always very popular with our attendees, so we decided to double the fun! It's the most widely used email and personal information management application, yet most lawyers only use a small fraction of the available features. We'll show you how to harness the power of Outlook, and how to become a more efficient lawyer in the process. Bring your questions, too, and see if you can stump our Outlook experts. |
| All in The Family: Collaborating within Your Own Firm |
Collaboration is currently one of the hottest topics in the legal world. Seems like lawyers everywhere are looking for better ways to communicate and work with clients, co-counsel, and others. Those who seek to collaborate within a law firm enjoy a big advantage - homogenous technology! Our collaboration experts will discuss how tools like Sharepoint, intranets, and knowledge management systems can enhance firm communication and efficiency. Learn how to share data, information and documents within the wires of your own network -- you'll be surprised how easy it is. |
| Disaster Planning: Creating Your Firm's Technology Survival Kit |
Crashes, viruses, theft or natural disasters can cripple your firm's practice in a heartbeat. Despite the lessons of Katrina, surveys have shown that many large firms still do not have a working, tested business continuity plan. This session will discuss the steps, procedures, backup systems and security measures you need in order to protect yourself and your firm from business interruption, as well as a possible malpractice claim. We'll cut through the techno-babble and give you a commonsense approach to protecting your computers and client data against disaster. |
| Winning the Beauty Pageant: Catching Corporate Counsel's Eye with Technology |
These days, corporate legal departments are looking for firms that are not only competent, but also embrace technology and offer that "extra edge." Corporate legal departments and state agencies are increasingly using technology to increase corporate efficiencies, reduce costs, and they expect their outside counsel to do the same. Firms that offer e-billing or access to extranets and knowledge management networks are more likely to get the business. Our panelists will discuss the technologies necessary for law firms to remain competitive in corporate beauty pageants, as well as show in-house counsel how to select tech-savvy outside counsel. |
| Terrified by Terabytes? Managing Large Electronic Discovery Cases |
The average large e-discovery case is now measured in terabytes, not gigabytes. The sheer volume of data in such cases requires a different mindset. How are you going to harvest the data, and where are you going to store it? Should you outsource the storage? If so, what will storage cost? How will you search the data effectively, and what are your search options? What are the most cost-effective ways of producing the data? Finally, who are the major players in the "mega-case" arena and how do you choose the best provider? Our experts will answer these questions - and any others you have about large case e-discovery. |
| Setting up a Law Office Document Management System |
Our document management experts have convinced you it's time to implement a document management system in your law practice -- now what? What are the options available to lawyers, and should I hire a consultant to show them to me? What are the essential features of a basic document management system? Who will teach our employees how to use the system? And most important, will the system break the firm's technology budget? This roundtable discussion will cover the technologies and effort required to get your document management system up and operational, from small offices to large firms. |
| Paperless Office Q&A |
The very idea of going paperless gives some lawyers the willies. But maybe our sessions on the Paperless Office have overcome your fears, and you're ready to give it a try. Where do you start? What hardware do you need? What software is required, and what is nice to have? Perhaps most important, what is the process, and how are you going to change the way paper is handled and moved around your office? This interactive session is the time to get answers to your specific questions about going paperless. Save those trees and let the questioning begin! |
| More Technology Must-Haves for the Law Office |
We've covered the seven technologies you need most in your practice. What other must-haves should you consider for your law practice? Bring your questions to this interactive session -- our experts will have the answers. From basic equipment and services like telephones and copiers, to the more complex hardware and software products, this is the place to discuss all of your options -- including whether you really should purchase that flat screen TV for your lobby! |
| Creating a Disaster Recovery Plan |
Bombs, floods, hurricanes, fires, personal illness - we live in a dangerous world. Be prepared, but be rational - you probably don't need to protect your practice from an invasion from outer space, but you do need to be forearmed against disasters, whether they be natural, manmade, or health-related. There are very easy, simple and inexpensive steps to help ensure the continued operation of your law office after an interruption in business. Come listen as our experts identify the essential components of a disaster recovery plan. |
| 60 Tips in 60 Minutes |
Year after year, the "60 Tips in 60 Minutes" sessions are consistently the best-attended and most highly-rated of all the sessions at ABA TECHSHOW. "Worth the price of admission" is a standard refrain we hear from attendees. Join our moderators for a rapid-fire presentation of the best finance, management, marketing, technology and ethics tips in one blockbuster tips session. Don't miss what will undoubtedly be one of the best sessions of the conference. |
| Report from the Front Lines: E-Discovery After the New Federal Rules |
On December 1, 2006, the new rules for dealing with electronic discovery in the federal courts changed the face of litigation forever. One by one, states have been adopting variants of the new federal rules, or simply following their wisdom in court opinions. But what have the new rules meant in the real world, for practicing lawyers? What are the requirements for a "meet and confer?" What does "inaccessible" mean, really? What's the difference between evidence that must be preserved and that which must be produced? In what format should you request the evidence? Judicial opinions are mounting and the landscape of the new e-evidence world is beginning to take shape. Our experts will bring you up to speed as they report on their experiences from the electronic discovery front lines. |
| Electronic Evidence Jeopardy! |
Learn electronic document discovery in an entertaining instructional game show setting! Participants selected from the audience will vie for great prizes by using their e-discovery savvy in this classic Jeopardy!(R) format. Our blue chip panel of TECHSHOW faculty judges will provide commentary and rulings on the game play, and TECHSHOW's very own version of Alex Trebek will keep the session fast-paced, educational and fun. Be sure to answer in the form of a question! |
| Ethics in E-Discovery: Staying Out of the Briar Patch |
Stories in the press about attorneys being sanctioned for ignorance or even reckless disregard in the handling of electronically stored information are becoming more common. Some have been charged with making false certifications to a court, and one lawyer was placed on medical leave by his firm after admitting that he had altered electronic evidence before production. Getting hung up in the briar patch of e-discovery violations is the last place a lawyer wants to find him or herself. Our experts will explain the ethical implications involved in dealing with ESI, and the right strategies to keep you OUT of the briar patch. |
| CSI, For Real: The Science of Computer Forensics |
Digital detectives are real - though it takes them somewhat longer than CSI's 60 minutes to perform their analysis. Come listen to our forensic experts discuss what data can - and cannot - be recovered from computers, cell phones, PDAs, flash drives, iPods, and other electronic devices. How do they perform their magic? What tools do they use? How is this evidence validated so that it is admissible in court? After the data is extracted, what format will it be produced in? How much does it cost? What famous cases have been cracked by computer forensic technologists? These questions, and many others, will be answered in about the time it takes for TV's CSI folks to do their jobs. |
| Beating the Startup Blues: A Tech-Survival Guide for the New Small Office |
Hanging out your own shingle? Remember the TECHSHOW maxim: "fail to plan for technology, plan to fail." From day one, technology should be an integral part of your strategic and business planning, and should include all the systems you need to deliver ethical, cost-effective and professional client services in the small firm setting. This session will outline a budget-minded roadmap to all the small office technologies you need to succeed in the practice of law. |
| 7 Technology Must-Haves for Superlative Client Service |
More and more, technology has leveled the playing field for solos and small firm lawyers, but are you harnessing and enjoying the benefits technology can provide? When it comes time to spend your precious technology dollars, what choices will contribute the most to improving the delivery of professional client service? Our experts count down the top seven technology must-haves for the small law firm, and how you can maximize their effectiveness. |
| She's a Spreadsheet Wizard: Winning Ways with Spreadsheets |
From family law to business or litigation matters, lawyers must often manage and manipulate large amounts of financial or textual data. Spreadsheet programs like Microsoft Excel are powerful tools that can help legal professionals sort, analyze, and organize all kinds of information. In this session you'll learn practical ways to use spreadsheet applications in any practice setting, top notch spreadsheet "tricks", and when a spreadsheet is the right tool for the job. |
| Look Who's Talking? What Lawyers Need to Know about Digital Dictation and Voice Recognition |
Words are a lawyer's stock in trade, and turning words into legal services that help solve their clients' problems is at the core of what they do. But nowadays, when lawyers say "take a letter" they are more and more likely talking to their computers. Today's technology makes dictation easier than ever; handheld devices, speech recognition software, and even outsourcing services are available to help you draft your documents. Learn how utilizing the latest in digital dictation and voice recognition technology can help you streamline workflows, reduce client costs and improve the delivery of services. |
| Open Sesame: Is Online Backup Ali Baba or the 40 Thieves? |
For some lawyers, online backup is an attractive alternative to tapes, hard drives, or other storage options. You do have a backup plan -- don't you? Online backup offers terrific advantages over other backup options in terms of cost, easy implementation, reliability and ease of use. But are there drawbacks to online backup? And what are the ethical implications of storing your clients' confidential data on someone else's computer? Get the facts, and learn about all of your backup options, as you consider whether an online backup strategy is right for you. |
| Movin' on Up (to Practice Management Software): Why Outlook is Not Enough |
Properly organizing all the information in your clients' files is crucial for delivering excellent service and avoiding malpractice. And let's face it -- Outlook just doesn't cut it. Our experts will show you why practice management software can do much more than Outlook. They'll review the available products, and help you decide which features are most important for you. They'll even show you how to calculate your return on investment to help justify the cost! If you haven't thought about movin' on up recently, it's way past time you did. |
| Drafting Bills Your Clients Will Rush to Pay |
Accurate and complete time records, coupled with the timely delivery of detailed, precise bills are a hallmark of great client service. Technology can not only help make billing your time easier and more efficient, it can also let you create bills your clients will be glad to pay. From time keeping software you can use with your handheld device, to the integration of uniform task based billing codes, taking credit cards, and electronic billing, this session will outline best practices and technologies to help you draft bills that your client will understand, appreciate, and rush to pay. |
| Small Volume E-Discovery: One Hard Drive Could Make, or Break, Your Case |
The "gentleman's agreement" to pretend e-discovery doesn't exist is over. Computers and digital information are pervasive in all walks of life. This means you must consider electronically stored information in almost every case you handle. In this session you'll learn how to find, preserve and manage small datasets without fear of spoliation, and our e-discovery experts will discuss the right products for the smaller case that will get the job done without breaking the bank. In fact, the right software for your case may already be on your desktop! |
| Lawyering In a Virtual World: How to Snag the Connected Client |
A billboard on the Internet superhighway (i.e., your website) used to be enough to attract web-savvy clients, but no longer. Come hear about the latest in e-lawyering and providing legal services on the Internet and how you can find and keep desirable, tech-forward clients. You'll also learn how to protect yourself and your practice in an online world from unsolicited contact by phantom clients, unauthorized practice of law allegations, unintentional disclosure of confidential information, and unintended disqualification. |
| Research Redux: New Resources and Personal Knowledge Management |
The Internet is expanding exponentially every day, and the number and variety of research resources available to lawyers are growing rapidly, too! In this session our Internet research experts will show you some of the best new sources of legal and factual information on the ‘net and how to get the most out of them. But wait, there's more! How do you keep up with all this stuff once you've found it? We'll also discuss personal KM, and tools like RSS, social bookmarking services, and online notebooks you can use to manage and organize the wealth of information you can find. |
| Working Together from Wherever You Are: The Lawyer's Guide to Collaborating on the Internet |
Collaboration is no longer an option. Online tools like WebEx, Sharepoint, Acrobat Connect, Basecamp, Zoho, wikis and others make it easy for lawyers to work instantaneously with clients and colleagues, whether they're across the hall or on the other side of the world. Come join the authors of a soon-to-be published ABA book on collaborative technologies as they discuss the options available to lawyers, developing a collaboration strategy, and the ethical implications of working with others in an online environment. |
| The Virtual Law Office: Is "Software-as-a-Service" Ready for Prime Time? |
What if you could work from anywhere that you had Internet access? Our experts will help you decide whether it's finally time to make a virtual law office your reality, and the online services that can help you make it happen. We'll also cover the ethical and due diligence issues you must work through to keep your virtual office as safe as one made of bricks and mortar. Whether you want to practice from the beach, the mountains, or a treehouse, it's time to start designing the virtual law office of your dreams. |
| Meeting the (ABA-EPA) Law Office Climate Challenge |
Whether your organization is large or small; whether you own or lease; whether your office is in the city, the suburbs, or a rural area, you can still take practical steps to become a better environmental and energy steward. A sound sustainability strategy can help you deliver client services more effectively and save money, too! Learn everything you need to know to participate in the ABA-EPA climate challenge. Your savings in the first year alone could pay for your TECHSHOW admission, and you'll be helping to save the planet at the same time. |
| Small Footprint - Big Impact: Improving Client Services with Sustainable Practices |
The phrase "going green" may conjure images of tiny ultra-efficient European cars, hemp clothing, and celebrity activists. But for an increasing number of corporations and law firms, "going green" is simply the newest way of attracting clients, cutting costs, and boosting the bottom line. From going paperless to installing high-efficiency lighting, running a "green" office is easier than you might imagine. It can also pay real dividends for your firm in the money you save on overhead and the clients that are attracted by your policies. Our panelists will tell you how they've made it happen - and how you can, too! |
| The Mobile Office: Take Your Desktop in your Pocket |
For a busy lawyer, today's smartphones are nothing short of a miracle. It's not uncommon for a lawyer to receive, open, edit and send back a Word document from his cell phone - all while walking to the office in the morning, or on an out-of-town business trip. This session will introduce you to the latest mobile devices from Palm, Blackberry, and other providers, and how to effectively use them in your practice. You'll also learn about law-specific software and mobile versions of legal software you already own that will help you make the most these amazing devices. Our experts will share practical ideas and programs that can help you leave your office without really leaving your office! |
| Securing Your Client's Data While on the Road |
With today's mobile technology tools, there's nothing easier than staying connected while out of the office. However, it's also easy to lose your phone, or laptop when you're on the road -- and you can be vulnerable to hacking. How do you physically protect your equipment? What are the best strategies for connecting securely to your office from a remote location? In this session we'll provide you with the tips, tricks, technology tools, and ethical concerns you need to keep your client's confidential information secure when you're on the road again. |
| Digital Détente: Using Macs in a PC-Centric Legal World |
Like a siren with her alluring song, the Apple "Mac" is becoming an increasingly enticing alternative to many lawyers. But what are the options? If you switch, must your entire firm switch too, or can you be the lone Mac user on a PC network? And what's all this business about running Windows on a Mac? Join our panel of Apple users as they debunk the Mac myths and demonstrate that you can have an iLife and be a lawyer at the same time. |
| How Lawyers Practice Law and Serve Clients with Macs...Really! |
When PC-using lawyers are asked about switching to the Mac, many of them say, "Lawyers can't practice law on a Mac! There's just no software for lawyers that works on a Mac!" If this sounds like you, you're in for a surprise. Actually, lawyers can keep time, invoice clients, manage contacts and calendars, and even manage their cases, all on a Mac. Learn from our real-world Mac lawyers how they've adapted to a Mac-based practice, and the tools they use to serve their clients. |
| Managing Your E-Mail - Is There a Better Way? |
For many legal professionals, any commitment to manage our email is like a New Years Resolution - we make a good show of it for a few days or weeks, and then we let it spiral out of control again. Good email management not only keeps you organized and working more efficiently, it also helps to ensure that important client communications don't fall through the digital cracks. In this session our experts will show you the best email management strategies, plus tips, tricks and add-on products to help keep your inbox from overwhelming you. |
| Stop Reinventing the Wheel! Automating the Drafting of Documents |
One of the great time-wasters of the practice of law is the drafting, over and over again, virtually the same document for a different client. Automating the drafting of your most frequently used documents can increase your efficiency and productivity and at the same time improve the accuracy of your documents. This session will show you what you need to know about document assembly, including the tools already built into your word Processor, as well as add-on applications for more complex document automation. |
| Matchmaker, Matchmaker: Connecting with New Clients Using Technology |
In marketing your practice these days, setting yourself apart from the rest of the pack takes innovation, creativity, and a willingness to try new things. In this session we'll explore the latest in marketing technology, including using weblogs, social networking, and even YouTube to develop your practice, as well as more traditional ways to get 'em in the door using technology. Our client relationship experts will also discuss how to track new client origination, so you can put your marketing time and dollars in the right place! |
| Client Retention: Avoiding the Seven-Year Itch |
Maintaining and strengthening client relationships is hard work. So much can go wrong -- a fee dispute, malpractice claim, or you may just grow apart. Providing quality client service is the cornerstone to any client retention strategy, and technology is a critical component of that strategy. This session will explore ways to ensure your clients desire no other firm but yours, how you can get more referrals from them, and how you can ethically and inexpensively use technology to keep them from straying. |
| 2007 |
| Excel at Excel |
For lawyers, Excel is probably the least-used component of the Microsoft Office suite. While many may know the basics of using Excel, few appreciate the true power of this amazing program. This session will teach you practical tips and techniques on how to more quickly select, edit, copy and move cells, and how formulas, sorting and subtotals can help you to manipulate your data. You’ll learn how to fly around spreadsheets with keyboard shortcuts and special menu commands, and explain what those cryptic error messages mean. We’ll provide the knowledge you need to make Excel look, feel and operate the way it should for your practice. |
| From Paper to PDF: Acrobat For Lawyers |
2005’s hurricane disaster is causing many lawyers to rethink their devotion to paper documents. The new Adobe Acrobat makes going paperless easier than ever, but that’s not all – now you can use Acrobat to secure your documents, create impressive e-briefs, and even archive your e-mail. This session will introduce you to the basics of reducing paper in your practice, as well as the more advanced features of the application. |
| Managing Microsoft: Word Challenges (and Solutions for Them) |
Word is the most popular word processing application for lawyers, but let’s face it: sometimes it can be darned difficult to use. Vent your frustrations at this session, where you’ll learn how to handle Word’s annoyances with ease, including formatting, using styles, tables, columns, and the mysterious Normal.Dot file. |
| Winning Wizardry with PowerPoint |
As a tool in the lawyer’s presentation arsenal, PowerPoint tremendously enhances our ability to communicate ideas to others. This popular TECHSHOW session returns with Craig Ball, our resident PowerPoint Wizard, as he shares his tips and tricks for getting the most out of this program. Bring your laptop so you can learn simple but powerful techniques that will have you conjuring PowerPoint magic in no time. |
| An Electronic Evidence and Computer Forensics Primer |
New to the electronic evidence arena? Don’t have a clue about computer forensics? Not sure what an MD5 hash is and why it is so critical? This session will cover the basics of evidence in electronic form and help you understand how computer forensics can make or break a case. |
| Oyez! Oyez! The Digital Discovery Showdown |
Using a mock motion hearing as a platform for discussion and demonstration, our speakers will prepare for and argue to the court a contested motion on the production of electronic information. Using e-discovery, litigation support and trial presentation technologies, the speakers will demonstrate an integrated approach to electronic advocacy, which will educate attendees on the best use of technology to analyze, manage and argue issues relating to e-discovery. |
| A Reliable Roadm The Solo/Small Firm Electronic Discovery Plan |
I’m only a small fish in a big pond. How can I compete with the “big boys,” especially when it comes to electronic evidence? Looking for the right roadmap and guide for your case? Do you feel overwhelmed? Are you wary of vendor advice? Come learn how the solo/small firm attorneys can level the playing field when it comes to electronic evidence cases. |
| Taming a Tsunami: The Management of Electronic Evidence |
Data data everywhere. I don’t understand all of these zeros and ones. How do I deal with all of this electronic data, especially when it is in so many different formats? How do I search it, index it, and keep it manageable? How do I tame the costs of review? This session will educate you in the options for dealing with vast quantities of electronic evidence. |
| You Can Do It! The $5000 Law Office Made Easy |
Once upon a time, a new lawyer could start a practice with a desk and chair, a few legal pads and pens, and access to the local law library. These days the right technology is crucial to the delivery of cost-effective legal services. But what is the right technology? If you’re looking to outfit a new office from scratch, or to upgrade and replace existing software and equipment, you’ll leave this session knowing how to pick and choose from what’s available. We’ll help you create a technology plan to move your practice forward – at a price you can afford. |
| Defeating the Demons: Practice Management Software Implementation |
Know you need a better way to manage your deadlines, client information and documents, but just can’t figure out how to bring it all together? Know you need practice management software but aren’t sure which features are most important for the way you practice? Let our experts walk you through the process from evaluating your needs to training after installation. You’ll go home ready to evaluate products, make your purchase, train your employees and be up and running in record time. |
| The Weakest Link: Security in a Wired and Wireless World |
Having an unsecured high-speed Internet connection is like leaving the back door to your house open with a sign out front that says “thieves welcome.” But you need that network up and running securely to facilitate the transfer of information, both in the office and to the outside world. What is the lawyer who has to stay connected to do? This session offers information on the most up to the minute threats and what you can do to harden your wired and wireless network. |
| Networking- Can I Still Do it Myself? |
Windows 98 and factory installed network cards made “out of the box” networking for the small office easy. Just string some cable and start sharing documents. With the advent of more complex software and backup systems needing server-based environments, do-it-yourself networking is as obsolete as a Saturday afternoon of tinkering around under the hood of your own car – or is it? Our experts will bring you up to speed on the current state of the office network and provide you with the information you’ll need to act as your own network administrator – or know what you’re looking for when you hire one. |
| How Hard is Your Tech Dollar Working? The Real Return on Your Investment |
So you’ve just heard about some legal software that is revolutionizing the practice of law and you want to learn more. The cost of the software is significant but the vendor explains how quickly you can recover your investment in the software and use it to turn a great profit. It almost sounds too good to be true. How can you be sure the vendor’s ROI analysis works for you? Our experts will explain the value of ROI analysis and provide useful techniques to help you measure technology ROI in a way that is meaningful to YOUR bottom line, minus the sales pitch spin. |
| Beyond ROI: Achieving Excellence as a Law Firm |
Technology can be expensive but if used well it solves problems. When considering technology investment there are many “non-dollar” factors to consider in addition to (and sometimes instead of) the impact it may have on revenue stream. This session will explore these factors and provide useful and valuable insight into using technology to help your law firm achieve true excellence. |
| Ebenezer Scrooge’s Law Office: Technology for Pennypinchers |
Despite how great meaningful ROI and achieving excellence are, you just can’t justify spending the big dollars on technology? Not to worry - technology does not have to be overly expensive if you invest the time and effort to understand what you really need. In this session you will learn how to identify your needs and cost-effective, affordable technologies that will meet those needs. |
| Planning is Half The Battle: An IT Blueprint |
You’ve identified your needs, you’re happy with the potential ROI, and you’re ready to achieve excellence … now what? Are you organized for a smooth implementation? How will you handle training? Does the new application integrate with other software? Do you have the necessary hardware and configuration to support the new application? How will you follow through and make sure you are achieving the desired results? This session will discuss these and other planning issues that will help you avoid wasting time and money. |
| E-Lawyering 101 – Serving Clients Better and More Profitably on the Web |
Some enterprising lawyers have figured out how to improve client satisfaction and improve their bottom line by practicing law online. This session presents success stories from the world of e-lawyering. See the sites, learn the business and technology secrets of successful online legal services firms and begin to plan your own online practice. |
| Ten Techniques To Exploit Latent Legal Markets |
Our experts feature ten tools and tricks of e-lawyering including extranets, next generation web sites and document assembly integrated with case management. Our speakers will demonstrate marketing, practice management and technology tools that will put your online practice on steroids. Attendees will receive some widgets delivered directly to your wireless device. |
| This Way Be Dragons- Malpractice and Ethics Issues in an E-Lawyering World |
This session will explore the barriers to e-lawyering practice including ethical problems raised by unbundling, professional image issues raised by handling lots of tiny cases or parts of cases, economic issues raised by the technical and marketing demands of e-lawyering and insurance issues that sometimes plague online lawyers. Walk away with a checklist of potential problems and solutions that fit your practice. |
| Partners and Promise in E-Lawyering |
E-lawyers may practice in cyberspace but they are not alone. Document preparers and publishers are also selling services online. The ABA, courts, administrative agencies and clients are all moving to the online world as well. Learn in this session about online competitors and the ABA resources and other help available to support lawyers who launch an online practice. |
| Competitive Intelligence Research on the Internet |
How often have you been asked to “find out everything about Company X?” The art of competitive intelligence helps researchers learn more about industries, markets, products/services, clients, potential clients, and competitors. This roundtable will help you to formulate a strategy for conducting CI research, and the right tools to get you started. Think of this session as “research on steroids.” |
| Metadata: What It Is, Why It Is Important and How To Exorcise It |
We’ve probably all heard something along the lines of data about data, but do we really know what it is? Unless you consider yourself an expert in metadata and its removal, you’ll want to come to this session. Metadata and malpractice can be intimately intertwined! Learn what information “secretly” travels with a file when you give up the electronic version and how to exorcise it from your documents. |
| In Chambers Roundtable |
You’ve heard their official positions on e-filing, electronic discovery, and e-briefs. Now the judges will take off their gowns and sit down for an hour to discuss what they really think – their pet peeves, war stories, and strategies for effectively using technology in the court without being held in contempt. Find out what happens when judges stop being polite and start getting real – in chambers. |
| Ask The Information Security Experts |
This open forum will allow you to fire away at some of the authors of the new ABA Information Security book. What’s available to secure your confidential data? At what cost? What are the steps that reasonably prudent lawyers need to take today? Learn some of the best practices and technical details from some of the foremost experts in the field. |
| 60 Finance Tips in 60 Minutes |
The ultimately successful practice is a profitable one. Move beyond thinking just about billable hours and receipts. This session will cover tips to help you better understand the financial health and status of your practice. Gain a better appreciation of where the money is coming from, where it is going, and how you can bring more in. Learn how you can capture more time, increase your realization rates, implement alternative billing, and more. |
| 60 Firm and Practice Management Tips in 60 Minutes |
Come to this session for tips on how you can better manage the people and resources that make up your firm. We will show you how you can more effectively communicate and collaborate with clients, manage client matters, run productive meetings, deal with staff issues and get your staff motivated. Don't forget about planning and longer term firm strategy. |
| 60 Marketing Tips in 60 Minutes |
Marketing is a cornerstone of every successful and growing law practice, yet many lawyers struggle with marketing, and some avoid it all together. Come to this session for a terrific collection of marketing tips. Learn how you can make marketing a part of every day, assemble and execute marketing plans, build an effective, polished presence on the Web and create a unique brand for you and your firm. |
| 60 Technology Tips in 60 Minutes |
Every truly competent lawyer must be a competent technology user. This fast-paced session will present the latest and greatest in technology tips, covering software and hardware, gadgets, the Web, and practice management software. There is no better place to learn dozens of ways technology can help you get things done better, faster and cheaper. |
| Judicial Perspective on EDD and New Federal Rules |
The ultimately successful practice is a profitable one. Move beyond thinking just about billable hours and receipts. This session will cover tips to help you better understand the financial health and status of your practice. Gain a better appreciation of where the money is coming from, where it is going, and how you can bring more in. Learn how you can capture more time, increase your realization rates, implement alternative billing, and more. |
| Digital Trials: Presenting Evidence and Argument Using Technology in the Courtroom |
PDF, PowerPoint and other presentation technologies have changed the way we present evidence and argument at trial. This session will show you how technology can be used effectively at trial, with a particular, persuasive focus on practical solutions that the attorney trying the case can use. |
| Judicial Perspectives on Technology in the Courtroom |
From PDAs and cell phones to laptops and projectors, hear what judges expect, like and don’t like. Better yet, hear about objections to the use of courtroom technology and how to defeat them! |
| Electronic Briefs – A Real-time Demonstration |
Does the jurisdiction where you practice allow or require e-filing? If so, consider making every brief you file an e-Brief, with hypertext links to exhibits, case law and more. Attend this session to see and hear how these professionals construct an electronic brief quickly and easily. |
| Consumer Electronics: Cost Effective Tools for the Law Office |
The only difference between men and boys is the size of their toys! Or is it the one who dies with the most toys wins? Whatever your philosophy on life, you’ll enjoy this fast-paced session on the latest consumer electronics and how you can effectively incorporate them into your daily practice. You’ll be able to go home and say, with a straight face, “But honey, I really need it for the office!” |
| How Can You Be There When You Can’t Be There? Remote Lawyering |
There are always going to be times when you have to be in two places on opposite sides of the state, the country, or the globe, and you just can’t. Or maybe you just want to work from home occasionally. Let us show you how to make the problem go away – magically – with technology. From instant messaging to video conferencing, and everything in between, we’ve got the tools to help you be productive, wherever you are – even if you never leave the county in which you practice. |
| Death By PowerPoint – How to Make Persuasive Presentations |
You’re in the persuasion business. And more and more often you’ll be called upon to persuade members of the generation raised on MTV. The most effective way to do that is with visuals but, after almost 10 years of PowerPoint, are your presentations doing you and your clients more harm than good? Get the latest tips and techniques to make your presentations better than a double espresso when it comes to keeping your audience awake, engaged, and on your side. |
| Your Inbox Spilleth Over? E-Mail Management Strategies That Work |
Are you at the mercy of your Inbox? Do you feel like you can’t get to the important work because you spend all your time weeding through spam and discussion list messages or trying to effectively organize your case-related email? This session will teach you how to harness your Inbox and make email the workhorse driving your practice forward that it was intended to be. Tips and tricks to help you find what you need – when you need it – to keep your email organized and keep spam and other ghoulies out of you Inbox! |
| Getting Along and Going Along: MS Sharepoint and Other Collaboration Tools |
Communication and collaboration are essential for lawyers. We frequently interact with colleagues, co-counsel, clients, experts and others. Today's technology offers more options than ever for connecting people, systems and information processes, both within the law firm and beyond. Come to this session to find out about today's collaboration tools, like Microsoft Sharepoint, and how to deploy and use them in a secure fashion. |
| Information Security for Lawyers and Law Firms |
Computers and networks face greater security threats today than ever before. Viruses and worms, Trojan horses, spyware, and rootkits are just a few examples. Many of them can compromise confidential information. Learn about these threats, including a live demonstration which may well terrify you. Then learn how to address them with best practices from the new ABA information security book. |
| Calling All Propeller Heads! State of the Art Network Issues |
What's on an IT manager’s network wish list today- both "must have" and "nice to have" items? This technical session will explore state-of-the-art network developments like thin client technology, grid computing, mirrored servers, fixed wireless and more. See what's new and plan your network's future. |
| Ground Zero: Are You Prepared For a Disaster Like Katrina? |
Katrina forcefully reminded us how important backup and disaster recovery can be for law firms. Recovery may be critical in a catastrophe, where IT infrastructure is unavailable or gone, and in more common situations like a corrupted file or crashed drive. Regardless of the scope of the loss, the key is prompt and accurate recovery. What steps are reasonable and necessary to protect your data? Learn about today's options for backup and recovery for law firms of all sizes, including tape backup, mirrored servers and online options. |
| Blawg: Marketing Your Practice With a Weblog |
It’s official: weblogs are no longer just for geek lawyers. Now anyone with basic computer knowledge can have one, and the marketing benefits can be tremendous. Join our expert legal bloggers as they discuss the basics of creating a blog, developing content, and positioning your blog as a go-to resource for clients and lawyers alike. |
| Free vs. Fee: Fact Finding on the Internet |
In an ideal world, all research and fact finding on the Internet would be free; indeed, on the free Internet, you often get more than you pay for. There are times, however, when using a fee-based service is not only necessary, it can actually save you money by saving you time. In this session you’ll learn from our fact-finding experts about the best free and inexpensive fee-based sites for your legal research, as well as how to know when to choose “fee over free.” |
| Online Collaboration and Meeting Tools |
Who likes business travel? If you do, this session is probably not for you; here you’ll learn about the latest Internet technologies that help lawyers communicate with others, all without leaving the office. Plus, you’ll learn what it’s like to get “Skyped.” Our speakers will discuss how the use of VoIP, instant messaging, wikis, extranets, deal rooms, and other tools can make communicating with your clients, experts and co-counsel easier (and cheaper) than ever. |
| Advanced Searching: Beyond Google and Yahoo! |
Believe it or not, there’s more to searching the Internet than Google and Yahoo! There are even ways to make these two search engines stronger research tools. Our search experts will demonstrate a variety of new and specialized search engines that can help you to successfully focus your search, as well as advanced tips for getting the most out of Google, Yahoo, and the other major search tools. |
| Technology and Access to Justice |
Technology has often been promoted as a way to cultivate bigger and better clients. Those who cannot afford a lawyer can also benefit from the advantages offered by technology. This session will address cost-effective ways of utilizing technology in the service of all who need legal services, regardless of wealth, power, or sophistication. |
| Our Favorite Utilities, Free and Otherwise |
What’s your favorite utility? There’s no question software utilities make the computing experience easier, more efficient, and often just plain fun. Our utility experts will present the latest and greatest in free or cheap utilities that will make your other programs work the way they should. Come to this session and share your favorite utilities with the group! |
| FAQS: Computer Forensics and Electronic Evidence |
Couldn’t make it to the E-Discovery sessions or perhaps you still have questions? Come to this session and get answers to some of the common questions involving electronic evidence and computer forensics. Don’t hesitate to bring your questions about your own cases – electronic evidence makes for lively discourse! |
| How To Be the Ultimate Litigation Support Person |
Lawyers can be a demanding bunch. It’s hard to know what they expect from their litigation support team, but they, of course, expect you to already know what they want. How do you satisfy them without losing your mind? Come to this session to learn from our experts on providing outstanding litigation support to attorneys, share your war stories, and learn tips and tricks on keeping your sanity. |
| The Top Ten Causes of Malpractice- and How You Can Avoid Them |
It's far easier to learn from the mistakes of others than to suffer through them ourselves. This is particularly true for malpractice, where mistakes can be devastating. Come and learn the most common causes of malpractice from actual claims statistics. Your use of technology itself can give rise to legal malpractice! This session covers both how malpractice mistakes arise in practice and steps you can take to avoid them. You’ll earn ethics CLE credits as well. |
| Strange Bedfellows – Ethics and Technology |
Technology provides great benefits for attorneys, including highly efficient workflow, unprecedented access to information and rapid, cost-effective communications. Most lawyers, however, do not consider the dark side of technology. It can and does generate great risks to lawyers from the interaction of technology and professional responsibility requirements. This session will encourage you to pause for a moment and identify these risks before launching into the latest and greatest technology. You’ll also learn how to take steps to address them. This course is eligible for Ethics CLE credits. |
| Advanced Word processing Skills For Support Staff (and Lawyers Too!) |
From the simplest e-mail to a complex pleading or agreement, we all spend hours every day pounding on a keyboard to crank out documents. This session will take your word processing skills to the next level. We’ll start with a review of the power features in Word, and some keyboard shortcuts for working faster. Then we’ll move into document formatting, and tackle one of the most powerful Word features: styles. You’ll also learn how to change default settings to make Word work the way you want, be more efficient with document automation and using precedents, build complex documents with tables of contents and cross references and more. Learn to thrive in a Word world, even if you were born and raised on WordPerfect. |
| Critical Technology Skills For a Law Office |
Computer skills are critical for every person in every law office, yet many staff members have only the most basic abilities. This session presents a crash-course on the essential technology skills that every person in every law office must have. You will learn how to master Windows, including Windows navigation, using keyboard shortcuts, and cutting and pasting. We will also review technology terminology. You will be well on the way to being a power user after attending this session. |
| Law and Technology: The Year in Review and the Year Ahead |
The law often struggles to catch up with technology and the past year was no exception. Notable cases include Grokster (legality of P2P software), Councilman (interception of e-mail), B.J.s Wholesale Club (liability for insecure network), Arthur Anderson (destruction of records) and more. There's also the PATRIOT Act and responses to large scale data breaches. Learn what happened in technology law during the past year and what the next year may bring. |
| E-Filing Comes of Age: The Feds Finish and the States Forge Ahead |
You just received notice that you are now required to submit all case filings to the federal courts electronically and you’ve heard your state court is looking into an e-filing system ... now what? Come learn from the experts everything you need to know about e-filing – how the systems work, the technology you need, the costs involved, how it could (or will) change the way you practice law, and related legal and ethical issues. |
| Client Files Makeover: The Move From Paper to Electronic Files |
Paper takes up space. It weighs a lot, becomes misplaced or even lost, and is just plain cumbersome to work with. Consider for a moment what it would be like to be able to find documents at your desk without rummaging through file cabinets or boxes. Our presenters will put you on the path to a paper free office. |
| Time and Billing Makeover – From Manual to Electronic Time and Billing |
Manual time and billing is so Twentieth Century. If you’re stuck in the past this session will put you on the path to the most cost-effective makeover, one guaranteed to save you time and make you money. Electronic time and billing applications offer time-saving features that ensure greater accuracy when capturing billable work, including automatic spell checking. Explanation codes that let you enter a common billing narrative with a few key strokes, custom billing rates and automatic timers. The transition from manual to electronic time and billing might be easier than you think. Attend this session and bring your practice into the twenty-first century. |
| Automating a Law Practice & the Practice of Law |
This session will build on the Perspectives Panel and probe more deeply into specific illustrations of the virtual lawyer. Our experts will explore how to automate the practice of law, including an historical look at document assembly's past and prospects, current Artificial Intelligence implementations and examples of the virtual lawyer operating in a variety of practices. |
| Connection, Convergence, the Virtual Firm |
This session will explore connections and the virtual working groups that are emerging from the use of technology to communicate. The centerpiece of this communication perspective is the emergence of blogs, wikis, podcasting and RSS feeds. Lawyer entrepreneurs and technology leaders will demonstrate how to apply these new communications tools to revolutionize the practice of law. |
| 09: Podcasting for Lawyers |
You know, podcasting is this year’s blogging – it’s a technology most people don’t know about, yet it has great potential. Described as “TiVo for your radio,” podcasts are radio recordings you can download and listen to at your leisure. And everyone’s getting into the podcasting act, including lawyers. Learn what the fuss is all about, how to listen to podcasts, the use of podcasting in the legal market, and even how to create your own – it’s a great marketing tool! |
| VoIP |
Now that it appears as if Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is here to stay, what are the practical issues for implementation? What are the security implications? What are the cost and the quality issues? Should you convert your entire law office over to IP-based phones? What about 911 services? Bring your war stories or even your VoIP phone to this session. |
| 60 Sites in 60 Minutes |
This Perennial ABA TECSHOW favorite offers a rapid-fire presentation of favorite websites by three top legal technologists. This session is often ABA TECHSHOW’s best-attended! |