Futurelawyer

Ross Kodner At Legal Tech

Link: Ross Ipsa Loquitur Blog � LegalTech NY Day One: Microsoft and the Next Big Thing: “Intrasocial Networking”. Legal Tech Shows are about more than tech innovation, and wandering show floors looking for SWAG. Ross Kodner hits the nail on the head with this post. I haven't attended one of these things in a while; (okay, nobody asked me to come), but he is absolutely right that it really isn't instructive when 75% of the exhibitors and speakers are talking about electronic discovery. Most solo and small firm practitioners just don't spend that much time with this stuff. We are interested in new software, old software, gadgets, and other computer stuff that will help us be better, more efficient lawyers. Thanks, Ross, for the post, so that I didn't have to fly into the snow. It is 80 degrees in Florida this week, and I am going to spend it by the pool.

Next, Law School Credit for Watching Judge Judy

Link: Excite News - SoCal College Offers YouTube Class. Okay, now I know that the Internet has fried some brains. This college is offering a for credit course in "YouTube". What's next, law schools offering credit for watching lawyer shows on T.V.? The dumbing down of America is not the best use of the Internet. I realize that many intelligent people are using the Internet for educational purposes; look at all the lawyer blogs about important issues. But, YouTube as course material? Pleeeeze.

Legal Research - The Movie

Once upon a time, in a galaxy far, far away, I was a law student. I did legal research in books. I spent hours in a law library. I pored through indexes, and I lugged case books around. I didn't have time to make movies. Of course, I also didn't have the Internet. These law students have way too much time on their hands.

ABA TECHSHOW�| Exhibitor Listing

Link: ABA TECHSHOW�| Exhibitor Listing. ABA TechShow starts today in Chicago. Most of us will be working in our offices, so here's a way to check out the Exhibitors without flying to Chicago. It's cold up there anyway. This page lists and links to all the Exhibitors, and I bet that they will be happy to discuss their products with you via email. I never did get the whole walk til you drop show floor thing anyway. I admit that personal contact has its benefits (I am discussing a SoloLawyer Unconference with Grant Griffiths in Atlanta or Orlando). However, if you can't travel to one of these things, this page will help.

YouTube - Most Technologically Advanced Courthouse in U.S. - Part I

Link: YouTube - Most Technologically Advanced Courthouse in U.S. - Part I. Here is a short interview with a Judge from Harris County, Texas, about the technological advances in Harris County courts. The new courthouse is filled with courtroom tech, and is one of the most advanced in the U.S.

Sovereign Immunity - Google Video

Link: Sovereign Immunity - Google Video. The Massachusetts School of Law is posting its wonderful video series, "A Matter of Law" on the Internet, and it can be found at Google Video. This 1999 video on sovereign immunity is excellent. Just another example of the educational possibilities for lawyers on the net. Should Governments be immune from suit by their citizens? The phrase doesn't appear in the Eleventh Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and the Amendment doesn't specifically say that citizens can't sue their "own" state. The Supreme Court has uniformly held, however, that the principle is not derived from the Eleventh Amendment, but from the structure of the original Constitution itself. In fact, the principle goes as far back as Governments have existed. The video does a good job of circumscribing the power and limits of the principle. Good stuff.

Orchestrate Your Future

Link: Orchestrate Your Future. My good friend, Nora Riva Bergman, has a new blog, Orchestrate Your Future, that is worth a look for attorneys who need to jump start their practices. She provides coaching, using the Atticus principles. Check out her blog if your practice seems to be going nowhere, or if you feel like things are out of control in your practice and your life. I took the Atticus 2 day seminar, and it is one of the reasons I started blogging. Most of us are spending so much time giving advice to our clients, and solving other peoples' problems, that we neglect our own. Take a look at your practice and your life, and do a New Year's Inventory. This isn't just about marketing yourself and your practice. It is about how you intend to live your life as a lawyer.

How to Make it Rain - Law firm marketing for solo practitioners

Link: How to Make it Rain - Law firm marketing for solo practitioners. If you want to see the future of legal education and continuing legal education, check out this link to the beta version of How To Make It Rain. RJon Robbins explains how to create and maintain a Trust Account without running afoul of the regulators. Designed for lawyers everywhere, this is a great way to learn about trust accounts from a former Florida Bar employee who spent his time advising law firms about them. The webinar approach is slick and easy to use. The narration is understandable, and the use of "Print It Out" forms is revolutionary. You have to see this. Look and learn.

Legal Tech St. Pete

Legal Tech St. Pete - September 22, 2006

Tomorrow is the day. If you aren't in Florida, hop on a plane and come on down! If you want to learn about legal tech from the FutureLawyer and other tech experts, and, if you are a Florida lawyer, gain C.L.E. credits as well, come to Legal Tech St. Pete at the Epicenter in Pinellas County. A full day of tech is planned, including, case management, electronic discovery, computer security, paperless office, gadgets and gizmos, and other topics. You can register by  downloading and sending in the attached pdf file: Download RegForm_2006_Legal_Tech_Seminar.pdf
The temperature is cooling off just in time. It is 70 degrees and sunny. We will be lying around by the pool afterwards. (Just a little jab at you non-Floridians. After the oppressive heat this summer, we need something to brag about).

Tomorrow is the day. If you aren't in Florida, hop on a plane and come on down! If you want to learn about legal tech from the FutureLawyer and other tech experts, and, if you are a Florida lawyer, gain C.L.E. credits as well, come to Legal Tech St. Pete at the Epicenter in Pinellas County. A full day of tech is planned, including, case management, electronic discovery, computer security, paperless office, gadgets and gizmos, and other topics. You can register by  downloading and sending in the attached pdf file: Download RegForm_2006_Legal_Tech_Seminar.pdf
The temperature is cooling off just in time. It is 70 degrees and sunny. We will be lying around by the pool afterwards. (Just a little jab at you non-Floridians. After the oppressive heat this summer, we need something to brag about).

LOMAS - Law Office Management Assistance Service

Link: LOMAS: Law Office Management Assistance Service INDEX. LOMAS is one of the best kept secrets of the Florida Bar. For forms, articles, and resources about the management of your law practice, go to the LOMAS site at the Florida Bar website, and you will be amazed at the practical, usable forms and ideas that are available for the taking. J.R. Phelps (866-730-2020) is available to talk to Florida Bar members, and will be happy to assist you.

Events and Training | OUT-LAW.COM

Link: Events and Training | OUT-LAW.COM. U.K. Law firm, Pinsent Masons, is an International law firm providing services to technology companies. It's web site is, in Western speak, a "straight shooter". I have long believed that long podcasts are not what modern Internet users need or want. We generally lose interest in anything on the Net that lasts more than 15 minutes. Pinsent Masons has tons of IT law content for free at its site, and does short, informative Podcasts that can be downloaded and listened to in the time it takes to walk to the coffee room for a cup of coffee. A lot of the online seminars are useful to U.S. lawyers as well, focusing on Internet security, Web 2.0 and Data Protection. Check it out.

Law.com/ALM, Inc WebEx Event Center

Link: Law.com/ALM, Inc WebEx Event Center. If you haven't checked out Law.Com's WebEx Seminars, you need to go there, and look at the list of offerings. I am going to attend the free Webinar on E-Discovery on the 13th. Even if you don't practice in Federal Court, you need to make yourself aware of the proposed Rules changes, as they will likely filter down to State Courts in the future.

Legal Tech St. Pete - September 22, 2006

If you want to learn about legal tech from the FutureLawyer and other tech experts, and, if you are a Florida lawyer, gain C.L.E. credits as well, come to Legal Tech St. Pete at the Epicenter in Pinellas County on September 22, 2006. A full day of tech is planned, including, case management, electronic discovery, computer security, paperless office, gadgets and gizmos, and other topics. You can register by  downloading and sending in the attached pdf file: Download RegForm_2006_Legal_Tech_Seminar.pdf
We hope to see you there. If you are from out of town, come to Florida. It's beautiful in late September.