Futurelawyer

Legal Technology - The Dangers of Virtual Cocktail Parties

Link: Legal Technology - The Dangers of Virtual Cocktail Parties. The Internet is changing everything. The wide proliferation of what is said on the Internet is greatly expanding the liability risks of the things attorneys do. For example, in the old days, the "innocent" legal question asked at an event, such as a banquet or cocktail party, could create an attorney-client relationship and that could create a liability risk for the attorney. Internet chat rooms, relationship sites like LinkedIn and others, and just ordinary email, must be handled with care when dealing with strangers. I always refused to give legal advice in a social setting; I handed the questioner my card, and advised them to call for an appointment. Only in the office setting will you be able to think clearly and solicit all the factual information you need to give legal advice. Oh, yes, and to get paid. If you are taking the legal risk of giving legal advice, please get paid for it. Actually, does anybody even go to cocktail parties anymore? I have been a designated driver for so long, I wouldn't know. I have a vision of millions of chat room denizens, with martini in hand, clicking away dangerous questions in front of a computer screen. Casual legal advice over the Internet?  Just don't.

What, Me Worry?

Link: Giveaway of the Day - free licensed software daily. Password Manager Deluxe 3.62 - Let Password Manager Deluxe keep your passwords safe!. I don't need Password Manager, Deluxe or otherwise. Even though it is a free download today at Giveaway of the Day. I am an old man, whose passwords are safely locked inside my aging brain, where they are safe from prying eyes and minds. Heck, they are so safe, I can't even remember them. How safe is that?

What? No Xmas Bonus?

Link: Law.com - Williams & Connolly Raises First-Year Salaries to $180,000. Okay, now this is getting ridiculous. $180,000 for a kid right out of law school? How many hours are these first year associates billing? Who is paying? What are they doing? Williams and Connolly doesn't pay Xmas bonuses; of course not. Every day is Xmas in D.C.

Silver Portable External Hard Drives: 60GB Hi-Speed USB 2.0-Reconditioned

Link: Silver Portable External Hard Drives: 60GB Hi-Speed USB 2.0-Reconditioned. There is no longer any excuse for not having hard drive backups. These little portables are LESS than a dollar a Gigabyte. 60 Gigs for $46, 80 Gigs for $60 and 100 Gigs for around $80. Yes, Virginia, that IS a paper clip in the picture, and there IS a Santa Claus.

AutoHotkey - Free Mouse and Keyboard Macro Program with Hotkeys and AutoText

Link: AutoHotkey - Free Mouse and Keyboard Macro Program with Hotkeys and AutoText. Lawyers, as a rule, are verbose people; we argue and bloviate, and our computer antics are usually just as circuitous. What if you could simplify your common computer tasks? I have posted about applications before that combine large blocks of text, and addresses, into hotkey macros. AutoHotKey is a free program that does the same thing, with a twist. It will automate almost anything that you do at the computer, with keyboard or mouse or scrolling shortcuts. Give it a try. You might be surprised at how many long, involved processes you perform every day.

Zipit - Text Messaging Without A Cell Phone

Link: Zipit. Zipit is an instant messaging, text messaging device that works in WiFi HotSpots; but, it isn't a cell phone. For $150 and $4.99 a month, IM and Text Messages can be sent to any cell phone; messages can only be received, however, from pre-set cell phone numbers. Since you can get cheap text messaging with most cell phones, this doesn't seem like a productivity solution that would appeal to lawyers; however, if you have a kid that you don't want to have access to a cell phone; but, who needs to text to survive, this might be an ideal solution.

Solo By Choice : Carolyn Elefant's new book : Real Lawyers Have Blogs

Link: Solo By Choice : Carolyn Elefant's new book : Real Lawyers Have Blogs. Here is a book that is must reading for anyone contemplating the move to solo practice. I haven't received a copy yet; however, I will buy one when they are available. I have been a solo for many years; however, Ms. Elefant's take will certainly be eye-opening and instructional. Congratulations, Carolyn.

iDiamond ear: $6,400 earbuds don't come any cheaper - Engadget

Link: iDiamond ear: $6,400 earbuds don't come any cheaper - Engadget. She Who Must Be Obeyed loves jewelry. No birthday or holiday goes by that I don't find something she will like. However, I am drawing the line this Xmas at diamond encrusted earbuds for MP3 players. Of course, the price tag of over Six Thousand Dollars is way beyond my budget, but please... how does someone justify this purchase when the same money would buy 30 OLPC laptops for kids in Africa? Noblesse Oblige.

All I Want For Xmas Is A Pair of USB Santa Boots?

Link: Crapgadget: USB Santa boots, SMB mushroom lamps, awful PMPs, and more - Engadget. Endgadget's annual roundup of the most ridiculous gadgets has a winner. Hooking up a USB powered heater to a pair of boots in Santa fluff and color has to be the most mind-bendingly ridiculous gadget I have seen in a long time. And, I have been alive longer than all of you. First question, how long is the USB cable? What if I want to walk to the bathroom or the kitchen? Not to mention, get in the car and go to work. Oh, wait. I could hook them up to the USB port on my ultralight, and carry the computer under my arm. That way, my Santa Boots would warm me up for the length of my battery power. Wait, I live in Florida. I don't NEED boot warmers. Whew... I thought I was going to have to buy a pair of these.

Rat Gets A BlackBerry

In line with yesterday's post about the isolating effects of electronic communication, I offer this example of the wit of Stephan Pastis. Can we be more and less connected by technology at the same time?