Futurelawyer

Remote Computer Access - Is That Still A Thing?

How To Use A Chromebook For Remote Access. In the olden days, when FutureLawyer was a boy, we had desktop computers that stayed in one place. We ran our law offices from these big, bulky behemoths that collected dust under our desks. Then, we realized that we wanted to have access to our law firm data from other locations, like home, or hotels, or on vacation. Remote access software became a thing. These days, most of our data and work resides on remote servers somewhere, and we use our tiny, light notebook computers, and tablets and smartphones to access the data using software provided at remote servers. Do we need to access data on desktop computers anymore? Do any of you still have your law firm data stored in a fixed location at your office. If so, here is a blueprint and instructions for using a Chromebook to access it. Ultralight computers can also be carried almost anywhere; so, if you still don't trust cloud storage, you can have your data available anywhere you can carry the computer. The most important thing is that you can be a lawyer wherever you are, using modern tech. Lawyer on.

What Word Processor Software Did You Use, Granddad?

Abandoned Software. If, like me, you are older than dirt, you remember that 40 years ago, word processors were DOS based, and text based, and, like all antiquated and outdated software, went somewhere to die. Well, you can find working examples of all that software at VetusWare. It is a nostalgia trip to realize that, 40  years ago, I was amazed at the fact that I could type on a keyboard and see what my document looked like before I printed it, using an automatic typewriter. It was a miracle. It changed law practice forever. It changed lives forever. I wrote the attached post ten years ago, and the only change I would make today is to substitute Grandfather for Father in the text. It is easy with a word processor. 

 

"PC-Write. Your Father's Word Processor. If you know what PC-Write is, you are old. If you ever used it, you are older. If you still have files on your hard drive that were created with PC-Write, you are as old as I am. That said, I fondly remember creating contracts, pleadings and other legal forms with PC-Write in the Eighties, and still have a folder full of them on my drive. Nowadays, I seldom have the opportunity or need to search through them for something; but, a recent search prompted me to revisit the old days of DOS and early computers. PC-Write was written by Bob Wallace in 1983, and really exploded in 1985 through its sale as shareware. Shareware was a novel marketing concept then, and you got to use and share the software free, and only were asked to pay if you liked it. Since the DOS command line is still underpinning much of what is done on your computer, the skills learned with it benefit me even today. LINUX also is able to be controlled at the command line level, and it is the basis of Apple, and Android, operating systems. So much of the computing world (and the rest of the world) is automated, or hidden, or shelled, these days. Sometimes, I long for the simplicity of DOS and PC-Write. I think you thought more about the substance of the communication then; and less about the wrapping. We spend too much time these days on fonts, and typefaces, and spacing. Do you read every word and every line of your document assembled, automated documents? Didn't think so. If you are adventurous, and you want to see what all the fuss was about, head over to www.vetusware.com and download PCWrite and try it yourself. Who's your Daddy?"

Google Tasks - The ToDo List You Need On Your Desktop.

Google Teases More Powerful Tasks Sidebar. If you have an active litigation practice, or a transactional practice that involves several persons, and a staff of humans, including secretaries and legal assistants, you need a powerful case management system, of which there are several that FutureLawyer can recommend: MyCase, RocketMatter, Clio, and others are all competent programs which will do you proud. However, if you are, like me, semi-retired, and have a light case load, and use Google Calendar and the other apps in the Googleverse, Google Tasks is the way to go. I keep track of everything I need to do in a sidebar next to my Google Calendar. It is free, and, while it doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles, it gets the job done. All of the things I have been putting off are staring me in the face every morning when I look at the Calendar. When I don't want to see my procrastination list anymore, I just change the sidebar view to another Sidebar app, of which there are many. It is a perfect complement to Google Keep, and it looks like Google is going to be adding some functionality soon. Like everything else Google, it syncs across all my devices in real time, so I am always working with current data, whether I am on one of my tablets, Smartwatches, Smartphones, or notebook computer.  

Google Keep Is The Only Note Taking App You Will Ever Need.

Google Keep. There are dozens of note taking apps out there. Some require a subscription. Some have so many complex features that you will never use them all. None is more functional or easier to use than the free Google Keep. Every inspirational article, note or page can be saved in an easy to locate space with the click of the mouse. Every password, address, personal note, and list can be saved with a click. What was that password for the router again? What is my spouse's Social Security Number? Yes, security for computer data is important. But, Google provides the ability to protect with two factor authentication. Your life's data is important. Make it easy to find, and secure as well. I have tried paid note taking apps. The one I use every day is Keep.It syncs across all my devices, so data is accessible whether I am using my desktop, tablet or smartphone. Do you know where your data is?

Microsoft Word For Lawyers - It Isn't WordPerfect, But You Need To Know This Stuff.

Word Pro Tips. It is impossible to practice law these days without a passing familiarity with Microsoft Word. While I use WordPerfect everywhere I can, which is 90% of the time, I get Word documents often, and I need to edit, save, and print them, or convert them to WordPerfect format, which is never "perfect". So, fellow lawyers, learn about what you need to know, at this seminar sponsored by the Florida Solo and Small Firm Lawyer's Section of the Florida Bar. Lawyer, teach thyself.

 

Google Voice - Call Me, Maybe?

Google Voice New Shortcuts. I have had a Google Voice number since the beginning. You can call it from anywhere. Want to reach the FutureLawyer on any device he happens to have at any time? Call 727-537-9235. Now, there are new shortcuts for the app, which make it even more useful. I love that I get text and email transcripts of all phone messages. I can decide which I want to return. Don't want to leave a voice message? Good. You will never hear from me again. Want to sell me something? Good. You will never hear from me again. Want to hire me as your lawyer? Good. I will return your call. Call me, maybe?

Saturday Morning Project - Add Extensions To Your Browser For More Privacy.

Browser Settings To Change ASAP. Web browsers are designed to track everything you do on the Internet, ostensibly to give you better results, and to sell you stuff you are probably interested in. They are also designed to create data that can be sold to advertisers and manufacturers. All of this is fine in a consumer focused economy. However, bad actors can also get the data, and politicians have used the data for nefarious purposes. So, how does a responsible lawyer or other person strike a healthy balance? Why, tweaking the browser, of course. You could change to a more secure browser. But, you wouldn't get the benefits of Chrome or the other ad supported browsers. So, read this article, and consider adding extensions that increase browser security. You can add only the ones you need to strike the balance you require. A great source of security extensions for Chrome is the Electronic Frontier Foundation. My favorite is HTTPS Everywhere, which adds secure browsing to every site. This page has more EFF security extensions to consider. Think of it as putting better locks on your doors at home. You won't prevent all crime; but, you will have a deterrent. Be safe out there.

The FutureLawyer Is Not Infallible, After All.

Perfect It By Intelligent Editing. I am the Grammar Police. Hell, I am the Chief of Police. I have been editing, proofreading, writing, and correcting documents my entire life. I am the guy who catches the errors in the news articles, signs, and other people's work, and calls them on it. And, while I am a die hard, long time user of WordPerfect, I am swimming in a sea of Word users in my chosen profession of law. So, I had to learn Word, and I had to use it to work with documents created by others. But, when I installed a copy of PerfectIt, which loads from the ribbon in Microsoft Word, and checks the document for errors and inconsistencies, and tried it several years ago, I didn't think much of it. Now, however, an upgrade to Version 5, for $49 (new users pay $70) per year, has me thinking that I might be using Word more often. Don't get me wrong, I will still use WordPerfect every day. But, I am considering converting my WordPerfect documents to Word format just for the pleasure of running them through PerfectIt. Any editor who can make corrections for a FutureLawyer created document has my respect. If you are a lawyer who uses Word every day, or even occasionally, you need this software. If you don't, be assured that I will be correcting your documents when you send them to me.

Malwarebytes - It's Not Just For Computers Anymore.

Malwarebytes For Android. If you read this blog regularly, you know that I am concerned with digital security. I care about you. If you get hacked, I feel your pain. So, why aren't you following my advice? Your least secure device is the one you carry around with you. It is small, so it can be stolen. You keep it secure with pattern or digital PIN number security schemes. But, it has the same data on it, and the same cloud access, as your notebook computer. The more powerful your phone becomes, and they are like small computers these days, the riskier they are. So, protect yourself from viruses, ransomware, and other risks with Malwarebytes. Less than $50 a year per device. Be careful out there.

Where Do You Keep Your Most Important Information?

Google Keep Cheat Sheet. We live in a time when the amount of critical information that we want to keep and save for easy access is exponentially growing. Computers and the Internet make it possible for the world of information to be available to us. Like War and Peace, however, we will not get to read it all in our lifetimes. Life happens. We get sidetracked. So, cherry picking the most important stuff, and keeping it handy, becomes even more important. As lawyers, we have two layers of important information, personal and professional. Google Keep is free, easy to use, as secure as your Windows installation, and has many features you wouldn't expect to find in a free application. It is worth trying out, and you will find yourself hooked after the first use. It is as secure as you can get these days, because it exists in the Googleverse, which means you can protect it with a password, and two factor authentication. I don't write about it enough; but, it is an ever present part of my computing day.