Futurelawyer

Meet Lou - The LexBlog AI Blogging Assistant.

LexBlog Lou. Kevin O'Keefe has never been one to let grass grow under his feet. He was the grandfather of blogging platforms for lawyers in the early 2000s, and now has the world's largest legal blog publishing platform, LexBlog. Now, leveraging the new AI phenomenon known as ChatGPT, he has created an intelligent assistant that will save blogging lawyers hours of time in creating compelling blog posts that showcase the legal knowledge of the brightest lawyers on the planet. I am very interested to see how Kevin and his crew create an enhanced blogging platform, and plan to follow the progress closely. Congratulations, Kevin. First again.

Make Your Windows Computer Work Like You Want It To.

Microsoft Power Toys. Power Toys is a Microsoft utility that contains many ways to customize your Windows computer. Want to make your machine yours? The Power Toys tools are the way. You can resize screens, make windows show always on top, quickly mute video conferences (avoids embarrassment), create keyboard shortcuts, launch apps instantaneously with a key combination, rename files in bulk, and a host of other cool functions. Install it. Play with it. Enjoy power and toys. What more could you want?

Find My Phone, Please.

Finding your phone when it's turned off - a new Android feature? I have been a fan of Find my phone apps ever since I left mine in a Las Vegas restaurant some years ago. Luckily, I had installed one of the new find my phone apps, Lookout mobile security. When SWMBO and I got back to our hotel, I was frantic. The phone had my life on it, and Las Vegas is not a place where valuables are very safe. Then, I remembered Lookout, and, sitting on the hotel room bed, I powered it up on my laptop. Sure enough, there was my phone, blinking away. It was in the restaurant, and we quickly caught a cab back to the restaurant. Luckily, again, the waiter had taken the phone to the front desk, where a relieved FutureLawyer retrieved it, and vacation was saved. Since that time, Android has incorporated the feature into its phones; but, unless the phone was stolen, it can sit forever in a location never to be found while it is powered down. I have been much better about never leaving the phone lying around; but, a new feature planned for Android will soon be able to locate the phone even if turned off. Of course, this will ruin the plot of many TV shows and movies, because the plot line will no longer be able to rely on the "criminal just turned on the phone" gambit. Oh well. Get creative, TV writers. 

Welltory - Now I'm A Believer.

Welltory Heart Rate Monitor. A confession. In the early days of Smartwatches, I was critical of apps that purported to measure physical activity, and prod the user to exercise. I confess that I have not been a big advocate of a lot of exercise. I still am not. However, lucky as I am to have reached the ancient age of 75, I am much more conscious of my body's reactions to stress, age, and physical impairment. Some years ago, I underwent a triple bypass, and, while I don't run marathons, and need help with long distance mobility, I am generally healthy for my age. I also have recognized the utility of smartwatch monitoring of heart rate, and regularly perform ECGs, heart rate measurements, and so forth. This new app, first available in iPhones, is now available for Android, and it does some really sophisticated modeling based on the really great sensors in the modern smartwatch. We all know of the great advances in artificial intelligence, and this app uses those advances to make some really great suggestions about a user's current health. It measures heart rate variability, and uses those measurements to make some great conclusions and suggestions about overall stress, health, and current needs. $79 a year, and much cheaper than a visit to a physician. It is like being hooked up to a Startrek tricorder 24-7. Check it out. I'm a believer.

 

Efax Messenger App - Your Computer Is Your Fax Machine.

Efax Messenger. Remember Fax machines? The rush of technology advances has made many recent tech apps obsolete quickly. I can remember the early fax machines, which were cumbersome behemoths as large as a typewriter. You remember typewriters, don't you? The fax machine required a separate phone line at the office, and you had to travel from your office to the machine, and wait for the print out. I suspect that there are still offices using these things. But, these days, most of us have a fax app; and the granddaddy of computer based faxing is the Efax app. EFax Messenger is a free app that allows users to send and receive faxes via email or computer. The app is designed to simplify the process of faxing by eliminating the need for a traditional fax machine and phone line. With EFax Messenger, users can send faxes directly from their computer or mobile device, without having to print out documents and physically send them. The app supports a variety of file types, including PDF, DOC, and JPG, and allows users to add electronic signatures to their faxes. EFax Messenger also includes features such as a searchable inbox and the ability to track the status of sent faxes. Overall, EFax Messenger is a convenient and efficient way to send and receive faxes in a digital age. I love the fact that it sits, as an icon, in my app tray, and I can call it up at any time. For around $20 a month, I get a dedicated phone number, and can send and receive faxes without moving from my chair. Brave new world. How are you faxing?

PDFFiller Application - Be More Productive.

PDFfiller is an online platform and mobile app that enables users to edit and fill out PDF documents electronically. It was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in the United States. While my go to PDF app, Kofax Power PDF, is the app I use every day for creating, reading, efiling, and just about everything PDF related, PDFFiller was introduced to me by my accountant, who creates my tax returns in the app, and sends them to me for review, signature and filing. It has access to thousands of law related documents through US Legal Forms. While many of them are pretty bland, they can serve as a launching point for drafting all sorts of legal documents. The forms include IRS tax forms, legal documents, business forms, and more. Many of them could probably be found in various places on the Internet; but, with this app, they are all in one, searchable database. With PDFfiller, a user can upload  PDF documents and fill them out electronically, as well as sign and share them with others. The app offers a range of tools for editing and annotating PDFs, including adding text, images, and shapes, highlighting and underlining text, and drawing freehand.

In addition to editing tools, PDFfiller also provides advanced features such as form autofill, where the app can automatically populate form fields with data you've previously entered, as well as the ability to create custom fillable PDF forms. PDFfiller is available as a web-based application and also as a mobile app for both iOS and Android devices. It integrates with popular cloud storage services such as Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive, making it easy to access and edit your documents from anywhere. I also like that there is an Android version, which gives me access to all my documents on my Galaxy Tab S7 FE tablet, which has a huge 12.4 inch screen, and the fabulous Samsung screen. 

PDFfiller offers both free and paid versions, with the paid version offering additional features such as unlimited document storage, electronic signature capabilities, and advanced security options. The yearly subscription fee is $180, which, in my book, is a real bargain.

 

You Too Can Be An Artist.

This image is how AI sees the FutureLawyer. I created this painting, and I didn't touch a brush, real or digital. I merely chose words with reference to an image. If AI can replace legal research, it can also replace artists. Can we ever be certain that a human created anything? In the future, how will we distinguish between the things that computer creates, and those that are human? Will humans become a combination life form, with both human and digital parts? 

AI Generated Art From FutureLawyer Image.

This image was created from the FutureLawyer logo. I like the robotic vibe, with a spark of insight represented by the bright sun. Will FutureLawyer become an indestructible future man, while keeping the soul of a poet in an armored exterior? Stay tuned.

 

AI Generated Art For Valentine's Day.

Happy Valentine's Day to my lovely wife, Diane. An AI computer program created this graphic for you.

Attorneys Might Find ChatGPT To Be An Essential Research Tool.

While it is pretty basic, ChatGPT can provide a great place to start for lawyers facing a matter not in their current wheelhouse. Just for fun, I asked it about how to conduct a deposition in an eviction case, and this is what it spit out in a few seconds. I didn't ask any follow up questions; but, I am certain that I could coax some pretty useful information out of the bot. Paralegals and law clerks and young lawyers might find this tool very helpful. My query was: "create a list of interrogatories to file in a Florida eviction case."

"Here is a list of potential interrogatories (written questions) that could be filed in a Florida eviction case:

1. Please provide a detailed explanation of the reason for the eviction and any supporting documentation or evidence.

2. Please state the date on which the notice to vacate was served to the tenant.

3. Please provide copies of any rental or lease agreements between the parties.

4. Please state the amount of rent that the tenant owes and provide any supporting documentation, such as receipts or cancelled checks.

5. Please state whether the landlord has made any repairs or improvements to the property that may have contributed to the need for eviction.

6. Please provide any written or verbal communications between the parties regarding the eviction, such as notices or phone calls.

7. Please describe any attempts made by the landlord to resolve the issue prior to filing for eviction.

8. Please provide a list of any witnesses who may have information relevant to the case.

9. Please state whether the landlord has sought the advice of an attorney regarding the eviction, and if so, please provide the name and contact information of the attorney.

10. Please describe any special circumstances or extenuating circumstances that may have contributed to the need for eviction.

This is not an exhaustive list, and the specific questions filed may vary depending on the specific circumstances of the case. It is important to consult with an attorney to determine the most appropriate and relevant interrogatories to file in a particular case."

Welcome to the Revolution.