Futurelawyer

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.

 

Does ChatGPT Produce Quality Legal Briefs?

Does ChatGPT Produce Fishy Briefs? When I saw this ABA article on ChatGPT, and whether it could be used to create passable appellate briefs, the first thing I thought of was the NRA ad: "Guns don't kill people, people kill people". The ad was promulgated in support of some who were fighting gun control legislation, and the theme was that guns are tools. It is human beings who use them, for good or ill. In fact, ChatGPT can create the structure of a brief quickly, and can get basics into the text; but, it is the lawyer who applied his or her knowledge and writing ability to create a polished product. No, Virginia, ChatGPT doesn't produce legal briefs, lawyers produce appellate briefs. ChatGPT is a way to put a lot of extraneous language into passable form, and the lawyer then can use it as a base to create something that may or may not be described as "quality". To add to the poor comparison, asking ChatGPT to support the proposition that fish are not bees is begging for a product that is simplistic and ridiculous. What the future WILL bring is a generative AI that can quickly put much knowledge and data on paper, giving the lawyer more time to create something that IS of high quality. Wait and see. No, ChatGPT doesn't create appellate briefs. Lawyers create appellate briefs.

I Asked ChatGPT How It Could Help Me. Here's The Answer.

Chat GPT. Everyone is worried about the implications of AI chatbots; but, my view is that they will enhance the practice of law, and many other professions. I asked ChatGPT how it could help me, as a practicing lawyer, and I got a cogent response that is quite accurate:

"As a language model, I can assist you with various tasks related to language and information. Here are some ways I can help you as a practicing lawyer:

1. Legal research: I can help you find relevant case law, statutes, and legal articles on a specific topic or issue.

2. Writing and drafting: I can assist you in writing legal documents, such as briefs, memos, and contracts, by providing suggestions on sentence structure, grammar, and legal terminology.

3. Proofreading and editing: I can help you proofread and edit your legal documents to ensure they are free of errors, such as spelling mistakes and grammatical errors.

4. Fact-checking: I can help you verify the accuracy of the facts and information presented in your legal documents.

5. Translation: If you need to translate legal documents from one language to another, I can provide assistance with translation and suggest appropriate legal terminology.

Please let me know how I can assist you further."

It occurs to me that AI can become a starting point for the things I do as a lawyer. Legal research, drafting documents, fact checking, and translation. It feels like the early days of document and word processing. Create a base document with a computer, and then apply your legal skills to improve it, and make it yours. This is going to save a lot of lawyers a lot of time and effort. But, it won't replace the legal judgment honed from decades of experience with real people. What do you think?

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.

Should Lawyers Embrace Or Fear ChatGPT?

Should Lawyers Embrace Or Fear ChatGPT? The latest Legal Rebels podcast, linked to here, considers the meteoric rise of interest in AI Chatbot, ChatGPT, which is a conversational chatbot that seems to be able to provide cogent answers to just about any question, and which some are saying could revolutionize many industries. Of course, in my day, we had Cliff Notes, which summarized books in bite sized pieces that savvy students could use in studying, and writing papers. Chatbots, however, can sound like graduate theses, and are much tougher to identify. For lawyers, what if a client could get their legal answers from a chatbot, and bypass the lawyers? Scary thought, if you're a grunt lawyer. Of course, human lawyers and advocates will always be needed, if only to put a human face on a client's problem. I think these things will be more of a tool for lawyers to do efficient legal research, which can then be used to enhance our ability to represent clients. I have always considered the advances in AI to be an enhancement, and not a replacement. But, the technology is advancing at such a rapid pace, these questions must be asked and answered, and the progress of AI must be closely watched. Enhanced humans might evolve into something we don't want to be.

Should Lawyers Embrace Or Fear ChatGPT?

Should Lawyers Embrace Or Fear ChatGPT? The latest Legal Rebels podcast, linked to here, considers the meteoric rise of interest in AI Chatbot, ChatGPT, which is a conversational chatbot that seems to be able to provide cogent answers to just about any question, and which some are saying could revolutionize many industries. Of course, in my day, we had Cliff Notes, which summarized books in bite sized pieces that savvy students could use in studying, and writing papers. Chatbots, however, can sound like graduate theses, and are much tougher to identify. For lawyers, what if a client could get their legal answers from a chatbot, and bypass the lawyers? Scary thought, if you're a grunt lawyer. Of course, human lawyers and advocates will always be needed, if only to put a human face on a client's problem. I think these things will be more of a tool for lawyers to do efficient legal research, which can then be used to enhance our ability to represent clients. I have always considered the advances in AI to be an enhancement, and not a replacement. But, the technology is advancing at such a rapid pace, these questions must be asked and answered, and the progress of AI must be closely watched. Enhanced humans might evolve into something we don't want to be.

Is Science Fiction Becoming Science Fact?

When I downloaded and tested ChatGPT I was immediately reminded of the Librarian character in the 2002 movie adaptation of The Time Machine, in which the lead character has a colloquy about time travel with a future librarian. It is eerily similar to ChatGPT, the AI which is prompting a lot of interest lately. ChatGPT responds to questions about anything with human like responses and an unlimited (or so it seems) access to all human knowledge. All we have to do now is give ChatGPT a human like avatar interface. Like the medical devices in StarTrek that have been realized in the sensors in Smartwatches and other modern medical devices, if we can dream it, we can do it. I love this video sequence. As I watch it, I remember that my interest in science fiction as a youngster sparked my interest in legal tech after I became a lawyer. ChatGPT can already be used to enhance a lawyer's decisions and legal research. I love this stuff.

 

It's Saturday - Do You Know Where Your Essential Files Are?

GoodSync. Lawyers keep a lot of client files and information on their computers these days, along with their own personal files and folders. I have documents I have created since the 1990s, along with financial, photographic, and other stuff that I can't afford to lose. While full disc backup is something we all should do regularly, I have discovered a way to keep all of my essential files backed up, and it only takes a few minutes a day. First, connect a USB external drive or USB stick or micro chip drive to your computer. Then, download a free copy of GoodSync. Then, select all of the files and folders you don't want to lose in a GoodSync project list. Identify the backup drive or stick, and click Analyze. The program will examine both drives, and copy all of the files, including new ones, to the backup. Then, it will sync the files whenever you run the software. Tomorrow? Repeat. Then, in the event of a catastrophic loss, just copy the files to the new computer. I also save my files to the cloud in Google Drive. Be careful out there. Your life is on that machine. It's Saturday - Do You Know Where Your Essential Files Are?

Legal Tech Evangelists - 2023

Legal Tech Evangelists - 2023. Okay, now I am fulfilled. It is a Stoic principle not to seek or bask in awards and such, and to go about our business without fear or favor; but, I am honored that Niki Black's curated list of legal tech influencers adds the FutureLawyer to the legal lights who have shepherded the legal profession into the world of technology. Of course, having done it for 40- years helps, if only because of length of time. But, I am proud of our accomplishments. Because of the adoption of technology, law practice is far more efficient, far more inclusive, and is available to millions who didn't have access before. There are risks, of course, and artificial intelligence can be misused; but, the future always contains risk. Thanks, Niki, for including me.