Futurelawyer

MultCloud - So Many Cloud Drives...So Little Time

Multcloud. Am I the only one who is really tired and confused? No, I am not talking about the CoronaVirus; although, that does make me tired and confused. My Stoic training helps me avoid the consequences of CoronaVirus fatigue. I am talking about trying to remember which cloud drive has which file or image that I need at the moment. Microsoft has OneDrive. Google has Google Drive. Everybody has Dropbox, or whatever other cloud service you are using. What to do? Well, I have discovered a cool app called MultCloud. Free for 30 gigabytes per month, and on sale now for $7.99 a month for 150 gigabytes of transfers a month. You just connect it to all of your cloud drives, and then you can transfer files, sync the files, or just get access to all the files in one cloud location. Call it a cloud for the cloud. I am using it to transfer years worth of documents and files from my personal Google Drive to my new GSuites drive. Fun, fun, fun. You have time. Organize your files.

#WFH - Working From Home - Get Over It

Working From Home. Ernie Svenson linked to this SmartBlogger article this morning, and it is a great resource for those who are just getting acclimated to the WFH new normal. Many of us have been doing this for a long time, at least part of the time, and there is some great advice out there for workers who never had to do it before. So, read the article and make your own choices. I agree with some of the advice, and disagree with other parts. Each of us must make our own choices. I think that wired Internet is a requirement, since it is always going to be faster and more stable than WiFi, no matter how strong the connection. I also believe that the home setup should be as close to the office setup as possible; including the use of the same brand and model printer, scanner and other peripherals as you are used to using at the office. That won't happen right away, of course, but should be the ultimate goal. Having a dedicated room with a door is also on my top ten list. You won't get much done at home if someone is always making noise or interrupting. If you live alone, this won't be a problem, unless you have pets. For instance, I have always had problems at work when the parrots start squawking in the afternoon. They can be heard several rooms away, and I have, more than once, had a phone call or video call interrupted by them. Of course, such interruptions can lend a speck of humanity to difficult interactions, so it isn't all bad. Even those of us who have had home working setups for a while need to change some things. I have always relied on my notebook cameras; but, now that it will become a larger part of my practice, I am investing in higher end videoconferencing equipment. Another thing I don't like is bulky headphones. If you have a silent room with a door, high end videoconferencing equipment means you can avoid a headset. I also have found that my bluetooth Bose Smartglasses work fine for teleconferencing, and nobody knows what sound I am listening to. I also part company with SmartBlogger when it comes to standing desks. If you are an over 70 lawyer, sitting down is more than desirable. It is a requirement. I could go on; but, I leave you to read the article yourself. Make your own choices. But, do something.

Take Up The Slack - Tighten Your Lawyer To Lawyer And Lawyer To Client Communications

Slack Law Firm Communications. Suddenly, secure online communications is all the rage. In a time of pandemic, law firms are scrambling to create methods of communicating securely with other lawyers, lawyers in their own firms, and clients. The first question about Slack, other than is it easy to use, is whether it is secure. Lawyers have a duty to guard the confidentiality of client information, so it is important at the outset. I am happy to report that it is as secure, or more secure, than traditional methods of communication. It calls to mind the early Nineties questions I got about email. Is it secure? You are sending data to remote servers. I used to answer that email is a lot more secure than sending confidential data on a piece of paper in a flimsy envelope through the mail. The test is "reasonable" security. Slack meets that test, and more. In fact, when two factor authentication is set up on a Slack account, it is pretty impregnable, at least as secure as you can get on the Internet. It is easy to set up private groups, and I am enjoying the Law Firm AutoPilot group hosted by my friend, Ernie Svenson, in New Orleans. Combined with video conferencing by Zoom, we are entering a new age of human interaction that doesn't rely on face to face human contact. It would be nice if we lived in a world where human to human contact was safe. But, at least for now, it isn't, and Slack and Zoom are my methods of choice. So, fellow lawyers, get with the program. If you need help, contact me or Ernie Svenson, and we will be happy to assist.

#WhyIAmASolo - I Can Get Things Done Without Typing

I have written before about the benefits of using Dragon Anywhere, a $15 a month app for my Android phones and tablets, that allows me to create typewritten text with my voice. I can create documents, pleadings, texts, emails and other stuff merely by speaking to my phone or tablet. The app is a great add on to Dragon, which operates while using my computer. I like to type, however, when I am at my desk at home or the office, having learned during a baseball less summer in high school. My mom made me do it, and it turns out to be one of the best summers of my life. Even though I was a "nerd", I was the only boy in typing class. But, I digress. Check out this video showing Dragon in use. About half way through the video, the actor uses her tablet in the car to dictate notes of a meeting she just had. No transcriptionist back at the office necessary. And, no per minute charges from some cloud service to type up notes. In these uncertain times, when we are all working pretty much alone, Dragon Anywhere is a must have for anyone who needs to get their thoughts down on paper. 

How To Practice Law During A Global Pandemic - Pick Up The Slack

It goes without saying that computers and the Internet are essential to the creation of the documents necessary to conduct a law practice during a time when we are all locked down, or required to stay in one place most of the time. I still see clients on a one to one basis at the office; but, groups of 10 or more are not a good idea. My ability to practice law from any location using technology and the Internet makes me very capable of serving my clients; but, as this video from Ernie Svenson for Small Firm Boot Camp shows, having the tools available to practice law over the Internet at home or at the solo office isn't a guarantee that you will get anything done. Distractions, screaming children, obnoxious pets, ringing doorbells, lack of focus, a big screen TV in the room, and many other things can short circuit the best laid plans. Focus on gathering the data you need right now. Focus on one job at a time. Create systems in your practice. You can do this.

 

#TBT - I Love It When My Devices Address Me Properly

Rick's Google Home  I trained my Google Home device to address me properly when I ask for information. Everybody needs one of these. (Click this link to play).

PalmPilot - Before There Were SmartPhones

In the early days of mobile tech, the PalmPilot was the go to device for on the go note taking, and calendar. Later, Palm introduced devices that could send and receive email. Even later, smartphones corralled all of these capabilities in a mobile phone small enough to carry around. This was my first mobile device. I actually used it in Court to set calendar dates. Everyone was impressed that I didn't need a paper calendar. What was in your pocket?

This Is Your Desk On The Internet

I love this image. Everything, and I mean everything, on this desk can now be found on a smartphone. You still need a printer; but, the image can be sent from the smartphone to the printer wirelessly. Some of the items, like scissors and tape, are obsolete, unless you have some last century fixation on paper. As more and more gadgets and functions transition to the Internet, this animation does a good job of explaining how Google has coopted things like address books, paper calendars, phone books, cameras, bulletin boards, and other things that used to clutter our work areas. Get over it. Join the revolution.

Delete Alexa Recordings By Voice? Is That A Good Thing Or A Bad Thing?

How to Delete Your Alexa Recordings by Voice. You can't tell Alexa not to remember everything you say after saying the Wake Phrase. Those recordings are kept by Amazon forever. As a lawyer, those recordings can be a gold mine of evidentiary information and admissions. But, criminals leave evidence too. What if they could delete their voices by merely saying "Alexa, delete everything"? There are always competing interests involved as technology advances. When Alexa voice recordings could only be deleted by hand, as now, only the user with the password and two factor authentication device could do it. Convenience has a consequence. We will have to live with those consequences. Be careful out there.

Talk To Your Google Home Like It Was A Three Year Old

You Can Now Just Yell %u201CStop%u201D at Your Google Home When a Timer or Alarm Ends %u2013 Droid Life. Ah, the good old days. When one of the rugrats was eating dirt, or pestering the dog, or beating on his sister, you could just yell "STOP!" and the offending behavior would cease. Well, at least for a few seconds, until the next time. But, unfortunately, our Google Home smartspeakers, while intelligently armed with the latest version of Google Assistant, aren't that smart, at all. When they are blaring a loud noisy epiphany at an inconvenient time, it is necessary to get their attention first. There is something so unsatisfying about saying: "Hey, Google! Stop!".

Well, Google has come to the rescue, and, in the future, will save us some syllables, and preserve our vocal chords. Thanks, Google, for acting like a 3 year old.