Futurelawyer

The Best Alternative PDF Software For Lawyers - Kofax Power PDF Advanced.

Kofax Power PDF Advanced. In today's email, Internet, and Efiling environment, aside from document creation, perhaps the most useful software for lawyers is software that creates, manipulates, stores, and distributes, PDF documents. Adobe invented PDF; but, there are many software programs that allow PDF creation and use. In fact, both Word and Wordperfect allow lawyers to create a PDF of any word processing file, at which point software like Adobe and Kofax Power PDF Advanced, can then be used to store and use the PDF files. I create all of my legal documents in WordPerfect, (I only use Word if I have to), and then publish them to PDF format for transmission via email, or filing with any County in Florida using the EFiling portal. For around $129, Kofax gives an unlimited lifetime license, and the world of PDF files is open to me. Kofax used to be Nuance; but, the software is still the same, and I use it multiple times a day. How are you using PDF files?

Google Assistant Is Lagging? Here's The Fix.

Google Assistant Remove Unused Devices. So, you broke the bank and bought an expensive new Android phone. But, when you call on Google Assistant for advice, there is a definite lag. Guess what? There is a reason. Over the years, you have enabled Assistant on many of your devices, and, even after you bought a new device, you failed to remove the link to the old phone or tablet. Google Assistant is great; but, it slows down when it has to look for a bunch of devices. The newest update to Google Android has a Setting in Google Assistant that allows you to remove all the old devices. Now, your phone will zoom back at you with no delays. OK Google. Let's get to work.

Google Is Bringing A Completely New User Interface To The Web.

Google is bringing a completely new interface to the web. Practicing law in the Googleverse has become my main driver during the day. I love how Google (GSuites) is bringing the ability to connect to all of its services from the GMail main page. Just click and run your law practice from the GMail webpage. I forward my website email to GMail, so I have everything in one place. I can follow tasks, calendar, Google Keep, Contacts, Zoom, Google Meet, and more. My GSuites subscription is only $12 a month, and gives more robust security to my Google apps. If you have an active litigation practice, you probably want a dedicated case management system; but, for my purposes, the Googleverse covers everything I need. One of the best things about GMail and its other apps is that everything is synced through every device, from phone to smartwatch to notebook computer and tablet computers. Google on.

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.

Rick's Newsletter - Law, Technology, Poetry, Computers, And Fun.

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.

 

SmartDraw - If You Can Dream It, You Can Draw It.

SmartDraw. Tables, Flow Charts, Diagrams, TimeLines, Templates, Forms, Trial Exhibits, and anything else, oh my! Modern computers with the right software, can create just about anything. We all know that Word and WordPerfect are powerful desktop publishing programs, with plenty of templates for everything from award certificates to calendars to office forms. But, SmartDraw goes a step further, and enables the most drawing challenged person to create professional looking diagrams, flowcharts, and anything else, and has hundreds of templates for just about anything you could ever need. For around $10 a month , a subscription gives access to online or desktop excellence in drawing creation. What do you want to draw today?

How To Sell Software Upgrades - Tip Number One.

We all get the emails. There is an upgrade to your software. Buy it and your software will continue to work. There is a new software vulnerability that this upgrade will fix. Some software companies provide such upgrades for free. The subscription model ensures that the company will get some of your money indefinitely. But, in this life, there are no coincidences, and you need to evaluate upgrades accordingly.  

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.

Do You Know Where Your Data Is?

Acronis True Image Is Where My Data Is. I am always preaching about data back up, because the digital space is invisible to us, and we keep our lives there. My question isn't completely rhetorical. I really do want to know where my essential data is, all the time, every time. Storage is key. I keep much of my data safe by storing it on Micro SDs, USB drives, and in the cloud. The more places it is stored, the better the likelihood I can find it in a catastrophe. One method I have used is to create a digital image of my drives on a regular basis. While I have recently been using the Windows based imaging app, it was failing on a regular basis, and I didn't trust it anymore. So, I spent $49.99 on an old faithful, Acronis True Image, now named Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office. I don't need the Anti Virus and Cyber Protection functions, since I have Malwarebytes for that; but, the imaging and other security tools are second to none. It keeps as running image of my drive on a 2 Terabyte USB external drive, and a backup image on my portable 2 Terabyte drive that I carry around. It works in the background, and, since I have it scheduled every night at 2 in the morning, I never have to follow it around. It never ceases to amaze me that otherwise intelligent people, who install security systems on their homes and offices, and fancy locks on their doors, don't do rudimentary things to protect their lifeblood data. No more preaching. I will just lead by example. If you don't follow, that is on you.