Futurelawyer

American Legal Blogger. Every LawBlog Worth Reading.

American Legal Blogger. What if I told you there was a website you could visit that highlighted and linked to every law blog in the United States? You cold probably find a scholarly discussion about any legal issue at one of these blogs. Of course, there are the outliers, like FutureLawyer, which is more of a blog by a lawyer than it is a law blog; although I do write a lot about technology being used in the practice of law. American Legal Blogger is a collaboration between the ABA Journal and LexBlog that brings together, in one place, the blogs, podcasts, and other insights and guidance generated by blogging lawyers across the US. It is a way to amplify legal voices within the legal community to share cutting-edge and otherwise significant issues, ideas, and materials while enabling lawyers to connect with people for good through their thought leadership. Kevin O'Keefe is the godfather of all legal blogging, and the aggregator of the best legal writing in the world. He introduced me to blogging in 2005, and I have thanked him many times for the impetus. Do you want to see what lawyers are doing and writing about? Check out this new collaboration.

The American Legal Blogger Launched By LexBlog And The American Bar Journal.

The American Legal Blogger. A curated collection of national legal blogs has been launched by Kevin O'Keefe and the ABA Journal. O'Keefe's LexBlog is the world's largest law blog aggregator, and the match is made in heaven. If you want to know about anything connected with the practice of law in the U.S., subscribe to the American Legal Blogger. The best legal minds in the world are collected and highlighted here, and the dean of law bloggers himself, Kevin O'Keefe is at the tip of the spear. Thanks again, Kevin, for moving the needle of law in the right direction. 

The FutureLawyer Is Also On Substack.

Rick's Newsletter. Since I have readers who have different preferences for getting news and commentary, I have tried to publish FutureLawyer in different places, so that you can pick your poison, and still keep up with my meanderings. I am gratified by the response to the work, which I agree reflects my tendency to think and write about many different things. If you are looking for a traditional law blog, about legal technology and legal issues, you can still find it here; but I tend to write about whatever strikes me as interesting, and you will find poetry, humor, cartoons, and all sorts of material. At Substack, you can find me as "Rick's Newsletter". The secret to a happy life is the ability to choose, the freedom to choose, and to be able to pick your personal poison.

 

What Do The Three Bears Have In Common With Chrome Extensions?

Extensions are software programs built on web technologies (such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript) that enable users to customize the Chrome browsing experience. We are all familiar with the fairy tale, in which Goldilocks meets the three bears, Baby, Mama and Papa. I have compared the story in the past to the bears, in that there are computers for every taste. Small, medium and large. In the same sense, browser extensions each serve a particular purpose, and each user is able to customize their browser to meet their needs. However, striking a balance between too many extensions, and not enough to meet every day needs, can be challenging. I often find that I will install an extension, use it once, and then find, over time, that it sits unused, consuming valuable computer resources. So, I clean out the closet, and start all over again. I have reached a pretty good balance recently, and am down to six basic extensions: AIPRM Plus, which is a query creator for Chat GPT, AdBlock Plus, which limits intrusive ads from websites, Capital One and Honey shopping extensions, which find the lowest prices on items I am looking to buy, and Volume Master, which allows me to regulate the volume of sound from different sources on the Internet, as I browse. Your choices depend on your own needs; but, in all cases, make sure you don't overload the browser with many extensions that use a lot of memory, and can slow down and clog your system. Now, check your extensions, and get on about the day.

 

Law Firm Cybersecurity - It's Job One.

Legal Fuel - Guide To Law Firm Cybersecurity. Legal Fuel is a great free resource for Florida lawyers, and lawyers everywhere. This free download is a great guide to keeping law firm data secure in the cloud environment where we all live these days. ALPS Insurance provides the guide, which includes just about every cybersecurity risk modern lawyers face. From Vishing to Phising to Password security, to Public WiFi, to Two Factor Authentication, to Ransomware, this is an essential guide to essential knowledge that every lawyer today needs to stay functioning. Print it, read it, and read it again. Forewarned is forearmed. 

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.

Kevin O'Keefe Explains Generative AI.

Okay children, I have been talking about ChatGPT a lot lately, "generative AI" for the computer scientists among you. Okay, none of us are computer scientists; but this description of generative AI by my mentor, Kevin O'Keefe, is a clear and concise as you will find. You need to understand this stuff. This truly is the next great advance in computer technology, and its reverberations will be felt until every one of us is dead, and long after. We are on the cusp of an era of truly intelligent machines, which promises to change the way we work, the way we live our lives, and the way we describe our futures. Learn this stuff. Use it. Play with it. It is fundamental.

 

ChatGPT-4 Knows Who I Am.

I asked ChatGPT 4 who I am. This is the reply:

"Rick Georges is an attorney, legal technology expert, and writer based in Florida, USA. He has been practicing law for over 50 years and has extensive experience in civil litigation and appellate law. Georges is also known as the "FutureLawyer" and is a prolific legal blogger, writer, and speaker who focuses on the intersection of law and technology.

Georges has been recognized as one of the ABA Journal's "Web 100" and one of the "50 Most Influential Legal Bloggers" by LexBlog. He is a pioneer in legal technology, having been an early adopter of electronic case management systems and other digital tools for legal professionals.

Through his blog, FutureLawyer, Georges shares his insights and knowledge on legal technology, digital tools, and other emerging trends that are changing the legal profession. He is also a frequent speaker at legal conferences and events, where he shares his expertise on topics such as e-discovery, cybersecurity, and cloud computing in the legal industry."

Maybe legacy isn't a pipe dream after all? Not.

A New Blog By Kevin O'Keefe - AI In Publishing.

AIInPublishing. Kevin O'Keefe, the Godfather of blogging, has a new blog about the use of generative AI in blogging and other professions that deserves attention. Kevin introduced the FutureLawyer to blogging in 2005, and has been a leading light in technology for many years. He has recognized, along with the rest of us who have been around a long time, that ChatGPT from Open AI, and its competitors, including the heavyweights, such as Microsoft and Google and Amazon, that this will be a sea change in the way humans interact with computers and the Internet. In his words:

"AI is a tool, no different than a PC marking the advance from typewriters, which marked the advance from pen and a paper. Perhaps just a more uncomfortable advance."

But, oh, what a tool it is, and will become. The human like responses from a computer interface will change the way we interact with computers; and already is. I have added a step to my computer research in many areas. I am able to judge the responses; just as I would a very smart human colleague. I can amplify, direct, seek additional facts, make corrections, and otherwise act as an author/editor, before I put my final touches on a blog post, or article, or pleading, or list of questions or issues. Publishers of all kinds will find their work enhanced by these very intelligent computer assistants. In future decades, this advance will be looked upon as a natural successor to the beginnings of the creation of an alphabet. I plan to follow Kevin's blog. Will you?

It May Be Time To Revisit Microsoft Bing, With Open AI Added.

Make Microsoft Bing And Edge Your CoPilot For The Web. I have been enjoying playing with Open AI's chatbot, Chat GPT, and have already speculated about its possible replacement of many drafting tasks for professionals like lawyers. Now, Microsoft has done a very smart thing, and has integrated ChatGPT into its browser, Edge, and search engine, Bing. Google and Chrome have announced a similar project, Bard; but, they are late to the party. I am going to check out Edge and Bing, and see whether it is time to replace Chrome. Anyone else thinking of doing this? Whichever you choose, we are on the cusp of a new day for knowledge professionals. Lawyers, are you paying attention?