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Sean M. Ditzel, Esq. Attorney, Kessler & Solomiany, Family Law
YLD Representative, Family Law Section Executive Committee Chair, Technology and Social Media Sub-Committee
RECENT UPDATES IN TECHNOLOGY
FOR FAMILY LAW PRACTITIONERS
* Now with bonus hot tip regarding General Petraeus scandal*
GOALS OF MOST LAWYERS
BE PRODUCTIVE
BE EFFICIENT
ADOVOCATE EFFECTIVELY
CAPTURE & COLLECT FOR EACH MINUTE WORKED
WHAT CAN WE DO TO BETTER ACHIEVE OUR GOALS?
Keep up with changes in technology! Sounds easy, but it’s not. Technology changes very rapidly. Our job as advocates (and business people) is to respond to that change accordingly.
Be ahead of your clientele!!!!
What if you walk into a mediation, and your client, the other party, the other lawyer and the mediator all put their new iPads on the table, and you plop down your 1998 Palm Pilot?
If you charge a few hundred
dollars per hour, shouldn’t you
be as up to date as your client?
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO STAY AHEAD OF THE CURVE?
Be aware of the tools that are available to you!
In this presentation, we will discuss several new technologies (and their outdated counterparts.)
But this presentation is only the tip of the iceberg.
And the iceberg changes almost daily!!!
OUTLINE FOR TODAY I. SMART DEVICES
II. CLOUD TECHNOLOGY
III. USEFUL “APPS” AND SOFTWARE
IV. HOT TIPS FROM PETRAEUS SCANDAL
PART I: SMART DEVICES
THEN: TELEPHONES/CELL PHONES
Still useful on a daily basis, but: Clunky Older LAN line phones require one hand on the phone, limiting ability to multi-task.
Older cell phones are limited mainly to verbal communication.
NOW: SMART PHONES
If you do not have a Smart Phone already, you are falling behind—quickly! Connect to internet/Cloud anywhere in the world. Respond to client’s email in real time. Bluetooth compatible—hands free. Search case law on the go. Thousands of useful apps (we’ll cover several later).
iPhone Blackberry Android
THEN: DESKTOPS AND LAPTOPS
Obviously still have use to the practicing lawyer. Bulky, cumbersome. Limited area of use. Static software.
NOW: iPads and Other Tablets
Connect to internet/Cloud anywhere in the world. Respond to client’s email in real time. Video conferencing available on most.
Full functionality that most laptops have. *Security checkpoints!
PART II: CLOUD FILE STORAGE
THEN: FILING CABINETS/STACKS OF PAPER
Bulky/cumbersome
Takes up much space in office
Not environmentally friendly
Time consuming (copy doc, pull file, place back in cabinet)
NOW: CLOUD TECHNOLOGY/PAPERLESS FIRM
File storage and accessibility via the internet, stored in mass secure servers.
No longer need dedicated server in your office.
Access your files worldwide on your PC, Tablet or Smart Phone!
Scan documents and save them to “the Cloud” and you have a completely paperless office!
Edit and share documents with your co-workers and clients instantly.
EXAMPLES OF CLOUD SERVICES
• MICROSOFT OFFICE LIVE/SHAREPOINT
• GOOGLE DRIVE
• DROPBOX
• iCLOUD
EX: MICROSOFT SHAREPOINT APP
PART III: OTHER USEFUL “APPS” AND
SOFTWARE
RESEARCH APPS • LEXIS APP
– Free with a Lexis account
– Allows all features from website on your phone
• FASTCASE
– Free, intuitive and nationwide searching
ONLINE/APP-BASED BILLING
• Bill4Time.com – Web-based billing program
– No More software crashes
– No more tying up your entire system
– Extremely intuitive and easy to use
• Bill4Time Mobile – Bill on-the-go from anywhere
– Helps capture billable time you’d otherwise forget
BILL4TIME MOBILE SCREENSHOTS
“THE SQUARE” COLLECTION SOFTWARE
• Instant payment via credit card through your mobile device.
• You may have seen The Square at some of your local coffee shops, delis or outdoor markets.
• Lawyers can and should make use of this technology too.
• No more waiting for check to clear.
• Client can never tell you they forget the check at home, The Square takes debit too.
“A SQUARE”
“THE SQUARE”
DICTATION SOFTWARE • Many smartphones and tablets
have built-in voice recognition for dictation purposes.
• If not, there are Apps (Dragon
Dictation) which can be downloaded for free.
• Dictation of emails or documents to
your phone can save time (and your paralegal!)
• The software has come a long way since the early incantations, but it is vital you check for spelling and grammar.
EXAMPLE OF DICTATATION FROM IPHONE
SLIDESHARK
• Allows you to access and present PowerPoint presentations from your tablet device.
• The upgraded version allows you to edit as well. • Of course, Microsoft sells the PowerPoint app as
well. • LIVE DEMO!
PART IV: HOT TIPS LEARNED FROM GEN.
PETRAEUS SCANDAL
HOT TIPS
• EVEN THE MOST SMART/CAREFUL CAN GET CAUGHT
• IMPORTANCE OF EMAIL “DRAFTS” FOLDER – Include in subpoenas and notices to produce
– Make sure P.I. and client look here *
• FROM SD: – Check chat history in social gaming apps (Words with
Friends)
– Look for dummy text programs such as Text Plus
Holiday Gift Ideas:
• You could get your loved one – a computer – a new TV – a radio – a camera – a video camera – a gaming console – a navigation device – a pocket translator – a dictation machine – a mobile bank – a calculator – a compass
• OR, JUST GET THEM A SMART DEVICE
Sean M. Ditzel, Esq. Atlanta, Georgia [email protected] www.ksfamilylaw.com
Thank you for your time!
