10K Law Office

Low Cost Office Low Cost Office Technology EssentialsTechnology Essentials

Low Cost Office Low Cost Office Technology EssentialsTechnology Essentials

Tom O’Connor: [email protected] Bayer: [email protected]

Tom O’Connor: [email protected] Bayer: [email protected]

Louisiana Bar AssociationSolo and Small Firm ConferenceNew Orleans May 9, 2008

ESSENTIAL BOOKS

●●“How to Start and Build a Law Practice” by Jay Foonberg

●“Flying Solo” – Bill Gibson

●“2008 Solo & Small Firm Legal Technology Guide” –Nelson, Simek & Maschke

●“The Business of Law” by Edward Poll

●Visit www.lawpractice.org for ordering information

http://www.lawpractice.org/

THE $10,000 LAW OFFICE:4 Users

▸ Computers ▸ Windows Small Business Server

▸ Scanner▸ Network Printer

▸ Gigabit Switch ▸ Firewall

▸ Backup System ▸ Electrical Protection Systems▸ Practice Management and Accounting

Server

● Choose over Workstation● 2GB to 4GB Ram● Redundant Systems● Raid 5 Configuration● Affordable● Harder to Setup● Must have Warranty

Server: $2000

Small Business Server

● Microsoft Exchange● Microsoft SharePoint● Automatic Patching (WSUS● Fax Server● SQL 2005 (Premium Edition)● Backup Solution● Outlook 2003 to all Users● Monitoring Reports● Access to Workstation And Data

Remotely● Cheaper then Server 2003

WIFI NETWORKING

● Configurations

▸ The most common type is now the faster 802.11g - many laptops come with it already

▸ 802.11n (now called “Pre-N”) is the system to buy when it becomes formally available

▸Causes problems running client server applications

● Cost▸WAP - $10 to $750▸WiFi PC Access - $5 to $100▸Wireless Print Servers - $50 to 300

DESKTOP PC

● Speed● RAM● Sound● Monitors● DVD-ROM● Hard Drive● Operating System● Must have Warranty● Price● Brand

Dell OptiPlex: $1061

LASERJET PRINTERS

●Type ●RAM●Speed●Networkable●Multiple Trays●Brand / Model●Color●Price●Paperless Office

LaserJet 1720DN: $339

Scanner

●Type ●Speed●Software●OCR Considerations●Brand●Model Suggestions●Price

ScanSnap: $339

Firewall / Router

●VPN●Monitoring●Port Forwarding●Antivirus / Spyware●No Home Brands like DLink or Linksys

Watchguard: $390

Switch

●Gigabit●No Daisy Chains●Cat 5 or 6●Most Critical Piece of Hardware

Gigabyte Switch: $109

USB Hard Drive

●Tape vs USB●Easy to Restore●Rugged●Used with Small Business Server●Test Restore

(2) Lacie 160GB: $250

HANDHELD DEVICES

●BlackBerry●Smartphones (Palm)●Smartphones (Windows Mobile)●iPhone (Apple)

●Considerations ▸BlackBerry syncs with Outlook and to check more than e-mail,

you need the BlackBerry Enterprise Server software and Exchange Server!

▸Palm Smartphones - 100% Palm devices - maximum sync ability with legal apps - real-time email with software like VersaMail

▸Windows MobileSmartphones sync with Outlook and Microsoft apps primarily – Easiest to setup and has Push SynchronizationBEWARE BLUETOOTH SECURITY

●Pricing: Anywhere from $200 to $600 depending on the cell service provider and available rebates

OTHER COMPONENTS

● Monitors

● Electrical Protection Systems

● Ergonomics

Backup UPS: $220

The $10,000 LAW OFFICE: SOFTWARE

▸ Word Processing▸ Adobe Acrobat or other PDF writer

▸ Billing/accounting software▸ Case management system▸ Document management system▸ E-mail software▸ Internet access for research▸ Data backup, security and antivirus software

BUNDLED SOFTWARE

Microsoft Office Basic – Outlook, Excel, and Word, Adobe Standard (docx v doc)

Adobe Acrobat 8 Standard Edition

Upgrade to pro for Bates numbering Dell effectively includes it free with Office

on Latitude and Optiplex systems

Corel WordPerfect X3 Suite Less costly to buy OEM version separately

with any new PC systems

BILLING & ACCOUNTING SYSTEMS

● Most packages are becoming integrated.

● Timeslips requires you to also have an accounting package like Quickbooks or Peachtree

● PCLaw, Tabs 3, Juris, and Billing Matters have billing and accounting functions.

● Legal specific accounting software makes it hard to commit malpractice

PCLaw: $1630

CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

● Combines ▸ calendaring/docketing

▸ tickler functions

▸ case information tracking,

▸ address book functionality

▸ conflict of interest searching,

▸ document assembly capabilities

▸ Palm and laptop portability

● Turn wasted time looking for case info and documents into billable time

● Avoid malpractice

● Look at Amicus Attorney, TimeMatters, PracticeMaster, PCLaw and ProLaw

● Don’t Practice Law Without One!PCLaw: $1630

DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

● Opened Ended vs. Close Ended

● SharePoint is a DMS

● Most Practice Management Software include an Open Ended DMS

PCLaw: $1630

Dictation

● Dragon Natural Speaking ▸ Has a legal edition ($1200)

▸ Get Preferred ($199) or Pro ($899)

● Vista has Dictation Software Built into it.

● Tips▸ Must Train Software▸ Use a Quality USB Headset▸ Learning Curve

PCLaw: $1630

WINDOWS XP or VISTA?

=

=

Windows XP Pro is the safe choice

Windows Vista still has some incompatibility issues – June is the last month you can purchase XP

LEGAL RESEARCH

● Get it online!

▸ Dump the CD-ROMs

▸ Discontinue books

● There is no single “best” legal research service

▸ Combine Lexis, Westlaw, LOIS and the Internet

▸ Look at the best small firm packages negotiated by your State or County

Bar

● Resources

▸ LLRX.com

▸ “Fact Finding On The Internet”

ANTI-VIRUS

● Trend Micro Client Server Messaging▸www.trendmicro.com▸Includes anti-virus, anti-spam, anti-spyware▸Available in small office and “Corporate” editions

● ZoneAlarm: www.zonealaram.com

● Norton Anti-Virus www.symantec.com Buy corporate not Internet Security

● McAfee VirusScan: www.mcafee.com

● CA eTrust and Trend PC-Cillin: www.ca.com

www.trendmicro.com

TrendMicro: $330

PRICING

Leverage Web-based PC component pricing engines and save a fortune!

Membership Discounts ABA, ATLA , ALA or

other legal association member

Prices change daily

TRAINING

Top Training Tips

TASK-ORIENTED not FEATURE-ORIENTED

NO GENERIC TRAINING

PROFESSIONAL TRAINERS

TRAIN OFTEN, TRAIN GENTLY

MAKE TRAINING MANDATORY

LIVE IS ALWAYS BETTER, BUT IF NOT TRAIN ONLINE

THE TRAINER’S PHYSICAL LOCATION IS IRRELEVANT

Fifty or fewer employees. In business in the state for at least three years,

contributing and in full compliance with state UI tax laws. Training costs cannot exceed $3,000 per trainee per state

fiscal year (July 1 - June 30). http://www.laworks.net/WorkforceDev/IWTP/

IWTP_Overview.asp

Fifty or fewer employees. In business in the state for at least three years,

contributing and in full compliance with state UI tax laws. Training costs cannot exceed $3,000 per trainee per state

fiscal year (July 1 - June 30). http://www.laworks.net/WorkforceDev/IWTP/

IWTP_Overview.asp

FREE TRAININGFREE TRAINING

Microsoft Small Business Server $2000 PC’s: $1000 each Multi Function Printer $350 Scanner $400 Router $350 1GB switch $150 USB hard drives $250 each Backup s‘ware $200 PCLaw $1600 Adobe Word Processing s’ware Trend Micro Anti Virus $300 Watchguard Firebox $300 $9000

Training

Microsoft Small Business Server $2000 PC’s: $1000 each Multi Function Printer $350 Scanner $400 Router $350 1GB switch $150 USB hard drives $250 each Backup s‘ware $200 PCLaw $1600 Adobe Word Processing s’ware Trend Micro Anti Virus $300 Watchguard Firebox $300 $9000

Training

ONE CONFIGURATIONONE CONFIGURATION

Thank You For Listening! Thank You For Listening!

Gulf Coast Technology Centerwww.gulfltc.org

Tom O’Conner ([email protected])Craig Bayer ([email protected])

Gulf Coast Technology Centerwww.gulfltc.org

Tom O’Conner ([email protected])Craig Bayer ([email protected])