Computers are Tool-rific™

By Ron Schwartz, © 2002
Presentation on October 24, 2000, rev. December 2002

 Computers are Tool-rific™:  Applications of Technology to Your Law Practice
     
     I.   Getting Started

               A.   Save Your Work, and Save It Often

               B.   What hardware do you need?

                         1.   "Wintel" or Apple?

                         2.   Which chip?
                                   a.   Intel
                                             (1)  Pentium IV
                                             (2)  Pentium III
                                             (3)  Celeron

                                   b.   Other chips such as AMD

                         3.   Which Operating System?
                                   a.   Windows XP Professional (essential for most office networks)
                                   b.   Windows XP Home Edition
                                   c.   Windows 2000 Professional
                                   d.   Windows ME  [not for us (as professionals)]      
                                   c.   Windows 98 (second edition)

                         4.   Memory: Is much more than 256 MB better? 

                         5.   Clock speed MHz

                         6.   Desktop(s) v. Laptop
                              a.   Desktops are less expensive
                              b.   Laptops (Notebook Computers) with large screens can function
                                   as desktops

                         7.   Portable Applications
                              a.  Laptop 4 to 9 lbs
                              b.  PDAs w/ graffiti writing or attachable keyboards
                              c.  Sharp OZ-700 (Sharp Wizard) series
                                  (1) 9.5 oz.; 6.4"(W) x 3.2"(L) x .9"(H); 2 AA batteries
                                  (2) Can dock with all P.C.s (P.C. serial link)
                                  (3) Touch type w/ included keyboard on flat surfaces
                                      (a) Prepare memos, correspondence & outlines for download
                                          to office or home computer 
                                      (b) Searchable databases
                                  (4) Calendar/Schedule can be synchronized to included Daytimer software
                                      or to Outlook
                                  (5) Telephone and Address fields
                              d.  I've been using the Sharp Wizard since December 1999
                              e.  For about $100, it's a great buy.

C. File Storage and back up of files

1. CD-RW drives are not only for downloading and burning music!
One CD-RW holds all my client work product for past four years

2. Hard drives (at least 10 GB)

D. Avoid Buying Computers packaged with lengthy ISP (internet service provider)
contracts

E. What software do you need to purchase?

1. Word processing (maybe bundled with computer)
a. Word Perfect or
b. Word?

2. Timekeeping
a. Example: Timeslips

3. Accounting
a. Example: Quicken or Quickbooks

4. Litigation Support Software
a. Example: Summation

5. Spreadsheet
a. Excel

F. Accessing the internet

II. Putting your computer to work

A. Word Processing

1. Prepare notes from telephone screening of potential clients

2. Work product (letters, pleadings, briefs, etc.)

3. Learn to use the "redline"/compare feature of your word processor

4. Scanning documents, such as written discovery, first

5. Consider Speech Recognition products, especially if you are a poor
typist.

a. Dragon Dictate
b. Via Voice

B. E-Mail: A Blessing and a Curse
1. Communicating with clients
2. Communicating with opposing attorneys

C. Fax Capabilities

D. Legal Research

E. Practicing in the Federal Courts in Chicago

1. Practicing in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of
Illinois

a. RACER
(1) Docket information and more (no longer free but
worth it)
(2) Snoop on defendants
(3) Snoop on opposing attorneys
(4) Assist in phone screening of cases already in
progress
b. Procedures followed by each Judge and Magistrate Judge
c. Local and Federal Rules
d. E-mailing Courtroom Deputies a/k/a Minute Clerks

2. Seventh Circuit

a. Recent opinions
b. Docket information
c. Rules

F. Exchange information with other attorneys
1. NELANet
2. ATLA
3. ABA newsgroups

G. Meeting in Real Time
1. Instant Messenger
2. Video Conferencing

H. Computer software tricks
1. Find or Search function
a. Netscape or Microsoft Explorer: Tool Bar at top of
screen; click on Edit; click on Find ...

b. Navigate through long text documents

c. Use web pages more efficiently
(1) RACER example

2. "Cutting and Pasting," the "Clipboard" function

a. Copy
b. Cut, and
c. Paste

3. Right Clicking the mouse

a. Cutting and pasting made easier
b. Other handy features

4. Think twice before paying for new software updates

5. Use Lexis and WESTLAW CD-ROM proprietary software
to connect to internet

6. When the going gets rough ... reboot; "system resources"
or temporarily corrupted files may be the
problem

I. Build and/or Maintain your own web site

1. Make sure it is professional and accurate
2. Make sure your web site is found by potential clients
3. Utilize inherent flexibility of web site; learn the basics of HTML

III. Internet Resources

A. Annotations of Recent Employment Cases
1. Garland's Digest http://www.garlands-digest.com/default.htm
2. Ross Runkel's http://www.LawMemo.Com/emp/default.htm
3. Law.com (employment) http://www.law.com/professionals/emplaw.html

B. Directories
1. AT&T Any Who http://www.anywho.com/
2. Switchboard http://www.switchboard.com/

C. Government listings including courts

1. FirstGov http://www.firstgov.gov/
2. Northern Dist. of Illinois http://www.ilnd.uscourts.gov/
3. R.A.C.E.R. www.ilnd.uscourts.gov/PUBLIC/Dkt_Info/docket_sheets.htm
4. Federal Judiciary Homepage http://www.uscourts.gov/links.html
5. THOMAS (Library of Congress) http://thomas.loc.gov/
6. SEC EDGAR database http://www.sec.gov/edgarhp.htm
7. Maricopa Co., Recorder's Office
http://recorder.maricopa.gov/recorder/imaging/
8. Ill. Dept. of Prof. Reg. license info. http://www.dpr.state.il.us/

D. Desktop Bookmarks good resource even though geared to Executives
1. CEO Express http://www.ceoexpress.com/
2. Lawyer Express http://www.lawyerexpress.com/

E. On-Line Legal Research

1. LexisNexis http://lexis.com/ (and dial-in)
2. Westlaw http://westlaw.com/ (and dial-in)
3. VersusLaw http://versuslaw.com/

F. Business databases Hoovers Online http://www.hoovers.com/

G. Newspapers

IV. Results of October 2000 Survey (19 responses):

1) Do you have a computer in your personal office?
_18__ yes _1__ no

2) Do you use e-mail to communicate with clients?
__17_ yes _2__ no

3) Do you use e-mail to communicate with opposing attorneys?
_12__ yes _6__ no

4) Do you use the internet regularly in your law practice?
_15__ yes _2__ no

5) Do you use the N.D. of Illinois Web site?
_16__ yes _0__ no

6) What is your most favorite way to use a computer in your law practice?

"Communicating and exchanging drafts with co-counsel,
especially when they are in other states."

Exchanging drafts of pretrial orders and settlement agreements with opposing counsel

Communication with clients

Efficiency

Ability to work at home

Internal network communication memos

Internet broadcasts

Spreadsheets for damages and other calculations

Word processing and e-mail

Scanning interrogatories for response

Court web sites

Research defendants and expert witnesses

Legal Research

LoisLaw and Nela.org

7) What do you hate the most about using a computer?

Technical problems and breakdowns (many responses like this!)

No one to ask when there is a problem

Computer is slow

Long boot times

Maintenance and updating costs

Searching through large PDF databases

Lack of time to learn more about computers

Free research sites are not organized well

Spelling and grammar problems make searches difficult

Programs that are inflexible

Computers are impersonal

"They are idiot savants, with their own strange
and unknowable personality glitches."