Technology for a Successful Law Practice

Solo and Small Firm ConferenceNew Jersey State Bar Association

May 16, 2012

About UsSteven Ferman

President, Compunite Computers, Inc., Pine Brook NJNJSBA Affinity Partner

William Mack, Esq.Solo Practitioner-Business Law, Energy Law, Real EstateVice-Chair, Solo and Small Firm Section

Carol L. Schlein, Esq.President, Law Office Systems, Inc., Montclair NJMember of Lawtopia LLC (national consulting firm)

What are you using?Desktop or Laptop

Desktop- in-office practice, better ergonomicsLaptop- mobile and travel-heavy practice

Tablets, Pads & Mobile DevicesGreat for consumption but poor creation devicesGood communication toolEmerging and changing quickly

How are you connecting? On premises, firm owned

traditional remote accessCloud Applications (SaaS)

hosted applications onlyPrivate Cloud

you own and managePublic Cloud

you share space Hybrid Cloud

mixture of above

How are you using it?EmailWord ProcessingDocument AssemblyTimekeeping & BillingPractice ManagementPractice Specific App’s

AccountingClient Portal (Extranet)Other

Digital DictationSpeech RecognitionVideo Collaboration

What are you running on it?Office productivity suite

Server-based: MS Office, Open OfficeCloud-based: Office 365, Google Apps

Practice ManagementServer-based: Time Matters, Amicus Attorney, Pro LawCloud-based: Advologix, Clio, Firm Manager, GoMatters

Billing and AccountingQuickBooks, Timeslips, Tabs3, PC Law, Billing Matters

What are you running on it?Substantive Apps

Real estate, family law, workers’ comp…Document managementDigital meeting appsSkypeBackupSocial apps

Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+

Where are you working?As a subtenant In shared spaceBona Fide Office Rule

RPC 1:21-1(a)Home office

Where is your data stored?

Can others access it?Who else knows your

passwords?

Security & ConfidentialityPhysical Location of your DataOwnership of DataVenue and JurisdictionDisaster RecoveryData BreachTrade Secret and Privilege ProtectionThird Party Access to DataRPC 1.6 and RPC 5.3 are relevant rules

Fit Technology to Your PracticeSolo or small firm?One office or more (or less!)?In-office or out-of-office practice?Real or Virtual assistant? No assistant?Lots of travel or little travel?Paperless? Paper lite? Paper heavy?Federal court? State court? No court?Tech-savvy or tech-phobic?Bookkeeper? Accountant?How are you creating awareness? (social media?)

Does your technology do this?If properly selected, deployed and used, it can…

Improve efficiencyMaintain client communicationManage information to support effective workflowReduce time-to-execute and promote execution from

anywhere/anytimeDistribute critical information automaticallyReduce overheadAllow for scalabilitySecure your firm’s dataSecure your clients’ confidential information

Wrap-upStudy your practice and its need for technologyExpect to invest money AND time getting the right tech

and making sure your colleagues can/will use itReview and adjust

New stuff comes along all the timeUpgradesChanges in practice

WHAT are you using? HOW are you using it? WHY?Rinse and repeat