This document discusses choosing legal technology for a law office. It covers selecting the right hardware like laptops, tablets, printers and peripherals. It also discusses using cloud storage versus on-site storage and the security considerations of each. The document reviews choosing document handling, email and creation software like Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Office 365 and when to upgrade technology. It provides tips on setting up technology on a budget and recommends the best upgrades for increased productivity.
5. About our presenter
Jeffrey M. Bennion, Esq
‣ Education Chair for the State Bar
of California Section on Law
Practice Management and
Technology
‣ Legal Tech Columnist at Above
the Law
‣ Practicing Trial Attorney
‣ Trial Technology Consultant
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6. Choosing the Right Hardware
How to choose the right computer
• Laptop or desktop?
• How mobile do you need to be?
• How powerful do you need to be?
• How many screens do you need?
• How to choose the right tablet
• App selection
• Power
• Be realistic in what you will use it for6
7. Choosing the Right Hardware
How to choose the peripherals
• Printers/copy machines – Color? Requirements? Multifunction?
• Desktop scanners – Advantages. Features and limitations.
• Projector
• Pico Projectors – great for mediations, settlement conferences, etc.
• Full projectors – great for trials. Look for at least 3000 lumens,
resolution
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8. Choosing the Right Hardware
How to choose the peripherals
• Fax machine?
• Alternatives to fax
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9. Poll-Should Lawyers Use the Cloud
Do you know your state bar’s opinion on using the cloud?
Yes or no?
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10. Poll - Should Lawyers Use the Cloud
Do you know the requirements that your state bar places
on lawyers using the cloud?
Yes or no?
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11. Poll - Should Lawyers Use the Cloud
What does it mean to use “reasonable care” in selecting a
cloud service provider?
1. Ensure that data is stored within the jurisdiction of the
United States
2. Conduct periodic audits of storage provider’s policies for
data loss
3. Use a password and two-factor authentication to secure
files
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12. Should Lawyers Use the Cloud
https://www.americanbar.org/groups/departments_offices/le
gal_technology_resources/resources/charts_fyis/cloud-
ethics-chart.html
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13. Choosing the Right Hardware
How to choose the right storage solutions
• Using the cloud – is it allowable for attorneys?
• Should you use the cloud?
• Benefits of using the cloud and benefits of onsite
storage
• Drawbacks of using the cloud and drawbacks of
onsite storage
• Onsite storage options – NAS/Servers
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14. A Word on Cybersecurity
How to protect yourself if you are using the cloud
• Two-factor authentication
• Don’t use overly complicated passwords
• If you have saved passwords, secure your
computers
• Secure your phones and the cloud apps within
your phones
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15. A Word on Cybersecurity
How to protect yourself if you are using on-site storage
• Create a guest wi-fi
• Beware of LAN outlets in your conference rooms
• Be aware of remote or wi-fi access by former employees
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16. Choosing the Right Software
Document handling
• Adobe Acrobat – The key to going paperless. Bates stamp, OCR,
annotate scanned documents.
• How to index documents in Acrobat
• How to edit text in Acrobat
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17. Choosing the Right Software
Document handling
• How to add digital signatures in Acrobat
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18. Choosing the Right Software
Document e-mail protocols
• Custom e-mail (with your domain) vs. gmail/aol/yahoo/netscape
• Exchange vs. Pop
• Synced e-mail means everywhere access of all of your e-mails, not
just those sent from that device.
• Cost and setup of an exchange account
• Exchange calendar and tasks
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19. Poll - Custom E-mail Domains
Do you believe that using an @aol e-mail address for work gives a
negative impression to potential clients?
Yes or no?
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20. Custom E-mail Domains
Do you believe that using an @aol e-mail address for work gives a
negative impression to potential clients?
https://www.google.com/search?q=using+aol+email+for+business&
ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8
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21. Choosing the Right Software
Document creation
• Office 365 vs. Office desktop version
• Office 365 vs. Google Apps – real time co-authoring
• Word vs. WordPerfect
• Mobile versions of document creation apps
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22. Choosing the Right Software
Digital note taking
• OneNote and Evernote
• Taking notes with a digital stylus
• Syncing with Outlook
• Organizing your notes
• Collaboration with others
• Using your notes in deposition or in trial
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23. How Often You Should Upgrade
• The drawbacks to upgrades
• Should you upgrade right away? Operating systems? Software?
• What do you need to do before you upgrade?
• The benefits of upgrading early
• Why you need to upgrade your hardware
• How often you need to upgrade your hardware
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24. Technology on a Budget
• Must haves:
• E-mail domain
• Laptop for around $400
• Adobe Acrobat ($15 a month)
• Office 365 ($8.25 a month)
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25. The Best Upgrades You Can Get
• Multiple monitors
• Desktop scanner
• Great tablet
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