March 16, 2022 – After two years of virtual meetings, it was a welcomed relief to gather in person and hear from industry experts on trends impacting the legal profession.
The pandemic caused many attorneys to adopt cloud-based technologies, but there is still much room to improve in terms of data security and integrating fewer systems to manage practices.
Here are a few tips from the
ABA TECHSHOW, where lawyers learn the latest on technologies that help with law practice.
A Return to Normal
The phrase has been used countless times during the pandemic, but for the first time it felt true when attorneys, practitioners, legal technology companies, and friends gathered together for the first in-person TECHSHOW in two years.
Christopher C. Shattuck, Univ. of La Verne College of Law 2009, M.B.A. U.W.-Oshkosh 2015, is manager of Practice411™, the State Bar’s law practice assistance program. If you have questions about the business aspects of your practice, call (800) 957-4670 or visit practicehelp@wisbar.org.
For some, it was the first time they were able to gather together to meet each other face-to-face for work or get to know their clients on a personal level.
Although there were reduced opportunities for networking, fewer vendors in the exhibit hall, and a lighter schedule of educational sessions, as legal technology journalist Robert Ambrogi wrote
on his blog, “it was better because we understand what we’d been missing.”
If you have been missing in-person networking opportunities or are looking to expand your personal connections outside of your residence, consider attending one of the upcoming events sponsored by the State Bar of Wisconsin, such as the 2022
Annual Meeting & Conference in June.
60 Tips in 60 Minutes
Always a fan favorite, the
“60 in 60” features practice management tools, legal technology apps, and non-legal combinations of the two that are useful and entertaining outside of the office. The
full list of tips house some of my favorites, including:
Miro – An online space to work collaboratively on a whiteboard.
Birdie – Utilizes artificial intelligence to analyze public data to generate reports that help companies better understand what their consumers want.
Teleprompter Mirror – Use teleprompting software on your devices to assist in virtual presentations.
The
LawPay booth at ABA TECHSHOW. With LawPay, you can easily accept credit cards, debit cards, and eCheck payments from your clients anytime, anywhere. It is offered as a State Bar member discount program.
Quasi Case Management Systems
I often see that many attorneys and law firm organizations are still hesitant to embrace an
all-in-one case management system to manage their billing, document automation, communications, document storage and other client management features, and are instead opting to manage their client matters through
Google or
Microsoft workspaces.
While using Google or Microsoft workspaces may be useful for organizations looking to initially embrace working in the cloud, the workspaces in their current states are not the most efficient ways to manage practices.
The main concern with using Google or Microsoft workspaces is that they do not have built-in systems for billing, advanced task management, or traditional reports for quickly reviewing key performance indicators. As a result, firms will typically need to input the same information into two or three other systems.
In addition to the
inefficiencies of using three or more different systems to manage client files, more cloud-based systems means there are more potential client data sources
that you have to protect in the cloud. The greater the number of tasks that are required to complete a given action, it statistically and inevitably leads to a greater potential for mistakes.
Data Security
Attorneys continue to be the increased targets of
trust account scams and
ransomware attacks. Many law firms and solo practitioners do not think their firms are large enough to be targets of attacks. However, many of the common scams and ransomware attacks indiscriminately target large and small operations by casting a wide net to see which people will fall victim to the scam or click on the links. No firm is too large or too small to be a target.
In order to prevent or successfully recover from targeted attacks, it is important for law firms to
conduct self-assessments and
proactively test their systems. Attorneys are also encouraged to review their
current insurance coverages to confirm or ensure that sufficient coverages are in place.
Do not assume that you have the proper coverages, systems, or backups in place to thwart scams targeting your trust accounts or client data. Test your systems and staff, talk with your insurance providers, and review your procedures on at least an annual basis.
The ABA TECHSHOW, typically held each March in Chicago, helps lawyers get the latest on technologies that assist with law practice.
Conclusion: Ask Questions, Advance Your Practice
As we emerge from the isolation of the pandemic, now is the best time to shift from spending your days running from completing one critically important task after another, to proactively planning improvements in your practice.
If you would like to learn more,
Practice411 can discuss your current software and practice management strategies, and provide confidential recommendations for upgrading or improving your practice. To schedule a complimentary consultation, reach Practice411 at (800) 957-4670.
Reconnect With Friends and Colleagues: Attend the In Person Annual Meeting & Conference
Connect – Join hundreds of Wisconsin lawyers and legal professionals in one place, at one time. Visit with your colleagues in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere away from the interruptions of the typical workday.
Learn – Stay nimble in the constantly evolving legal industry with outstanding educational sessions covering topics for every practice area and experience level.
Relax – Make it a summer to remember at this magnificent resort. Savor the scenery, have fun with family, and recharge by drawing from the energy and excitement of the Conference’s special events.
To learn more information about the speakers, networking opportunities, CLE credits, and lodging, visit the
AMC website. To register
visit the WisBar.org Marketplace.
