The Lawyer S Guide To Collaboration Tools And Technologies

This first-of-its-kind legal guide showcases how to use the latest Web-based and software technologies, such as Web 2.0, Google tools, Microsoft Office, and Acrobat, to work collaboratively and more efficiently on projects with colleagues, clients, co-counsel and even opposing counsel. The book provides a wealth of information useful to lawyers who are just beginning to try collaboration tools, as well as tips and techniques for those lawyers with intermediate and advanced collaboration experience.

Outlook is the most used application in Microsoft Office, but are you using it to your greatest advantage? The Lawyer's Guide to Microsoft Outlook 2007 is the only guide written specifically for lawyers to help you be more productive, more efficient and more successful. More than just email, Outlook is also a powerful task, contact, and scheduling manager that will improve your practice. From helping you log and track phone calls, meetings, and correspondence to archiving closed case material in one easy-to-store location, this book unlocks the secrets of underappreciated features that you will use every day. Written in plain language by a twenty-year veteran of law office technology and ABA member, you'll find: Tips and tricks to effectively transfer information between all components of the software; The eight new features in Outlook 2007 that lawyers will love; A tour of major product features and how laywers can best use them; Mistakes lawyers should avoid when using Outlook; What to do when you're away from the office.

What can practice management systems software do for a law practice? With the right system in place, a law firms and staff will have the ability to automatically route items, tasks, documents, and events to certain people based on their role in the case or matter, as well as manage deadlines, improve responsiveness to clients, reduce malpractice insurance rates, and boost overall productivity. The challenge is to find a program that best serves the needs of the firm.

This ground-breaking guide introduces lawyers and other professionals to a powerful class of software that supports core aspects of legal work. The author discusses how technologies like practice systems, work product retrieval, document assembly, and interactive checklists help people work smarter. If you are looking to work more effectively, this book provides a clear roadmap, with many concrete examples and thought-provoking ideas.