Archive for the ‘ABA’Category
Take a Bow Jobst (and Roe)
04
04 2012
3.. 2.. 1.. TechShow!
I’ve been in virtual stealth mode since last year’s ABA TechShow, but it’s time to take the wraps off and get jiggy with legal technology again. So I spent yesterday in pre-show meetings with vendors, fellow attendees, speakers, and the short-list of industry insiders I go to for insight; and they didn’t disappoint. Over the next 2 days TechShow 2012 is going to highlight some real strides in areas like
- affordable e-discovery
- document management
- workflow management
- iOS and Android “apps”
- SaaS as a new platform
Today I’ll be on the show floor and in presentations so I don’t expect to report back until Friday or the weekend, Until then, here are a few heads-up points to look for in my coverage:
APIs Everywhere: Clio, MyCase, and RocketMatter want to buddy up with your favorite web services to create a one-stop practice destination. So far Clio is leading the pack, having made deals with DirectLaw (virtual law office), Chrometa (automated timekeeping), and Zencash (invoice and receivables management). There is no doubt that this week’s flurry of announcements is merely the tip of the iceberg. Things are going to heat up fast in this competition, so watch this space for updates.
Forecast Cloudy: In 2008 Clio introduced an all-in-one practice management vehicle just as “the Cloud” became a buzzword. The system became a hit, but the truth is it’s still a mere shadow of the desktop applications it sought to replace. Why? Because the Cloud is not an integrated environment like the office network. In reality it’s a jumble of isolated web-based applications that don’t talk to one another or interact in a meaningful way. But that will change this year as common office functions and software products take to the Cloud, continue falling in price, and start fitting together into unified environments. The results should show up directly in your bottom line via lower costs, better time-capture, and better tracking.
More, Better, Cheaper: Small firms and sole practitioners seldom get what they want. But this year could be the tipping point. Where we once had to put up with one SaaS, e-discovery, document management, or legal research vendor, today other companies are coming into existence all the time; and thanks to lower barriers to entry, more funding in the legal technology space, and proven demand, these new competitors often represent the latest technology, are Cloud-based, offer subscription pricing, and employ the all important freemium to reach small firms and solo’s.
Workflow Rules! I reviewed ActionStep in this post. Now the company is poised to shake things up at TechShow It’s flagship SaaS application handles law office management, document creation, calendaring, contacts, billing, etc. But instead of being matter-centric, the system is workflow-centric. That means its puts goals and tasks ahead of information for its own sake. In light of the sheer volume of data assailing lawyers already, a Get-Things-Done (GTD) approach like that just seems like a no-brainer.
That’s it for now. See you all on the other side of TechShow 2012. And if you’re already there, find me or give me a shout at @practicehacker. I’ll be at the show all day today, culminating with the Clio Meet Up at Sushi Samba in Chicago’s trendy Near North neighborhood.
29
03 2012
IgniteLaw 2012 Agenda and Speakers
If you plan to attend the 2012 ABA Technology Show (a/k/a TechShow 2012) March 29-31 then you owe it to yourself to attend IgniteLaw! on Wednesday March 27 – the night before the Big Show. As I pointed out last year Ignite, the TED of legal thought, is the brainchild of Matt Homann of the [non] billable hour and is sponsored by InsideLegal. This year’s speakers represent a veritable Who’s Who of legal heavy hitters. Take a look at the roster below, read through their submissions, grab a drink, and get your ass down to IngiteLaw.
- Mark Britton: Back to the Future
- Richard Granat Legal Industry Startups: An Overview
- Roe Frazer: Being a Web 2.0 Lawyer in the “Thank You Economy”
- Will Hornsby: Ignite This! Five Ethics Rules That Should Be Incinerated
- Ruth Carter: Flash Mob Law
- Jason E. Dyer: Where Canasta and Counsel Collide
- Eric Hunter: Moving Towards 100% Web
- Jay Shepherd: One Word That Will Reinvent How You Serve Clients
- Rachel Rodgers: Down with the Law Firm Template!
- Matt Spiegel: Don’t Just Communicate …
- James F. Ring: Ending Cheap Talk in Legal Bargaining
- Steve Best: Passion
23
03 2012
What it really means to be a new grad
19
09 2011
Don’t piss on my leg and tell me it’s raining.
As Kevin Spacey noted, speaking as Kaiser Soze in The Usual Suspects, “the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.” Couldn’t agree more. 2 years ago the ABA Journal rolled out its Legal Rebels Project in an effort to convince lawyers that the American Bar Association was more than an aging, superfluous institution or a lapdog to the AmLaw 100. The first Legal Rebels chosen in 2009 included
- a lawyer-turned-consultant (I guess those who can’t do, teach)
- a lawyer-mommy, who blogged about food and recipes too!, and
- a coffee-shop owner dispensing Espresso with advice on the side.
In fairness, that initial list of 50 honorees also included people who really had contributed to the national dialogue about the profession by blogging, starting an innovative company, or finding a better way to do things. But they were too few and far between to give the project credibility in my eyes. As far as I could see, the ABA was still trying to curry favor with BigLaw partners and associates by featuring bite-sized, cutesy profiles of lawyers doing their own breezy thing. Wee!
So how has the project fared in 2011? Let’s just say that the Journal has returned to what it does best – sucking up to BigLaw – by focusing on the unsung heroes trying to change the system from within: BigLaw rebels. Which makes total sense, because real change only comes from people who bill 3000 hours a year and are driven by an insatiable urge to make partner. Way to go ABA Journal. It takes guts to swallow what BigLaw is dishing out, then ask for seconds… but you pulled it off.
Look, just watch the Staff of the ABA Journal descirbe the Legal Rebels Project in their own words and feel the rebellion welling up in your throat. I certainly did.
