The deadline for the January issue of the Legal Technology Insider newsletter (UK & EMEA edition) is this Friday - 20th January.
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Wednesday, January 18
Deadine alert - this Friday
by
Charles Christian
on Wed 18 Jan 2012 10:56 GMT
Tuesday, January 17
King & Gowdy move to Bighand DDS and smartphones
by
Charles Christian
on Tue 17 Jan 2012 10:31 GMT
King & Gowdy Solicitors has upgraded to BigHand digital dictation workflow technology and smartphone apps. Replacing the firm’s incumbent standalone dictation system and analogue tapes with BigHand software has enabled King & Gowdy to increase productivity, substantially reduce support costs and improve document turnaround times.
King & Gowdy partner Edith Gowdy said "Before upgrading to BigHand, partners and fee earners used a combination of standalone and analogue dictation equipment. Support direct from BigHand offers us far greater value and using the software on our smartphones reduces hardware costs, making the price very competitive. "The main issue with standalone systems is that the device needs to be docked for dictations to reach the assistant for transcription. This made it difficult for secretaries to prioritise their work; the backlog of dictations could jump from single to triple digits in a morning! With BigHand fee earners can submit dictations to secretaries instantly from any location, so secretaries have a more manageable flow of dictations to work through. "BigHand for BlackBerry and iPhone has improved our fee earners’ mobile productivity. They can now record and submit a dictation whilst waiting at a station, at court or from home, and it’s transcribed by the time they are next in the office. The ability to attach documents to dictations, rather than emailing them separately, saves even more time. BigHand has completely revolutionised how work is done in our office, improving productivity for both partners and secretaries. It is also incredibly intuitive to use which is an added bonus." Comment: Will law firms still be buying discrete digital dictation hardware by the end of this year or will they be opting for smartphones? Monday, January 16
Naughty, Naughty consultants & vendors
by
Charles Christian
on Mon 16 Jan 2012 16:25 GMT
It is not big, it is not clever, you are just naughty boys who need to put your money where your mouthes are...
Earlier today we sent out an emailing offering a special offer to subscribers for the LawTech Futures event – the message quite clearly said the details were in the attached PDF. This states that is a special offer for law firms etc however this hasn't stopped All the World & His Uncle Consultants & Vendors trying to scrounge free tickets. Why can't they have free tickets? Because it is unfair on the vendors who are sponsoring the event or paid for stand space. So, if you are a consultant or a vendor who wants to come to the event, you can come but you have to pay the commercial rate. This, incidentally, is also exactly the same policy as all major legal conferences operate. We'll be re-emailing the invitation but here are those terms you have been studiously ignoring... Conditions of Invitation & Acceptance: · This invitation is offered to subscribers of the Legal Technology Insider without cost - Typical value £490 + VAT · Should you not be able to attend this event, this invitation is transferable to other full time members/employees of your Firm, Chambers’ or Corporate Legal Department · All guests must be directly employed with your Firm, Chambers’ or Corporate Legal Department · This invitation is not to be offered or transferred to consultants, vendors or suppliers · This invitation cannot be re-sold, redeemed or exchanged for cash or credit · All acceptances must be registered via the online ‘Delegate Registration’ page at www.lawtechfutures.com · All acceptances must register LTisub100 within the ‘Invitation/Discount Code’ area within the online registration form at time of registration, or the typical value may be charged · Netlaw Media reserves the right to cancel any invitation at its discretion & without explanation · Netlaw Media reserves the right to cancel all invitations when this event reaches full capacity – subscribers of the Legal Technology Insider are urged to register quickly as this event will sell out. · Only registrations made via the on-line delegate registration page will be accepted, under no circumstances will entry be offered at the door. Friday, January 13
Something for the weekend: time for Gamification ?
by
Charles Christian
on Fri 13 Jan 2012 13:06 GMT
So, it's that time of the year: Friday 13th, the trains are running late, it feels a long time since Christmas and all you have to remind you of those happier times are a pile of credit card bills. Time for something new? Maybe a new job? Or what about some new word games...
• Word's up: Deloitte's are predicting that Gamification will be one of the Top 10 Tech Trends of 2012 more and more businesses are using it to positively charge their marketing, advertising, training, and customer relationships. Non-the-wiser? Basically 'gamification' means adding an interactive games element to a business process – apparently McDonalds are whizzes at this. One lawyer (who shall remain nameless) suggests it could have a role in law firms... • Play your Cards Right (setting a fee rate) • Give Us A Clue (know your client) • Partners Win Prizes (they get more money) • Trainees Win Prizes (they get a job offer) • Endurance (from Japanese TV - trainees are forced to undertake a series of humiliating tasks, the winner gets a job offer - which means they can continue undertaking a series of humiliating tasks for the next 15 years when they might get promoted to partner)
Interesting compliance seminar in Leeds next week
by
Charles Christian
on Fri 13 Jan 2012 11:01 GMT
During 2012 all legal practices will have to have a designated officer for legal practice (COLP) as well as a compliance officer for finance & administration (COFA). As the burden of monitoring and enforcing compliance increases firms need to devise systems and processes to support their Compliance Officer to effectively and efficiently monitor their practices.
In order to do this Linetime have released their Outcome Focused Regulations & Lexcel v5 module. This module is available as part of the Liberate practice management and case management systems and supports: • Managing policy and office procedure documentation • Case overview, featuring the file review checklists & monitoring areas of compliance ie money laundering, conflict check, risk status, key dates • Client care documentation (Charging structures, Client Objectives, Agreed next stages, Terms & Conditions, Equality & diversity monitors) • Monitor progress (Quick access to view all files and their current compliance status, File review checklist and risk monitor, High risk - automatic notification to risk officer, Risk register, Complaints register and manager, Personnel Management) If you would like to see a demonstration of the new Linetime software they are holding a CPD accredited breakfast seminar in conjunction with LBSLEGAL on Thursday 19th January 2012 at the Carrwood Business Park, Selby Road, Leeds LS15 4LG. 3 hours CPD accredited - £45 + vat per delegate. For more information and to reserve your place call Kathryn Holmes at Linetime Limited now on 0113 250 0020 or email kathrynh@linetime.co.uk Thursday, January 12
Guest article: Another article about comparison !
by
Charles Christian
on Thu 12 Jan 2012 12:58 GMT
by Kim Walton*
Just when you thought the Word comparison debate was finally over, here is something else to consider; this time from a law firm looking at how law firms do comparison now and whether Word 2010 is a game-changer? For law firms, there is one fundamental question: What do you want to do with your comparison document? Do you want it: • as a track changes document to improve efficiency when collaborating on documents with other parties; or • in a traditional redline format that presents some changes in an easier to understand way (eg table structure changes), but that you shouldn’t use as an editable document? The answer depends on the contents of the document and the purpose of the comparison but, usually, track changes comparisons should meet your needs. If you aren’t yet convinced of the efficiency benefits when using track changes, check out Sherry Kappel's excellent presentation** for the New York Word Legal Users Group (in particular slide 18 and 19). If I send my first draft to another firm for their comments, would I prefer the amended document to be: 1 a track changes document where I can efficiently accept, reject and change the other firm's amendments; or 2 a traditional redline mark up document showing the changes made to the document, with a clean revised document that I can amend further? Surprisingly, my preference would be 2. Why? Not because I don't like the efficiency of track changes, or because of concerns over native Word comparison accuracy. It's because I want to recreate the track changes compare document using my original document and the clean revised version. So if I wanted a track changes document, why wouldn't I just use the one supplied by the other firm? The problem is that most third party comparison products now have an option to save their mark-up document in a Word track changes format. The quality of these documents is variable and one vendor has stated, with good reason, that its track changes documents are not suitable for further amendment. This is because its track changes document often contains serious numbering corruption issues and because the compare process replaces automated features with manual text. When I receive a track changes document, I have no idea how the sender created it, and therefore whether it is safe to use or not. Even if it is "safe" there is still a risk the sender has selected choices in a third party product that have stripped out some of my document formatting (eg automatic cross-references or table of contents). We have warned our lawyers and secretaries to watch out for track changes documents where the numbering is broken. In these cases, or where there is doubt, we are asking the sender to provide a clean copy of the amended document. To avoid the problems described above, I create my own comparisons using my preferred choice of comparison software. And if I want to produce a track changes document most suitable for further editing, the best choice is to use the native Word comparison engine. Instead of third party vendors explaining the limitations in using native Word comparison, perhaps they could tell us about the deficiencies or dangers of their comparison products when producing track changes documents? * Kim Walton is the Professional Services Development Manager at SNR Denton UK LLP. She is also on the organising committee of the UK Document Excellence Group. ** http://nywlug.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/ny-wlug_collaboration-collision-10272011.ppsx Wednesday, January 11
Update... 64 days to go & LawTech Futures crosses the chasm
by
Charles Christian
on Wed 11 Jan 2012 14:33 GMT
Still 64 days to go until the LawTech Futures event opens its doors on 15th March in London and the show has already crossed the chasm to becoming the event for the UK large law firms. With it's latest exhibitor signing – IRIS Legal – LawTech Futures becomes the first UK legal event to feature exhibition stands and sponsorship by all the market's top tier practice management systems suppliers (Aderant, Elite, IRIS, LexisNexis and Tata/SAP) since 2006.
Comment: Looks like this could be one of those turning points when we see a clear successor event move into the market, just as happened to the old Solex exhibitions at the Barbican.
Social media interfaces - a first look at Peppermint's platform
by
Charles Christian
on Wed 11 Jan 2012 11:34 GMT
Here on the Orange Rag, we're firm believers that social media-type interfaces are the future for a lot of legal technology applications – both inward facing and client-facing. Peppermint Technology say they will be the first* practice and case management supplier to deliver social connectivity as standard, from its upcoming Legal Service Platform (LSP). Here's the first picture of the interface (and there is a larger version of this image attached)...
 Peppermint say "The Legal Service Platform, built on Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011, will see the first wave of social innovation in the Q1 2012 release. The functionality will be available within the LSP as standard. The release will enable Activity Feeds in the LSP via a Facebook type user interface. Activity Feeds simplify business insight and collaboration across internal communities and can be posted manually by users or triggered by pre-defined events, in the matter or client records." Peppermint CEO, Arlene Adams adds "This is a breakthrough in the way businesses communicate and collaborate. The technology is now commonplace for social interactions and we are we are proud to be leading the way in bringing this innovation to the legal services community. It will enable firms to manage their client relationships in a way that is simply not possible with traditional practice and case management systems. It will give them the insight and reach to communicate effectively with prospective clients and help win new business." * After yesterday's posting on Eclipse's claim to be the first vendor with an ABS system, we thought readers would like this claim of another 'first'.  1 AttachmentsTuesday, January 10
New case study: Withy King on Egress Switch secure data exchange
by
Charles Christian
on Tue 10 Jan 2012 14:09 GMT
Interesting case study here from Egress Software – this one features Withy King – on the use of the company's Switch secure data exchange system. We understand a number of other firms have now also ordered this system but we can't name any names yet.
1 Attachments
Eclipse launch first ABS-specific case management systems
by
Charles Christian
on Tue 10 Jan 2012 12:42 GMT
Eclipse Legal Systems has launched the UK market's first ABS-specific case management systems. The announcement comes as the SRA is processing applications from organisations all vying to be among the first to announce official ABS (alternative business structure) status – it is widely expected we will see the first tranche of live ABSs in the first quarter of this year. Eclipse Legal Systems has made available two new Proclaim Case Management Software systems, taking into account the unique requirements of ABS organisations.
1) Proclaim ABS Suitable for ABS organisations providing a wide range of consumer-based legal services, Proclaim ABS combines core Proclaim Case Management functionality with a choice of pre-prepared (and user-configurable) workflows. Initial workflows available include conveyancing, personal injury claims, employment claims, matrimonial (family) disputes, probate and financial misselling. Firms have the option to include any combination of these matter types within one fully integrated Case Management solution, providing centralised and instant access to client data across all service areas. 2) Proclaim ABS PI Designed specifically for organisations operating within the personal injury (PI) sector, Proclaim ABS PI integrates initial claim handling, personal injury litigation and links to medical reporting agencies in one centralised solution. The personal injury sector is expected to see heavy ABS involvement, as existing claims management, personal injury and medical reporting firms join forces and consolidate as single entities to avoid falling foul of proposed referral fee bans. Russell Thomson, Chief Business Executive at Eclipse, comments on the new products "The introduction of Alternative Business Structures brings a huge level of opportunity for both existing law firms and new market entrants. Our experience with a wide range of organisations in law, insurance and consumer services (including many forthcoming ABS entrants) has shown that these organisations demand software solutions specific to their needs. They will not make do with legacy legal management systems, nor will they wish to waste time with long and fruitless implementations of vanilla and toolkit systems. Our new Proclaim ABS and Proclaim ABS PI systems break the mould as far as legal services software is concerned, providing the perfect fit for firms that need fast implementation of a 100% integrated, firm-wide case management solution." |
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