1 / 28

Technology Barriers for Small Firms

Technology Barriers for Small Firms. Louisiana Bar Association. Alexandria Feb. 13, 2008. Tom O’Connor: toconnor@legal-edocs.org Craig Bayer: cbayer@lawot.com. ESSENTIAL BOOKS. ●● “How to Start and Build a Law Practice” by Jay Foonberg ● “Flying Solo” - ABA Contributors

RexAlvis
Download Presentation

Technology Barriers for Small Firms

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Technology Barriers for Small Firms Louisiana Bar Association Alexandria Feb. 13, 2008 Tom O’Connor: toconnor@legal-edocs.org Craig Bayer: cbayer@lawot.com

  2. ESSENTIAL BOOKS ●●“How to Start and Build a Law Practice” by Jay Foonberg ●“Flying Solo” - ABA Contributors ●“How to Get and Keep Good Clients” by Jay Foonberg ●“The Business of Law” by Edward Poll ●Visit www.lawpractice.org for ordering information

  3. THE $10,000 LAW OFFICE: 4 Users ▸Computers ▸ Windows Small Business Server ▸ Scanner ▸ Network Printer ▸ Gigabit Switch ▸Firewall ▸ Backup System ▸ Electrical Protection Systems ▸ Practice Management and Accounting

  4. Server ● Choose over Workstation ● 2GB to 4GB Ram ● Redundant Systems ● Raid 5 Configuration ● Affordable ● Harder to Setup ● Must have Warranty Server: $2000

  5. Small Business Server ● Microsoft Exchange ● Microsoft SharePoint ● Automatic Patching (WSUS ● Fax Server ● SQL 2005 (Premium Edition) ● Backup Solution ● Outlook 2003 to all Users ● Monitoring Reports ● Access to Workstation And Data Remotely ● Cheaper then Server 2003

  6. WIFI NETWORKING ●Configurations ▸The most common type is now the faster 802.11g - many laptops come with it already ▸802.11n (now called “Pre-N”) is the system to buy when it becomes formally available ▸Causes problems running client server applications ●Cost ▸WAP - $10 to $750 ▸WiFi PC Access - $5 to $100 ▸Wireless Print Servers - $50 to 300

  7. DESKTOP PC ● Speed ● RAM ● Sound ● Monitors ● DVD-ROM ● Hard Drive ● Operating System ● Must have Warranty ● Price ● Brand Dell OptiPlex: $1061

  8. LASERJET PRINTERS • Type • RAM • Speed • Networkable • Multiple Trays • Brand / Model • Color • Price • Paperless Office LaserJet 1720DN: $339

  9. Scanner • Type • Speed • Software • OCR Considerations • Brand • Model Suggestions • Price ScanSnap: $339

  10. Firewall / Router • VPN • Monitoring • Port Forwarding • Antivirus / Spyware • No Home Brands like DLink or Linksys Watchguard: $390

  11. Switch • Gigabit • No Daisy Chains • Cat 5 or 6 • Most Critical Piece of Hardware Gigabyte Switch: $109

  12. USB Hard Drive • Tape vs USB • Easy to Restore • Rugged • Used with Small Business Server • Test Restore (2) Lacie 160GB: $250

  13. HANDHELD DEVICES • BlackBerry • Smartphones (Palm) • Smartphones (Windows Mobile) • iPhone (Apple) • Considerations • BlackBerry syncs with Outlook and to check more than e-mail, you need the BlackBerry Enterprise Server software and Exchange Server! • Palm Smartphones - 100% Palm devices - maximum sync ability with legal apps - real-time email with software like VersaMail • Windows MobileSmartphones sync with Outlook and Microsoft apps primarily – Easiest to setup and has Push Synchronization BEWARE BLUETOOTH SECURITY • Pricing: Anywhere from $200 to $600 depending on the cell service provider and available rebates

  14. OTHER COMPONENTS ● Monitors ● Electrical Protection Systems ● Ergonomics Backup UPS: $220

  15. The $10,000 LAW OFFICE: SOFTWARE ▸ Word Processing ▸ Adobe Acrobat or other PDF writer ▸ Billing/accounting software ▸ Case management system ▸ Document management system ▸ E-mail software ▸ Internet access for research ▸ Data backup, security and anti- virus software

  16. BUNDLED SOFTWARE • Microsoft Office Basic – Outlook, Excel, and Word, Adobe Standard (docx v doc) • Adobe Acrobat 8 Standard Edition • Upgrade to pro for Bates numbering • Dell effectively includes it free with Office on Latitude and Optiplex systems • Corel WordPerfect X3 Suite • Less costly to buy OEM version separately with any new PC systems

  17. BILLING & ACCOUNTING SYSTEMS ● Most packages are becoming integrated. ● Timeslips requires you to also have an accounting package like Quickbooks or Peachtree ● PCLaw, Tabs 3, Juris, and Billing Matters have billing and accounting functions. ● Legal specific accounting software makes it hard to commit malpractice PCLaw: $1630

  18. CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS ● Combines ▸calendaring/docketing ▸tickler functions ▸case information tracking, ▸address book functionality ▸conflict of interest searching, ▸document assembly capabilities ▸Palm and laptop portability ● Turn wasted time looking for case info and documents into billable time ● Avoid malpractice ● Look at Amicus Attorney, TimeMatters, PracticeMaster, PCLaw and ProLaw ● Don’t Practice Law Without One! PCLaw: $1630

  19. DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS ● Opened Ended vs. Close Ended ● SharePoint is a DMS ● Most Practice Management Software include an Open Ended DMS PCLaw: $1630

  20. Dictation ● Dragon Natural Speaking ▸Has a legal edition ($1200) ▸Get Preferred ($199) or Pro ($899) ● Vista has Dictation Software Built into it. ● Tips ▸Must Train Software ▸Use a Quality USB Headset ▸Learning Curve PCLaw: $1630

  21. WINDOWS XP or VISTA? = Windows Vista still has some incompatibility issues – hold off until late 2007, early 2008 Windows XP Pro is the safe choice and likely to be available through 2007 and well into 2008 =

  22. LEGAL RESEARCH ● Get it online! ▸Dump the CD-ROMs ▸Discontinue books ● There is no single “best” legal research service ▸ Combine Lexis, Westlaw, LOIS and the Internet ▸ Look at the best small firm packages negotiated by your State or County Bar ●Resources ▸ LLRX.com ▸ “Fact Finding On The Internet”

  23. ANTI-VIRUS ● Trend Micro Client Server Messaging ▸www.trendmicro.com ▸Includes anti-virus, anti-spam, anti-spyware ▸Available in small office and “Corporate” editions ● ZoneAlarm: www.zonealaram.com ● Norton Anti-Virus www.symantec.com Buy corporate not Internet Security ● McAfee VirusScan: www.mcafee.com ● CA eTrust and Trend PC-Cillin: www.ca.com www.trendmicro.com TrendMicro: $330

  24. PRICING • Leverage Web-based PC component pricing engines and save a fortune! • Membership Discounts • ABA, ATLA , ALA or other legal association member • Prices change daily

  25. TRAINING • Top Training Tips • TASK-ORIENTED not FEATURE-ORIENTED • NO GENERIC TRAINING • PROFESSIONAL TRAINERS • TRAIN OFTEN, TRAIN GENTLY • MAKE TRAINING MANDATORY • LIVE IS ALWAYS BETTER, BUT IF NOT TRAIN ONLINE • THE TRAINER’S PHYSICAL LOCATION IS IRRELEVANT

  26. FREE TRAINING • Fifty or fewer employees. • In business in the state for at least three years, contributing and in full compliance with state UI tax laws. • Training costs cannot exceed $3,000 per trainee per state fiscal year (July 1 - June 30). • http://www.laworks.net/WorkforceDev/IWTP/IWTP_Overview.asp

  27. ONE CONFIGURATION • Microsoft Small Business Server $2000 • PC’s: $1000 each • Multi Function Printer $350 • Scanner $400 • Router $350 • 1GB switch $150 • USB hard drives $250 each • Backup s‘ware $200 • PCLaw $1600 • Adobe • Word Processing s’ware • Trend Micro Anti Virus $300 • Watchguard Firebox $300 • $9000 • Training

  28. Thank You For Listening! Gulf Coast Technology Center www.gulfltc.org Tom O’Conner (toconnor@legal-edocs.org) Craig Bayer (Cbayer@lawot.com)

More Related