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Effective Use of Technology and Communication Tools in the Legal Services World. David Bonebrake , J.D. October 02, 2008. Who We Are. LSNTAP provides technology support to the poverty law community through trainings, direct support, and development coordination
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Effective Use of Technology and Communication Tools in the Legal Services World David Bonebrake, J.D. October 02, 2008
Who We Are • LSNTAP provides technology support to the poverty law community through trainings, direct support, and development coordination • Circuit riding support to statewide legal aid websites
For Today • Online Project Management Systems • Wikis • Law Blogs • RSS • Social Networking Sites
Online Project Management • Allows you to organize all aspects of your project using an online system, including deadlines, drafts, communications and more • Supplements other applications you already use. Many project management tools integrate with other programs, including email
Why use a PM Tool? Many poverty law staffers are involved with more than casework: • Courts on self-help initiatives • Working with social service agencies on outreach projects • Working with other offices on hotline development • Sitting on various state task forces • Working on staff or website committees • Attending statewide or regional conferences • Implementing some new procedure or technology...and more.
Project Management Tools • LSNTAP Case Study • Basecamp • Other Project Management Solutions • Microsoft SharePoint • Central Desktop • Google Sites
LSNTAP’s Experience • Fully virtual organization with employees spread across the US • Work on several large projects that require collaboration • Manage grants with substantial reporting requirements • Work closely with partners – vendors, consultants, and legal aid offices
Microsoft SharePoint Server • Document sharing • Can create wikis and other intranet sites • Integrates with Microsoft Project and rest of Office Suite; MS Project handles time tracking and project supervision functions • Software and licenses available on TechSoup
Central Desktop • Tool similar to Basecamp • Allows users to “check out” a document • http://www.centraldesktop.com/ • Pricing similar to Basecamp
Google Sites • Wiki-intranet • Project management • Traditional web content • Demos: http://www.google.com/sites/overview.html
Introduction: What is a Wiki? • A website • Is easily edited by multiple users • Provides a logical and highly navigable platform for storing and retrieving information • A cost-effective, paper-free tool
Wikis as Tool for Sharing Community Knowledge • Massachusetts Post Foreclosure Wiki • Georgia Legal Services Program Food Stamp Fraud Advocacy Wiki • Michigan Reentry Law Wiki http://reentry.mplp.org/reentry/index.php/Main_Page • FEMA Answers Wiki http://femaanswers.org/index.php/Main_Page • Elder Law https://mwiki.mplp.org/erc/index.php/Main_Page
Options for Wikis • Visit http://www.wikimatrix.org/ • You can pay for hosting or host it on your own server depending on the software • Which way should you go? Depends on: • Technical expertise and available technical support • Privacy controls your program needs
Popular Wiki Options Proprietary • Wikispaces • $5/mo for unlimited users/pages and 2 GB file storage • PB Wiki • Price negotiable;, depends on number of users typically 20% nonprofit discount Free For Nonprofits • Google Sites Free and Open Source • MediaWiki
What is RSS? • RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication • RSS allows websites to syndicate content to other websites and other applications such RSS feed readers, and web browsers
Different Uses of RSS • Stay updated on your field • Immerse yourself in a new area • Monitor what others are saying about your organization
RSS Readers • Web Based Readers • Google Reader • Bloglines • iGoogle • MyYahoo • Software Based RSS Readers • Feed Demon • Net News Wire • FeedReader • RSS-supporting Web Browsers • Internet Explorer 7 • Firefox
Subscribing to RSS Feeds • Look for the RSS logo: • Both Google Reader & MyYahoo have built-in feed searches
Social NetworkingWebsites and Legal Aid • With the growth of social networking websites more organizations are considering whether to have a presence in those networks. • More than half (55%) of all online American youths ages 12-17 use* online social networking sites, according to a new national survey of teenagers conducted by the Pew Internet & American Life Project. http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/198/report_display.asp • 20% of online adults have profiles.
Should Your Organization UseSocial Networking Sites? • Nonprofits have had mixed results using social networking sites for fundraising and outreach. • Tech Soup: http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/internet/page7935.cfm • A presence on online social networks may be useful depending on what your organization is trying to accomplish. • When a social networking presence might not work: • Your target audiences aren't using social networking tools • You don't have time to experiment with something that might not work.
Questions or Comments? • Thanks for attending! • Contact information: David Bonebrake david@lsntap.org