Work Flow:  As soon as an email is read, it is moved into a Folder with an a. in front of it.  Once an action has been taken, the email is then moved into either the Craig Bayer folder if it is personal or the Lawot folder if it is regarding work.

Create / Add to Ticket

When a client needs work done for us we create a ticket.  They should email support@lawot.com for this but if they happen to email me I move it into this folder.  My assistant watches the folder like a hawk and creates a ticket, assigns it to a consultant and moves the email to the Lawot Folder.

Workflow: Ticket is Created from the email immediately and then moved out of the folder.

Create Calendar

When some sends an email requesting an appointment I move it here.  Either my assistant or I will create a calendar event from the email by the end of the day.

Workflow: Calendar Event  is created from the email by the end of the business day and then moved out of the folder.

Create Contact

Anytime I receive an email that has a contact I need to create. 

Workflow: Contact  is created from the email by the end of the business week and then moved out of the folder.

Create KB

Law Office Technology uses an enterprise wiki called Brainkeeper for our knowledge base.  When I see an email that could be added to our knowledge base, like a best practices article I move it to this folder.

Workflow: Knowledge Base Article is created from the email by the end of business week and moved out of the folder.

Create To Do: Today, Week, Someday

Any email that needs a response is moved to one of following To Do folders.  If the email needs to responded to that day it is moved to Create To Do – 1.Today, if it needs a response by the end of the week, it is moved to Create To Do –2.Week.  If there is no deadline I  move it to Create To Do - 3.Someday.

Workflow: Today is responded to that Day, Week is responded to by the end of the business week and Someday has no time limit.  Once responded to the emails are moved to the Lawot folder.

Craig Bayer / Lawot

After the email has been processed, if it is personal, I move it to Craig Bayer and if it is business related it is moved to Lawot.

Facebook / Twitter

I have a rule created in Outlook that moves any notices from Facebook or Twitter to this folder.  I check it when I have time.

Remove the entire registry key (HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Word\Data)

This will be rebuilt when Word starts.

Only had to do this on my tablet, my Dell Laptop running Windows 7 had no problems with Word at all.

Word 2007, while a vast improvement over other versions, still can be difficult without the proper training to create and edit documents.  When creating documents in Word, most users keep the print layout view on the entire time.  The print layout view is great for showing what your final document will look like on paper, but not the best view for actually drafting documents. Outline View: Lets say you are creating a document that has a lot of number sections, paragraph headers and bullets.  For some reason Word is skipping between paragraph #6 and paragraph #7.  If you switch to the Outline View, it is usually very easy to spot your problem. Draft View: Documents in Word that are fifty pages or longer can be a real pain to edit.  The longer the document, the more memory and processor your computer will use to display it.  If you change the view to Draft, Word no longer displays headers, footers, and other features.  This means that computer needs a lot less memory to run the program and will speed it up. This tip is courtesy of Craig Bayer, Law Office Technology http://www.lawot.com/

So, its finally time to do it, we’re throwing a party and YOU are invited.

One of our missions is to celebrate product launches and that’s exactly what we’ll be doing. We’ll be celebrating the launch of Schedulist, an app being launched by Launch Pad member Chris Laibe, and Jodia, an app being launched by Carrollton Technology Partners.

• Who: Carrolton Technology Partners, Schedulist, and Launch Pad
• What: Launch Party and Grand Opening of Launch Pad 4th Floor Expansion
  
• When: Wednesday, Oct 7th – 6:00-8:00 pm
• Where: Launch Pad – 643 Magazine St. New Orleans
• Cost: FREE – Open to the public – RSVP below

Schedulist is the world’s first workforce scheduling program designed specifically to improve workforce retention.  The healthcare system in the US alone spends $60 Billion per year in turnover of the nursing staff with other industries facing similar costs. Schedulist’s patented algorithm and unique interactive tools make the facility “sticky”, enabling business leaders to address potential issues before they result in the departure of a key employee.

Jodia, a creole word meaning ‘Today’ is a web-based client management tool.  Covering far more than just time and billing, Jodia is a comprehensive way for small businesses and freelancers to manage their client relationships.  Jodia keeps track of important client-related files, notes, projects and integrates with major packages like Quickbooks and Peachtree for accounting.  Jodia also prints out and mails invoices to your clients for you in addition to e-mail options.  Jodia is the first product release for Carrollton Technology Partners.

Launch Pad opens its expansion to the 4^th floor of the IP on October 1^st, 2009.  With 11 new offices, an expanded co-working space, and a new film studio in partnership with Deltree, Launch Pad is building on its success attracting entrepreneurs, freelancers, and creative professionals to its shared workspace with a strong community environment.  Launch Pad is now the largest tenant in the IP.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

The Oxford Conference Center

102 Ed Perry Blvd.|Oxford, MS 38665

The Mississippi Bar and the Law Practice Management Section of the American Bar Association will sponsor an ABA TECHSHOW Road Show at the Oxford Conference Center October 27. This program will offer the latest technology information for practitioners in the state. Nationally recognized speakers will present program topics including: Small Firm Technology, PDFs, Outlook, Case Management Tips and Social Networking. Space is limited so register now!

Program

8:00 am-Noon Registration Desk Open

8:25-8:30 am Opening Remarks

8:30-9:30 am Essential Small Firm Tech

Improve law office efficiency and increase profits by implementing low-cost technology, on-line resources, and better procedures. Join our panelists as they discuss software solutions including cloud services like email, document storage and collaboration, online backups and VOIP. On the hardware side, the panel will discuss and give live demonstrations of laptops and Tablet PCs. Our faculty will also briefly explore and explain threats to your electronic data, and we will show you proactive, affordable ways to reduce or eliminate these threats, and the damage that they can do to your business.

Craig Bayer

9:35-10:45 am PDF-ing for Lawyers

PDF files are firmly entrenched as the format of choice when exchanging documents with clients, other lawyers, and the courts. Most federal courts now require that all pleadings be filed in PDF format, and many state courts prefer PDF filings, too. In this session youll learn about the key features of Adobe Acrobat 8 that lawyers can really use, such as metadata removal, redaction, Bates stamping, PDF packages, and more. Well show you how to keep PDF file sizes small, apply document security and digital signatures, scan documents to PDF, and archive your e-mail.

Adriana Linares

10:4511:00 am Break

11:00am-Noon Practice Management Technology Tools and Tips

Learn about various technologies and take away tips that will help you effectively use technology to improve the delivery of legal services to your client, boost your bottom line, and also improve the quality of your work life. Whether you're a transactional lawyer or a litigator, you'll learn about technology that will let you practice with ease throughout the day.

Adriana Linares, Tom OConnor

Noon1:00 pm Lunch - Open Question & Answer session with the Speakers Panel

1:15-2:30 pm The Lawyers Guide to Managing Client and Case Information with Outlook

Look around your officecount the yellow pads, sticky notes, random scribbles and While You Were Out slips. It doesnt have to be this way! Microsoft Outlook can help keep you become better organized with your client, contact and case information, including e-mail, phone calls, dates, to dos and other miscellaneous notes, all at your fingertips. It can also help you to work more effectively which, in turn, will improve client service. Attend this session to learn how todays most popular information management tool can take you to a new level of organization and client service.

Adriana Linares, Craig Bayer

2:30-2:45 pm Break

2:45-4:00 pm Social Networking for Lawyers

Lawyers are discovering that new Web tools like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter are the hot new tools to market a law practice, at no or very low cost. New Internet social media tools represent tremendous opportunities for lawyers to develop a greater web presence, reach out and connect with clients, reach out to potential clients, colleagues, and more. But such tools must be used carefully, or lawyers risk running afoul of their state's ethics rules. This session will provide an introduction to using these tools for marketing, and how to do so within the rules.

Adriana Linares, Tom OConnor

4:00pm Adjourn

Location
The Oxford Conference Center at 102 Ed Perry Blvd., Oxford, MS 38665. For directions please go to their website at http://www.oxfordcvb.com/occ.html

Lunch
A complimentary luncheon buffet will be served for all attendees.

I was in Dallas this week for the LexisNexis Practice Management Conference.  On Thursday, a suspected Terrorist drove a 2001 Ford Explorer into the basement of the Fountain Place building with a bomb inside similar to the one used in Oklahoma city.  He then left the building and dialed a cell phone which he hoped would blow up the bomb. 

Meanwhile most of the PCLaw and TimeMatters consultants were getting certified for the products new versions in the South Tower of the Fairmont Hotel, including yours truly.  Luckily for us,  the FBI had the suspected terrorist in their sites,  and they sold him a fake bomb, kind of like Doc Brown from Back to the Future. 

If not for that hard work of the FBI, who would be able to do verify data integrity anymore? 

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/092409dnmetbombarrest.1b177db8b.html

Free open source Hard Drive encryption.