In an effort to raise money for Finis’ widow, Heather, a group of Finis’ friends produced 200 limited edition “I Am TechnoEsq” buttons specifically for Techshow.  While we sold approximately one-half of them in Chicago, some are left and available for purchase for those unable to attend Techshow.

The buttons are $20.00 each, and 100% of the proceeds will go to Heather.  If you want a button (and who wouldn’t), you can simply mail a check for $20.00 (or more if you are so moved) to me (Ben Stevens, The Stevens Firm, P.A., 1188 Asheville Highway, Spartanburg, SC 29303) and be sure to include your shipping address.

Finally, I want to extend a special, heartfelt thank you to all of those who helped in this worthwhile project.  Specifically, I’d like to thank Mark Unger for coming up with the original idea, Larry Port for designing and ordering the buttons, and Randy Juip, Victor Medina, and Matt Homann for helping sell the buttons in Chicago.  You guys are the best!

“Rocket Matter is no longer just a product: it’s a platform for other software companies to create amazing products for lawyers,” says Larry Port, CEO of Rocket Matter. “We wanted our first API integration to be with an incredibly useful, amazing product and forward-thinking company, and found this partner in Chrometa. Their automatic time capture gels with our idea of partnering with law firms to improve their efficiency and profitability. We look forward to offering law firms additional end-to-end experiences with our future RMAPI partners.”

Rocket Matter and Chrometa will demonstrate their new integration next week at ABA Techshow in Chicago, where both companies are exhibiting.  “We’re very excited about our integration with Rocket Matter,” says Brett Owens, CEO and Co-Founder of Chrometa.  “We think our users will love the one-touch ability to send time automatically captured on Chrometa over to Rocket Matter.”

In addition to RMAPI, Rocket Matter is proud to announce an elegant solution to an inelegant problem:  the incorporation of ABA Task Codes and LEDES 98 billing into their flagship product.  Via Rocket Matter’s autocompletion technology, users don’t need to remember codes.  Rather, they can enter the description, and the ABA code will be pulled into their billable activity.  LEDES 98 invoices can be generated one matter at a time or across all matters with the click of a button via Rocket Matter’s Batch Billing functionality.

Rocket Matter and Chrometa One-Click Integration, LEDES 1998 Billing from Rocket Matter on Vimeo.

About Rocket Matter, LLC

Rocket Matter, LLC provides Rocket Matter®, an online legal practice management and time tracking application for small to mid-sized law firms. The benefits of Rocket Matter®, a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) application, include increased security, business continuity, decreased technology infrastructure and maintenance costs, and improved return on investment for information technology expenses. Launched in February 2008, Rocket Matter’s corporate headquarters is in Boca Raton, FL.

About Chrometa, LLC 

Headquartered in Sacramento, Calif., Chrometa, LLC, creates software that acts as your very own personal timekeeper. Chrometa’s time tracking tools are used by attorneys and other professionals to enhance revenue and gross billings, and spend less time reconciling time. Please visit www.chrometa.com for a free trial of Chrometa’s proprietary time capture technology.

My close friend, Finis Price, passed away last night.  He tragically lost his life in an accident, and the world will not be as bright of a place as a result.  Sometimes, there simply aren’t sufficient words to adequately convey heartbreak.  This is one of those times, but I will try…

“Benny boy!”  That was how Finis always greeted me – for a reason known only to him.  You see, no one else has ever called me Benny, and I never figured out why he did.  It really didn’t matter though, because every time we talked, he brought a smile to my face.  He had this indescribably infectious energy and the uncanny ability to lift the spirits of those around him.

Everyone that met Finis for any length of time knew that he was a very big man.  Now, I’m not referring to his physical stature.  No, I am referring to those things that really made Finis who he was – his big heart, his enthusiasm and zeal for life, his strong faith, and his unbounded love for his wife, family, and friends.  He was the total package.

Finis was one of “those guys.”  You know, the kind of person that you can trust to always be there for you, no matter what.  A guy that you might not talk to for a while, but the next time you do, it’s as if no time has passed at all.  Someone that would run toward people in their time of need instead of running away from them.  Basically, the kind of guy that everyone should strive to be.

I try to surround myself with smart friends, and Finis was one of the very brightest.  Whenever I encountered a tech issue that I couldn’t figure out, I’d reach out to Finis, usually in a time of great need and often at odd hours.  He would always provide a solution that worked, without exception.  In fact, if you look closely at the photo above, you can tell from the expression on my face that I was literally thinking “it’s just not fair that he is that much smarter than me”.  Finis was a true genius, and I don’t throw that word around lightly.

Even though he was much smarter than me, Finis and I shared many things in common.  We both love technology in general (and Apple products in particular), and we gave numerous presentations about it all across the country.  He and I co-hosted the MILOchat podcast, and Finis helped build MILO into what it is today.  More importantly though, we discussed our hopes and dreams in life.  I have laughed with Finis, and I have cried with Finis.  Today, I cry for him, for Heather, and for all of us that will miss him so very much.

As I mentioned, Finis was a man of great faith.  He was a strong Christian, and I have no doubt that he is with his Heavenly Father today.  Heaven’s gain is our loss, but it is a loss that hurts so very much right now.  I have talked with many others today that love and respect Finis too, and we all collectively grieve his loss.  I am proud to say that he called me his friend.  Rest in peace, buddy, you will be missed.

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Because Finis and his wife, Heather, poured all their resources into their business, TechnoEsq, he left little in the way of savings.  The Kentucky Justice Association has set up a restricted fund to accept donations, and all proceeds will go to his wife. If you would like to contribute, please send your contributions (be sure to note “Finis Price” in the memo line) to Kentucky Justice Association, 10602 Timberwood Cir # 8, Louisville, KY 40223-5367.  Thanks.

Last week, Rocket Matter announced its 2.0 release, which now features document assembly.  Users can merge client and matter data to easily generate customizable documents, with no limit to the number of custom fields that may be used.  This new functionality makes this already impressive product stand head and shoulders above its peers, and it can greatly increase both productivity and efficiency for its users.

“For the first time in the cloud and for the first time on Macs, attorneys have software that can instantly create new legal documents, store them, and bill for them,” says Larry Port, CEO of Rocket Matter.  “Our 2.0 release is a major step forward for cloud legal software.  The document assembly and custom field combination offers incredible power while adhering to our well-known ease-of-use philosophy.   Creating a new document with existing matter and client information literally takes the click of a mouse.”

Because Rocket Matter is web-based, users can utilize all its features and generate documents on their Macs, iPads, iPhones (and even PC’s).  To the best of my knowledge, Rocket Matter is the first and only SaaS (Software as a Service) case management program to offer document generation.  Kudos to the folks at Rocket Matter for recognizing this glaring need and addressing it in such a useful manner.  You can learn more about the document generation and other new features at their website or in the preview video below:

A Preview of Rocket Matter 2.0: Document Assembly and Custom Fields from Rocket Matter on Vimeo.

Note from The Mac Lawyer:  Among the questions that I am asked most often are: “What document management systems are available on the Mac?” and/or “My firm uses Worldox.  Is there anything similar for the Mac?”  While the Finder may be a suitable solution for some smaller law firms, many others want something more powerful.  I recently had an opportunity to meet face-to-face with the developers of an exciting new product, DocMoto, and view its features.  I was so impressed that I asked them to provide this Guest Post to make my readers aware of their product and its amazing capabilities.  I believe that this new document management system (developed exclusively for Macs) will be a tremendous asset to attorneys and law firms that want or need such powerful features.  - Ben Stevens

“Document management – everybody needs it to some extent, but the benefits to law firms of effective document management are considerable.”  First off, a big thank you to Ben Stevens for asking us to write this brief article on document management and our product DocMoto.

If ever there was a topic that meant all things to all people document management is it. But in the legal environment it can be boiled down to some key benefits:

1. Client/Matter-Centric Storage :: All electronic material can be “tagged” by both the client and the matter, plus any other tags that will be helpful in retrieval. Once tagged, it’s easy to find all material for client X or matter Y.
2. Consistency :: Rules can be imposed on the storage of material. This guarantees a consistent approach for everybody within the firm. With consistency comes a reduction in error and an improvement in the speed of retrieval.
3. Centralisation :: Everything, including email, documents, and even images can be stored in the one central location. This makes searching faster and more thorough. It also ensures that all material is included in the search, avoiding any possible issues with eDiscovery.
4. Full Text and Tag Searching :: Complex searches can be simply performed. Searches can include multiple criteria, such as a combination of tags and text. For example, find all references to Mrs. Z in matter Y.
5. Document Access Control :: Security can be applied to the repository ensuring only the correct people have access to the appropriate material. Confidential matters remain that way.
6. Client Access Via The Web :: Clients can be given secure access to the repository via the web. This improves client service levels, it also further ensures material is consistently stored.
7. Version Control – Material is checked in and out of the repository, with a full revision history being kept of all files.
8. Audit Trail :: All material has a full audit trail to see who accessed material and when.
9. Simplified Backup :: As everything is in one place, backup is greatly simplified.

In the case of the sole practitioner it is accepted that most of this can be achieved with a manual system. But the moment there is more than one person involved, particularly if information is being entered by members of staff, the need for a document manager rises sharply. Of course there are numerous document management systems to choose from. The reason our product, DocMoto is featured here is because it is a truly Mac product.

DocMoto’s central repository is accessed through a software interface very similar to Finder. To coin Apple‘s line “you already know how to use it”. The repository can hold any file type, from documents and email through to images and even audio. The repository can be accessed by multiple people at once, is secure, and supports a powerful tagging and templating system. Simple storage rules can be applied ensuring material is correctly and consistently tagged. DocMoto supports very powerful text and tag searches and all files have a complete version history.

DocMoto can be downloaded and installed for a trial period, but since it is a business critical application we recommend treating it as a “mini project” and we are more than happy to provide the support necessary to achieve this. The product can be located in-house or in the cloud. Pricing plans range from a one off purchase to monthly payments.

You can learn more about this topic in general in Document Management Systems: Why Bother and How to Shop for One (Part 1 of 2) by John Heckman.

About the Author:  This Guest Post was written by Neil Cameron, director of UK based CHL Software.  CHL has been developing OS X based solutions for the past five years and document management systems since the company was founded in 1996. DocMoto, their flagship product is rapidly being adopted by attorneys worldwide.

With the advent of Apple’s iCloud, however, the legal field may not be able to hold out much longer. While iCloud isn’t necessarily revolutionary in what it does, it comes at an auspicious time. Consumer cloud computing solutions have been gaining rapid acceptance, as evidenced by the rapid growth of DropBox.  iCloud has the potential to bring cloud computing to the masses.

Personal use drives business use

Over and over again in the history of technology, we’ve seen as personal use of technology tends to drive business use. The situation with iCloud is likely to be similar. Once people (including those in the legal field) get used to accessing all of their personal data from many locations with many different devices, they’ll want to be able to do so with their work data, as well.

Security concerns and iCloud

This, then, is raising concerns about security for many in the field. There are at least three major security questions iCloud brings to the fore, including:

• How do cloud solutions impact confidentiality? If a third party – in the case of iCloud, this would be Apple – is hosting your client files, can the data be considered secure and confidential? Will this kind of storage meet legal challenges to confidentiality?
• How can timestamped data be captured in the cloud? For example, when you’re talking about an iCloud file, you can see the file changed from one moment to the next. How will businesses capture specific time-related data? This is particularly relevant for issues like e-discovery.
• How does iCloud security compare to existing security? The fact of the matter is that many businesses – even those involved in legal issues – have relatively poor security. That might be at the desktop level, the network level, or both. Does iCloud and related technologies actually offer a more secure environment than the status quo?

How the legal field fits in

Many in the legal field may be resistant to this emerging technology. This would be a mistake, as there’s plenty of potential for those in legal to make a positive impact on the cloud computing trend. Specifically, legal professionals can:

• Become educated about security technologies. By gaining an understanding of how things like encryption function in the iCloud environment, you can better analyze a given solution.
• Challenge cloud solutions providers to create stronger security measures. Legal firms can be a driving force behind improved security from cloud providers.
• Identify ways that cloud solutions can meet legal requirements. In addition, legal firms can help to identify how regulatory requirements can be met, and how the cloud can be made to be more friendly to e-discovery and related processes.

Whether or not iCloud gains widespread use, one thing is certain: those in the legal field can’t afford to ignore cloud technology. It’s time to get out at the forefront, and make sure the tech meets all of the important legal requirements that you and your clients need to meet.

About the Author: Eric Greenwood is an information and online storage technology expert whose advice is sought after by friends and strangers alike – Read more of his work on his blog, Online Storage!

The five apps outlined below can be of help. All can be found and purchased in the app store. You might want your iPod Touch white to keep the defense looking innocent or perhaps a black iPhone if you’re the prosecution. Let us see what Apps we have for your device.

Fastcase
The free Fastcase app offers primary law access for federal law and every state. This includes statutes, cases, constitutions, court rules and regulations. Nothing is downloaded to the device, so the app reduces data usage, saving the user money.

Black’s Law Dictionary
Good for lawyers and law students alike, this app provides 45,000 legal terms, 7,000 of which come with audible pronunciation. It also bookmarks, allows for linking between definitions and uses West’s key numbering system. The Blacks Law app costs $54.99 but is invaluable.

iPleading
Created by a lawyer to reduce frustration, iPleading creates a formatted PDF document that is ready for filing in federal or state court. The details can be filled out on the fly and the document sent immediately as an email attachment. At the low cost of $3.99, this app is a must have.

Audiotorium Notes
Audiotorium Notes was not designed for lawyers but can still be very helpful. Aside from recording audio and taking notes, it syncs with Dropbox for easy cloud storage. All notes are sorted by subject and category, and the app will record even if other apps are being used. Audiotorium Notes costs $4.99.

Trial Pad
This $89.99 app is very pricey but delivers in a big way. It allows a lawyer to present trial exhibits in court through the use of a projector. One handy feature is the ability to make copies of a file in order to show different points of view. All files are organized in case folders for easy access, organization and annotation. Trial Pad is best for litigators but anyone in the legal profession might find it handy.

The iPhone revolutionized how professionals work and the iPad is expected to take it to the next level. The five apps listed above can help law students and lawyers do their best work.

About the Author: Daniel Fenu is a graphic designer, and writer based in the UK.  Loves all things Apple.  Come and say hello to him on Twitter @danfenudesign.

In addition, Apple made a $2.5 million capital investment in the space with a $1.1 million annual rate that will continuously rise each year of the 10-year lease. Furthermore, Apple paid Metrazur, the restaurant that occupied their space prior to building the store, $5 million to end their lease early. According the MTA, the terms of the lease are completely fair and there are no special deals that Apple was dealt prior to building the store.

Grand Central Terminal already has 750,000 people that walk through the halls daily and 1 million people that come through during the holidays. Apple’s new store will not only provide convenience for the plethora of Apple users, but it will stimulate more purchases for the surrounding stores because of the high traffic that it will ensue.

Apple is also considered the anchor tenant of the terminal, meaning that it will not share any of its revenues with the MTA. This works in a typical mall as well, where the largest store is the main attraction, which in turn provides incentive for people to shop in the smaller stores.  If you find yourself in New York City, be sure to check out this new store because it is unique in design and extremely vast in space.

About the Author: Ben Levy is a marketing associate for the law firm, JDKatz, P.C., a full-service law firm specializing in real-estate law, tax law, elder law, business law and estate planning. If you wish to learn more please visit www.jdkatz.com.

First, I thank Ben Stevens for inviting me to contribute a few words about Equity.

As Typography for Lawyers has evolved, lawyers have asked whether I would ever design a font specifically for legal writing. At first, my answer was no—plenty of nice fonts already exist, so why not use those? And based on that advice, many lawyers have explored the vast typographic territory beyond Times New Roman. Which is a good start.

But after a few years of thinking about the intersection of law and typography, I realized that lawyers do have some special typographic requirements that existing fonts don’t account for. So Equity is the first font to be tailored to the needs of legal writers—start to finish. A few examples:

First, Equity meets the Times New Roman benchmark for length. Lawyers are sometimes reluctant to consider other fonts because most of them don’t fit as many words per page as Times New Roman. But the overall length of text set in Equity is almost identical to Times New Roman.

Second, not only does Equity have real typographic small caps—in both regular and bold weights—but they’re already letterspaced according to my recommendations in Typography for Lawyers, making it more convenient to use them.

Third, because office printers don’t all print text the same way, Equity comes in two weight “grades”—one slightly lighter than the other—so you can pick the one that works best with your printer. This is a feature found in very few text fonts.

Fourth, unlike nearly all professional fonts, you can embed Equity in word-processing documents. So if you collaborate on documents with other lawyers, they’ll be able to see your documents formatted in Equity.

And how does it look? My goal was to give Equity the warmth of traditional letterpress printing without being stuffy or quaint—a blend of classic and contemporary.

Equity has quickly become indispensable in my work as a lawyer, writer, and typographer. I’m very pleased with how it turned out. I hope others find it as useful as I do.

You can download PDF samples of Equity at http://equityfont.com. A one-person license is $120; up to five people is $240.

About the Author:  Matthew Butterick is an attorney, designer, and writer in Los Angeles. He is the author of the website and book Typography for Lawyers (Jones McClure Publishing).

Steve Jobs and Apple changed the way we communicate, listen to music, watch movies and conduct business through technology. Lawyer2Lawyer co-host and attorney, J. Craig Williams joins Ben Stevens, a practicing attorney and blogger for the popular blog, The Mac Lawyer and Finis Price, attorney and co-founder of TechnoEsq Presentations, as they take a  look at the influence of Steve Jobs and Apple on the legal profession, the current state of tech within the legal community and if Jobs’ ideas have driven innovation in other ways that have impacted lawyers.

You can listen to the episode online by clicking here, or you can download it by clicking here. Thanks to Craig Williams and his production crew for having Finis and me as guests.  I hope you enjoy the episode.