The Digital Edge

The Southern Poverty Law Center: A View From the Inside Jun 24, 2021

Known nationwide for her technology and legal management expertise, Natalie Kelly has recently brought her skills to the Southern Poverty Law Center to help them modernize their legal department operations. Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway talk with Natalie about her new role and the work done by the center to advance civil rights and racial justice. Natalie discusses the technology used to help the center refresh its operations, highlights her focus on promoting collaboration, and gives an overview of how the center’s practice areas work to advance human rights.

Natalie Kelly is the director of legal management for the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Special thanks to our sponsors, Scorpion, Blackletter Podcast, Alert Communications and Nota.

10 Features of Microsoft 365 That Lawyers Love May 27, 2021

Microsoft 365 is heavily relied upon by many legal professionals, and with its numerous and frequently updated tools, it’s always good to re-up your knowledge of its capabilities! Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway welcome Ben Schorr to discuss 10 features lawyers especially enjoy about Microsoft 365. Ben discusses some of his favorite hidden gems in the software, and shares lawyer-specific insights on its licensing structure, security, mobile access, email encryption, and more.

Ben M. Schorr is a senior content designer at Microsoft.

Special thanks to our sponsors, Scorpion, Blackletter Podcast, Alert Communications and Nota.

Managing Your Law Firm Through Change Apr 22, 2021

Leading a law firm throughout the pandemic has been no easy task, but the lessons learned have helped many attorneys position their firms for a more tech-focused, efficient approach to business. Jim Calloway and Sharon Nelson talk with Mary Vandenack about how she has managed her law firm through the many changes wrought by the pandemic. She describes their transition to remote work, ways to support team communication and tech needs, and her firm’s focus on redesigning legal services to increase automation and accessibility.

Mary E. Vandenack is the founding and managing member of Vandenack Weaver LLC in Omaha, Nebraska.

Special thanks to our sponsors, Scorpion, Blackletter Podcast, Alert Communications and Nota.

Clio’s 2021 Legal Trends for Solo Law Firms Mar 25, 2021

For the first time ever, Clio has released a special trends report focused specifically on solo law firms! To talk about how this report came about and the helpful data it has to offer solo attorneys, Sharon Nelson and guest host John Simek welcome Clio’s CEO Jack Newton. Jack shares some of the most surprising insights gleaned from their solo survey, discusses pandemic-era changes in the behaviors of solos and their clients, and gives his take on what solo firms might do to become more agile and improve their revenue.

Jack Newton is CEO and co-founder of Clio.

Special thanks to our sponsors, Scorpion, Blackletter Podcast, Alert Communications and Nota.

How to Win Clients Online for Free! Feb 25, 2021

Making smart choices online can help lawyers gain exposure and relationships that connect them with new clients. How? Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway welcome legal marketer Gyi Tsakalakis to discuss his top tips for effective, no-cost online client development. While money certainly can (and sometimes should!) be spent on marketing, Gyi stresses that some of the best ways to gain clients won’t cost you anything but time.

Gyi Tsakalakis is a former lawyer and the founder of AttorneySync, an online legal marketing agency that helps lawyers be where their clients are looking.

Special thanks to our sponsors, Scorpion, Blackletter Podcast, Alert Communications and Nota.

ABA TECHSHOW 2021 Goes Virtual! Jan 26, 2021

What will an online ABA TECHSHOW look like for attendees? Jim and Sharon welcome this year’s co-chairs, Allan Mackenzie and Roberta Tepper, to hear all about the reinvention of TECHSHOW 2021 in the virtual realm. With a 5-day schedule this year (March 8-12), attendees can look forward to having access to all sessions, a larger speaking faculty than ever before, and a variety of social and networking opportunities. Register now at: https://www.techshow.com/pricing/.

Allan Mackenzie is a veteran of the legal technology world and co-chair of ABA TECHSHOW 2021.

Roberta Tepper is the lawyer assistance programs director at the State Bar of Arizona and co-chair of ABA TECHSHOW 2021.

Special thanks to our sponsors, Scorpion, Blackletter Podcast, Alert Communications.

What’s on the Horizon for Law Firms in 2021? Dec 24, 2020

It might be a risky time to predict the future, but Jim and Sharon have decided to give it a whirl! Based on shifts they’ve seen throughout the legal community during 2020, they offer their thoughts on what lawyers should keep in mind as the new year begins. With topics ranging from the movement away from physical office space to cloud-based lawyering to the rise of ransomware, and more, Jim and Sharon talk about which changes they think will stick and what impacts we may see throughout the profession.

Special thanks to our sponsors, Clio, Scorpion, Blackletter Podcast, Alert Communications.

‘Tis the Season: Tech Toys for the Holidays 2020 Nov 23, 2020

It’s time for Jim and Sharon’s favorite podcast of the year – Tech Toys for the Holidays! In keeping with tradition, The Digital Edge hosts offer up their favorite practical and not-so practical tech toys, this year with plenty of remote work and COVID-related gift ideas in the mix. Pick up some wishlist inspiration for yourself and your favorite lawyer-nerds – a handy UVC sterilizer, the latest LegalBoard Wireless, ideas for your home workspace, a portable bug zapper (wait, what?), and so much more! Happy Holidays!

Special thanks to our sponsors, Clio, Scorpion, Blackletter Podcast, Alert Communications.

Arizona First State to Approve Non-Lawyer Ownership of Law Firms Oct 22, 2020

In hopes of encouraging growth in their legal community in a variety of ways, Arizona has removed barriers preventing lawyers and non-lawyers from sharing fees. To learn more about what this change could mean for the profession as a whole, hosts Sharon and Jim talk with Arizona Vice Chief Justice Ann Timmer about the positive impacts they hope this new reform will bring. Along with hopes of helping law firms improve entrepreneurial success, the main driver behind this reform was to increase access to justice by encouraging creativity and innovation in legal service delivery.

Vice Chief Justice Ann A. Scott Timmer has served on the Arizona Supreme Court since her appointment in 2012.

Special thanks to our sponsors, Clio, Scorpion, Blackletter Podcast, Alert Communications.

Supreme Court of Virginia’s Lawyers’ Wellness Initiative: A Rousing Success! Sep 28, 2020

The Virginia Lawyers’ Wellness Initiative is bringing even more resources and educational opportunities to help attorneys prioritize wellbeing. Digital Edge hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway welcome wellness coordinator Margaret Ogden to discuss the history and development of this new initiative and how attorneys can seek assistance, take advantage of CLE opportunities, find resources, and more.

Margaret Ogden is the wellness coordinator at the Supreme Court of Virginia.

Special thanks to our sponsors, Clio, Scorpion, Blackletter Podcast, Alert Communications.

COVID-19 is Brutal to Young Lawyers Aug 27, 2020

Young lawyers have been experiencing more professional hardship than senior lawyers during the pandemic. With a hard-hit economy, a halt on many networking opportunities, and fewer new jobs available, the outlook is uncertain for recent graduates attempting to get their careers off the ground. Jim Calloway and Sharon Nelson discuss these issues and more with young lawyer Graham Bryant. Graham outlines the unique stressors faced by young lawyers, shares coping strategies and resources, and offers his thoughts on what the profession will look like post-COVID.

Graham K. Bryant is a frequent writer and presenter on the technological, legal, and social trends affecting the legal profession in the twenty-first century.

Special thanks to our sponsors, Clio, Scorpion, Blackletter Podcast, Alert Communications.

Best Practices for Audio and Video Evidence: Avoid Mistakes in Court! Jul 23, 2020

Attorneys have to be thorough in their preparations for court, but in David Notowitz’s experience, audio and video evidence is often inadequately presented. Digital Edge hosts Jim Calloway and Sharon Nelson talk with David about common mistakes lawyers make and his recommendations for effective, polished audio/visual presentations.

David Notowitz is the founder and lead forensic expert at the National Center for Audio and Video Forensics.

Special thanks to our sponsors, Clio, Scorpion, Blackletter Podcast, Alert Communications.

A Legal Podcast About Legal Podcasting Jun 25, 2020

Sharon and Jim have reached a major milestone—the 150th edition of the Digital Edge! For this special episode, they welcome fellow veteran podcasters Bob Ambrogi, Joe Patrice, and Tom Mighell to talk shop about the world of legal podcasting. They share favorite memories and horror stories and offer invaluable insights for aspiring podcasters.

Special thanks to our sponsors, Clio, Scorpion, Blackletter Podcast, Alert Communications.

Professor Richard Susskind Discusses Online Courts May 18, 2020

Until now, the legal profession has largely viewed technology as a thing that should be grafted onto the very traditional practice of law, but the onset of the pandemic has forced this opinion to change rapidly. Lawyers and judges who once eschewed the idea of online legal practice–and particularly online courts–are now working to find ways to innovate legal and court services to continue providing access to justice. In this edition of the Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway welcome Professor Richard Susskind to survey the new landscape of online courts and discuss changing views toward technology across the profession.

Professor Richard Susskind OBE is an author, speaker, and independent adviser to major professional firms and to national governments.

Special thanks to our sponsors, Clio, Nexa, Scorpion, and Blackletter Podcast.

Risky Business: How Lawyers are Navigating Through COVID-19 and the Rocky Economy Apr 27, 2020

The pandemic has caused rapid changes in the legal profession, and many lawyers are struggling to weather the storm. What can you do to bring your firm through this crisis? In this Digital Edge, Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway survey the new landscape of legal and discuss what you can do to keep up with important transitions in the practice of law. They share tips for cybersecurity, video conferencing, obtaining financial assistance, and future pandemic planning.

Also, check out Jim’s recommendation: Brett Burney’s video on working remotely with kids at home.

Special thanks to our sponsors, Clio, Nexa, Scorpion, and Blackletter Podcast.

Tech Toolbox: What’s Right for Your Practice? Mar 24, 2020

Is your current technology setup really working for your law firm? And with new challenges to the practice of law during the coronavirus crisis, are you able to do remote work effectively? Jim Calloway and Sharon Nelson talk with Richard Ferguson about the types of tools all lawyers should have at the ready in their tech tool boxes. They tap into Richard’s wealth of knowledge on practical tech solutions for law firms of all sizes.

Richard Ferguson practices law in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada with the business law firm Lynass, Ferguson & Shoctor and is a current member of the ABA Techshow 2021 Planning Board.

Special thanks to our sponsors, Clio, Nexa, Scorpion, and Blackletter Podcast.

The Best Lawyer You Can Be: A Guide to Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Wellness Feb 28, 2020

Higher instances of depression, stress, substance abuse, and even divorce amongst legal professionals continues to call attention to the need for an increased focus on lawyer well-being. Digital Edge hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway talk with Stewart Levine about how his ABA-published book, “The Best Lawyer You Can Be: A Guide to Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Wellness,” helps lawyers engage with their own well-being in healthier ways.

Stewart Levine is the founder of ResolutionWorks, a consulting and training organization dedicated to providing skills and ways of thinking needed to build strong organizational cultures.

Special thanks to our sponsors, Clio, Nexa, Scorpion, and ServeNow.

Law in the Age of the Consumer: It’s the Model That Matters Jan 16, 2020

Today’s consumers want services faster than ever, and the traditional legal service delivery model is no longer appealing to many in need of legal help. Erin Levine saw the need for her family law clients to have access to a simple, DIY approach to divorce that would save time and money and thus her successful platform, Hello Divorce, was born. The Digital Edge hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway talk with Erin about how lawyers can develop their own sustainable approaches to online legal services that meet the demands of the changing legal market. Erin shares insights on establishing a brand, staying relevant to today’s legal consumers, and avoiding burnout.

Erin Levine is the founder and CEO of Hello Divorce.

Special thanks to our sponsors, Clio, Nexa, Scorpion, and ServeNow.

A Preview of ABA TECHSHOW 2020 Dec 23, 2019

ABA TECHSHOW 2020 is right around the corner! Digital Edge hosts Jim Calloway and Sharon Nelson talk with the conference’s co-chairs, Heidi Alexander and Catherine Sanders Reach, about what attendees have to look forward to at the upcoming TECHSHOW. They delve into the variety of topics the conference will focus on: new takes on well-being, practice management, academia-focused content, and more! They also share info on the special events at this year’s conference and highlight their exciting keynote speaker, Mary O’Carroll of Google.

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, Nexa, Answer1, and Clio.

‘Tis the Season: Tech Toys for the Holidays 2019 Nov 13, 2019

It’s that time of year again! Get ready to make some quirky additions to your wishlist. Digital Edge hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway bring you their much-anticipated annual episode – Tech Toys for the Holidays! This year’s list includes another healthy variety of practical and not-so practical gift ideas, ranging from Rocketbooks to flash drives to your very own Death Star fire pit–just what you didn’t know you needed! Tune in for ideas for everyone on your holiday shopping list.

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, Nexa, Answer1, and Clio.

What Lawyers Need to Know to Succeed in the Marketplace Oct 16, 2019

Success isn’t just about numbers! If you are operating under continuous stress with little meaningful connection to the work you do, it might be time to rethink your approach. In this edition of The Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway are joined by Katy Goshtasbi to explore some of the more intrinsic challenges lawyers face in the process of business development. Katy explains the importance of reducing stress and defining your values in order to create business goals that serve both your personal and professional needs.

Katy Goshtasbi is a change and branding expert and founder of Puris Consulting.

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, Nexa, Answer1, and Clio.

Cybersecurity Basics for the Solo and Small Firm Lawyer Sep 27, 2019

In the cybersecurity world, ransomware and business email compromise are the two most commonly seen issues. Is your law firm safe from these attacks? If you’re not sure, tune in to learn cybersecurity basics from John Simek, vice president of Sensei Enterprises. Digital Edge hosts Jim and Sharon talk to John about the ways cyber attacks happen and the essential security practices needed to protect your law firm.

Check out That One Privacy Site, John’s recommended resource for unbiased VPN comparisons.

John Simek is vice president of Sensei Enterprises, Inc., an information technology, digital forensics and information security firm located in Fairfax, VA.

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, Nexa, Answer1, and Clio.

The ”Big Ideas” of Law Practice - and Emerging Practice Areas Aug 27, 2019

Are you up on the latest from the ABA’s Law Practice magazine? In this edition of the Digital Edge, Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway are joined by contributing features editor Lance Johnson to talk through recent articles in the magazine’s Big Ideas Issue. Lance shares the process the magazine goes through when choosing these “big ideas,” and gives an overview of its current focus on automation, AI, and emerging practice areas. They also discuss developing trends in the delivery of online legal services, current issues in the cannabis industry, and the quickly growing practice areas of privacy and data breach-related law.

Lance Johnson is an IP attorney and the principal of Johnson Legal PLLC in Fairfax, VA. He is also the contributing features editor of the ABA’s Law Practice magazine.

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, Nexa, Answer1, and Clio.

Building a Cutting Edge Virtual Law Firm Jul 25, 2019

What does it look like to operate an entirely web-based law firm? Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway talk to Brooke Moore about her expertise as a virtual practitioner. She explains the advantages of moving to this highly tech-driven method of practicing law, including greater efficiency, flexibility, and convenience in interactions with clients. Brooke also gives listeners a rundown of how her firm operates and addresses common concerns lawyers may have about starting their own virtual law firms.

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, Nexa, Answer1, and Clio.

Digital Detoxing for Lawyers Jun 27, 2019

One estimate claims the number of lawyers with digital addiction could be as high as 40%, and lawyers’ need to constantly engage with technology makes it difficult to set boundaries. What can they do to unplug? In this edition of The Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway talk to Roberta Tepper about digital addiction in the legal profession and her tips for spending less time on mobile devices. Together, they discuss the signs and symptoms of addiction, caution against “text neck”, and talk about ways lawyers can mindfully put their phones down and reduce dependence, step-by-step.

Roberta Tepper has been the lawyer assistance programs director at the State Bar of Arizona since 2013.

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, Scorpion, Answer1, and Clio.

How Can Chatbots Help Your Law Firm? May 29, 2019

Many lawyers are curious about chatbots but have little knowledge of how they can be applied in their legal practice. In this episode of The Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway talk to Tom Martin about how chatbots are being put to work in the legal industry. Tom talks about his background as a lawyer and shares what spurred his interest in developing chatbots. They discuss how this technology frees up lawyers’ time and helps them connect with more clients. Tom also offers his advice for lawyers interested in getting into the legal tech space.

Tom Martin is CEO and founder of LawDroid Ltd.

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, Scorpion, Answer1, and Clio.

Highlights of the Wolters Kluwer 2019 Future Ready Lawyer Survey Apr 26, 2019

The legal industry is transforming—what does this mean for lawyers in the future? In this episode of The Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway welcome Stacey Caywood and Dean Sonderegger to discuss the Wolters Kluwer 2019 Future Ready Lawyer Survey. They discuss the trends and findings of the survey, highlighting the things leading organizations were doing that boosted their future-readiness. The survey found that law firms that lead in leveraging technology outperformed others across all categories and were also more profitable. They talk about how trailing organizations in the survey can catch up, offering strategies and encouraging them to invest in technology to better prepare their firms for the future.

Stacey Caywood is the CEO of Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory, a leading provider of information, software and integrated workflow solutions for legal and business compliance professionals worldwide.

Dean Sonderegger is the VP and General Manager of Legal Markets and Innovation at Wolters Kluwer’s Legal & Regulatory U.S.

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, Scorpion, Answer1, and Clio.

Successful Digital Marketing Tips for the Solo and Small Firm Lawyer Mar 27, 2019

If your law firm’s digital marketing plan isn’t working for you, consider changing your tactics! In this episode of The Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway talk to Gyi Tsakalakis about how to be successful in digital marketing for small and solo firms. They also advise lawyers to have ownership for all of their online content, caution against being overly self-promotional, and encourage lawyers to track and measure their marketing efforts to effectively evaluate success.

Gyi Tsakalakis is a former lawyer and the founder of AttorneySync, an online legal marketing agency, to help lawyers be where their clients are looking.

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, Scorpion, Answer1, and Clio.

ABA 2018 Legal Technology Survey: Takeaways for Lawyers Feb 27, 2019

How are lawyers budgeting for technology in their firms and where do they need to catch up on legal tech? In this episode of The Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway talk to Sofia Lingos about the ABA 2018 Legal Technology Survey. The survey and its subsequent report gives lawyers current statistics on the state of technology implementation in law firms. They discuss how lawyers can use this information for ideas on what their firms need to do to stay level with emerging technology.

Sofia Lingos, Esq. is the founding and managing attorney of Trident Legal, a Boston based law firm that provides innovative transactional legal services to small businesses, entrepreneurs, and start-ups in diverse industries throughout all stages of growth.

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, Scorpion, Answer1, and Clio.

Using Gamification of Access to Justice to Train Artificial Intelligence Jan 31, 2019

How can access to justice technologies be developed through a game? In this episode of Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway talk to David Colarusso about the Learned Hands project. Learned Hands is a game in which lawyers spot possible legal issues in real people’s stories about their problems. This machine learning game identifies text classifiers for developing a new taxonomy that can be used to connect people with public legal help resources.

Play the Learned Hands game at https://learnedhands.law.stanford.edu.

David Colarusso is the Director of Suffolk University Law School's Legal Innovation and Technology Lab.

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, Scorpion, Answer1, and Clio.

A Preview of ABA TECHSHOW 2019 Dec 20, 2018

ABA TECHSHOW is right around the corner! In this episode of The Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway give a preview of ABA TECHSHOW 2019 with guests Lincoln Mead and John Simek, co-chairs of the conference board. They share how the conference stays current on tech for lawyers and give tips on how to best prepare for attending the show. There will be some new elements for attendees this year, including a new app for the conference, greater cooperation with educators for the academic track, and more focus on involving young lawyers and law students.

Lincoln Mead is the project manager for Canon Discovery Services and co-chair of the 2019 ABA TECHSHOW board.

John Simek is the Vice President of Sensei Enterprises and co-chair of the 2019 ABA TECHSHOW board.

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, Scorpion, Answer1, and Clio.

'Tis the Season: Tech Toys for the Holidays 2018 Nov 16, 2018

Get ready to geek out over this wishlist of tech toys for the holidays! In this episode of The Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway share their complete list of picks for the best new technology -- some serious and some just plain fun. From a PhoneSoap sanitizer to a Marvel Thor’s Hammer tool set, there’s something for everyone on your list!

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, Scorpion, Answer1, and Clio.

The Insurance Industry Studies the Future of Law Practice Oct 31, 2018

In regards to the future of law practice, the role of malpractice carriers is a unique one. On this edition of The Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway join Chris Newbold, the executive vice president of ALPS Malpractice Insurance, to discuss the role of malpractice carriers and how the risk assessment process can be an interesting way to look at the changes in law practice and the future of the profession.

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, Scorpion, Answer1, and Clio.

The Wizardry of Law Librarians Sep 26, 2018

The job of a librarian involves a lot more than books. In this episode of The Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway talk to Marlene Gebauer and Greg Lambert about the skills of law librarians and the roles they play in different areas of the law. They discuss the different facets of being a law librarian and how they can help with analytics, risk management, and streamlining processes.

Marlene Gebauer is the director of knowledge solutions at Greenberg Traurig.

Greg Lambert is the chief knowledge services officer at Jackson Walker and is the president of American Association of Law Libraries.

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, Scorpion, Answer1, and Clio.

The Cloudy Ethics of Cloud Computing Aug 29, 2018

No lawyer should assume their firm's technology is secure. In this episode of The Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway talk to Lucian Pera about the ethics of lawyers using the cloud and how they can use it with confidence. They break down the different cloud providers, the dangers that can potentially crop up when using the cloud, and the importance of having a technology mentor that lawyers can turn to with questions whenever they need it.

Lucian T. Pera joined Adams and Reese in 2006 and focuses his practice on commercial litigation, media law, and legal ethics work.

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, Scorpion, Answer1, and Clio.

Addressing Lawyer Mental Wellness at the Virginia Bar Jul 31, 2018

Is practicing law bad for your mental health? In this episode of The Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway talk to Len Heath about lawyer mental wellness and why it’s an issue worthy of attention in today’s legal industry. They discuss what both the ABA and Virginia Bar Association are doing to address lawyer wellness and, as the president of the Virginia Bar, what wellness goals Len hopes to achieve while in office.

Len Heath is a partner in the firm of Heath, Overbey, Verser & Old and currently serves as the president of the Virginia State Bar.

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, Scorpion, Answer1, and Clio.

The Data-Driven Ethics Initiative Jun 26, 2018

The Data-Driven Ethics Initiative is a research project that aims to use legal services data to modernize legal rules for professional conduct. In this episode of The Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway talk to Erin Gerstenzang about the initiative and the current landscape of ethics reform including lawyer regulations. Additionally, Erin delves into the challenges of ethics reform and how design-thinking can help.

Erin Gerstenzang is a criminal defense attorney in Atlanta, Georgia. She primarily handles DUI and other drug and alcohol related offenses.

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, Scorpion, Answer1, and Clio.

The Case for Collaboration May 29, 2018

Collaboration is becoming increasingly important within the legal field especially with emerging technology that makes it easier than ever. In this episode of The Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway talk to Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell, authors of The Lawyer’s Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies: Smart Ways to Work Together, about collaboration, why it’s necessary for lawyers, and the tools attorneys need to make their teamwork efficient. They also discuss what has been driving lawyers more and more towards collaboration techniques and how collaboration can assist with case management.

Tom Mighell is a published author, noted legal technologist, and runs his own blog, Inter Alia. He is currently senior consultant for Contoural, Inc.

Dennis Kennedy is an award-winning leader in applying the internet and technology to law practice.

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, Scorpion, Answer1, and Clio.

The Lean Law Firm Apr 16, 2018

Lean is a business methodology that’s used by Nike, Toyota, and even John Deere, but what does being a lean organization look like for law firms? In this episode of The Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway talk to Larry Port and Dave Maxfield, authors of The Lean Law Firm, about what running a lean law firm looks like and the first steps to adopting lean techniques. They also address common misperceptions about the methodology and share some key takeaways of the book, such as seeing your law firm as a system and having the bravery to experiment.

Larry Port, CEO of Rocket Matter, is also a speaker and award winning writer at the crossroads of the legal profession and cutting edge technology.

For over 20 years, Dave Maxfield has represented individual consumers in cases against banks, credit reporting agencies, debt collectors, and insurance companies.

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, Scorpion, Answer1, and Clio.

The ABA Journal: Legal Journalism in the Digital Age Mar 14, 2018

Print may seem like it’s going out of style but the ABA Journal is still going strong. In this episode of The Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway talk to Molly McDonough about news stories lawyers want to read and how the ABA Journal has adapted to changes in media consumption. They also discuss the ABA Journal’s role as the primary source of legal technology information for attorneys.

Molly McDonough, joined the ABA Journal staff in 2001 and has been editor and publisher since Feb. 3, 2017.

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, Scorpion, Answer1, and Clio.

Expanding Access to Justice through Online Dispute Resolution Feb 13, 2018

Not all legal disputes require the input of a lawyer. Some don’t even need the input of a human. Online dispute resolution (ODR), or the use of technology to solve basic disputes, is considered by some to be an access to justice solution. In this episode of The Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway talk to Colin Rule how ODR works and how it has the potential to fill access to justice needs. They also discuss where ODR originally came from, the difference between between ODR and alternative dispute resolution, and how mobile access will expand the use of this technology.

Colin Rule is vice president for online dispute resolution at Tyler Technologies. Tyler acquired Modria.com, an ODR provider Colin co-founded, in 2017.

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, Scorpion, Answer1, and Clio.

Preview of ABA TECHSHOW 2018 Jan 19, 2018

ABA TECHSHOW 2018 is just around the corner and, for those of you who can barely contain your excitement, here’s a sneak preview of what this year’s conference will look like. In this episode of The Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway talk to ABA TECHSHOW 2018 co-chairs Debbie Foster and Tom Mighell about this year’s conference. They discuss what’s new at TECHSHOW, advice for new attendees, and some of the most beloved extracurricular activities, like Taste of TECHSHOW and morning yoga sessions.

Tom Mighell has been at the front lines of technology development since joining Cowles & Thompson, P.C. in 1990. He is also the co-chair of ABA TECHSHOW 2018.

Debbie Foster is the managing partner of Affinity Consulting Group’s Tampa Bay office. She is also the co-chair of ABA TECHSHOW 2018.

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, Scorpion, Answer1, and Clio.

When the Bell Tolls for Thee: Disaster Planning and Recovery for Law Firms Dec 21, 2017

While months have passed, the impact of hurricanes Irma and Maria can still be felt by the businesses affected. For law firms, these intense storms have brought to the forefront thoughts about preparedness and how to react in situations like this. In this episode of The Digital Edge, host Jim Calloway talks to Tom Bolt, whose firm was hit by hurricanes Irma and Maria, about how lawyers can prepare for natural disasters. Their discussion includes what technology he used and needed, the importance of having a disaster recovery and business continuity policy in place, and what types of problems his firm has dealt with in the aftermath.

BoltNagi Firm founder and managing attorney, Tom Bolt, focuses his practice in government relations, banking, real estate, real estate finance, and estate planning.

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, Scorpion, Answer1, and Clio.

‘Tis the Season: Tech Toys for the Holidays 2017 Dec 04, 2017

If you’re looking for the latest and greatest technology to spoil your most beloved tech-nerds this holiday season, look no further than the annual tech toys edition of The Digital Edge. This year, hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway talk about a wide range of products, from doorbells to submarines, to help you brainstorm gift ideas for everyone on your list.

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, Scorpion, Answer1, and Clio.

Product Mentioned:

Bluesmart laptop bag: the world’s first smart bag

BioLite SolarPanel 5+: portable solar charger

Legalboard: A keyboard designed for lawyers

Joby GripTight One GorillaPod Stand: flexible tripod and phone holder

The Levi's Commuter Trucker Jacket with Jacquard by Google: smart jacket

Gatekeeper 2.5 Wireless Bluetooth PC Lock: computer key

LG Gram Laptops: a series of lightweight laptops

Bose QuietComfort 35 wireless headphones II: noise canceling headphones

Microsoft Surface Book 2: a laptop/tablet

SketchPro 3D Pen: 3D drawing pen

Samsung 34” CF791 Curved Widescreen Monitor: HD monitor

Ring Video Doorbell: security system

Nexx Garage: door opener

Echo Connect: Amazon Echo phone accessory

Kuri: home robot

Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard: travel keyboard

Kohler Numi Toilet: smart toilet

Apple Watch Series 3: smart watch

Carved Satellite Series: carved wooden phone cases

Aston Martin Limited Edition Submarine

The Apple Product Cheat Sheet for Lawyers Oct 17, 2017

68-73% of lawyers use iPhones and those aren’t the only Apple products pervading the legal industry. The use of iPads for law has also become more and more common. In this episode of The Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway talk to Brett Burney about the latest Apple products and how they can serve lawyers. From face ID to the benefits of iOS 11, they share which Apple tools will save lawyers time and effort in their business. They also discuss the top apps that attorneys who use Apple products should download. Check out links to those apps below.

Brett Burney is Principal of Burney Consultants LLC and is active in the Mac-using lawyer community, working with lawyers who want to integrate Macs, iPhones, and iPads into their practice.

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, Scorpion, Answer1, and Clio.

How Augmented Intelligence and Cognitive Computing Serves the Legal Profession Sep 12, 2017

Because they are unfamiliar with the technology, many lawyers are nervous about the growing popularity of artificial and augmented intelligence. However, others are welcoming the changes this technology will bring to the practice of law. In this episode of The Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway talk to Brian Kuhn, global co-leader for the IBM Watson legal practice, about why lawyers should be interested in cognitive computing (or augmented intelligence) and how legal professionals are currently using IBM Watson and other AI technologies. They also discuss blockchain and how it works together with AI.

Brian Kuhn serves as the global co-leader for the IBM Watson legal practice driving global strategy and execution across clients, legal markets, and internal groups.

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, Scorpion, Answer1, and Clio.

Teaching the Technology of Law Practice to Law Students Aug 10, 2017

Introducing technology to legal education could be the key to inspiring innovation in the legal industry. In this episode of The Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway talk to Darin Fox about how he sees technology functioning in legal education. They discuss the program Darin oversees at the University of Oklahoma, how the recession affected the use of legal technology, and potential future uses of courtroom technology.

Darin Fox is an associate dean at the University of Oklahoma College of Law. He oversees the law library, information technology, and the school’s law practice technology training program, called the Digital Initiative Project.

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, Scorpion, Answer1, and Clio.

Evernote for Lawyers: Manage Your Research, Marketing, and Process Jul 10, 2017

As a lawyer, managing research, marketing, and even organizing your thoughts can potentially result in chaos. In this episode of The Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway talk to Heidi Alexander about Evernote and how it can help lawyers stay organized. They discuss what Evernote is, what sets it apart from other note-taking programs, and examples of how lawyers are currently using it in their own practices.

Heidi Alexander, is the director of the Massachusetts Law Office Management Assistance Program (MassLOMAP).

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, Scorpion, Answer1, and Clio.

Low Bono Legal Services: Working to Provide Access to Justice Jun 12, 2017

It’s no secret that access to justice is a significant issue within the legal industry, but when did lawyers first recognize the problem and how are they working to solve it? In this episode of The Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway discuss low bono legal services with Shantelle Argyle, executive director of Open Legal Services. Their discussion includes the unintended consequences of the access to justice movement, the biggest barriers to innovation in legal services, and the role of Open Legal Services as a legal aid organization. They also discuss what’s different about today’s legal services consumers and how they affect access to justice.

Shantelle Argyle is co-founder and executive director of Open Legal Services, a sliding scale legal aid organization.

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, Scorpion, Answer1, and Clio.

Is Law Really A Buyer's Market? And If So, Now What? May 08, 2017

The legal industry has operated as a seller’s market for so long that some lawyers don’t know how to handle the recent trend towards accommodating clients. In this episode of The Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway talk to Jordan Furlong about what has driven the shift to a consumer-focused market, the new players that are breaking onto the scene as a result, and how law firms, both big and small, should react to the changes. Their conversation also includes three ways to respond to these market forces as well as how client services, competition, and culture should affect potential business strategies.

Jordan Furlong is a speaker, author, and legal market analyst who forecasts the impact of changing market conditions on lawyers and law firms.

Defining Artificial Intelligence as a Legal Tool Apr 14, 2017

A number of lawyers are nervous about artificial intelligence (AI) replacing their jobs in the near future, but most don’t understand AI. In this episode of The Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway talk to Mark Tamminga who defines artificial intelligence and what its growing popularity means for lawyers. Their discussion includes the big players in the AI industry, the future of technology, and what Mark would say to lawyers concerned that robots will take their jobs. They also talk about the College of Law Practice Management’s Futures Conference 2017, for which Mark and Sharon are co-chairs. This year’s focus will be artificial intelligence and its role in the legal industry.

Mark Tamminga is a senior partner at Gowling WLG, a platform from which to nudge his firm in the direction of rethinking how legal services and products are delivered.

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, Scorpion, Answer1, and Clio.

Running with the Machines: Artificial Intelligence in the Practice of Law Mar 31, 2017

You don’t actually need to worry about a robot taking your job. In this episode of The Digital Edge, hosts Jim Calloway and Sharon Nelson talk to Andrew Arruda, CEO of ROSS Intelligence, about how artificial intelligence assists lawyers, not replaces them. Their conversation includes what ROSS is, the biggest misconceptions surrounding AI, and the biggest challenges facing legal technology adoption in larger firms.

Andrew Arruda is Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of the artificial intelligence company ROSS Intelligence, a leader in the legal technology industry.

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, Scorpion, Answer1, and Clio.

The Importance of Legal Writing Feb 09, 2017

Does quality writing really make you a better lawyer? On this episode of The Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway discuss legal writing with Gary Kinder, founder of the editing program WordRake. Together, they explore lawyers’ biggest writing errors, why this is important in the courtroom, and how writing well can help build a positive reputation for a firm. In their conclusion of the episode, they shift the focus to WordRake itself, expanding on what it is, the cost, and why it’s effective. They even include a treat especially for Digital Edge listeners.

Gary Kinder founded the software company WordRake in 2012. The company’s eponymous software is an automated editing program that suggests changes to improve brevity and clarity.

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, Scorpion, and Answer1.

Will Alternative Business Structures in U.K. Law Firms Cross the Pond? Jan 12, 2017

While 600 alternative business structure (ABS) licenses have been granted in the U.K., American law firms hesitate to pick up the strategy. In this episode of The Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway talk to David Beech, CEO of Knights, a professional services firm with a successful ABS. In his discussion he expands on common fears associated with ABS, how community makes ABS thrive, and why ignoring ABS is a mistake. He finishes the interview by touching on his own business, which started out as a law firm, and what makes it a successful ABS.

David Beech is the CEO of the professional services firm Knights in the U.K. David has led the business, originally a law firm, since 2011. His vision for Knights is to become the leading regional professional services business in the U.K.

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, Scorpion, and Answer1.

Tis the Season: Tech Toys for the Holidays 2016 Dec 07, 2016

Struggling to find the perfect gadget for that tech savvy attorney in your life? Perhaps you’re trying to figure out exactly what to get a very special lawyer who seemingly has everything? In this edition of The Digital Edge, Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway share all of their top tech toys and gifting goodies to help you spice up the law firm this holiday season.

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, CloudMask, Scorpion, and Answer1.

Products Mentioned:

Family Hub Refrigerator: A smart refrigerator

IBM Model M Keyboard: Mechanical Keyboard

Thermo Thermometer: Smart thermometer

NES Classic Edition: Nintendo’s mini iconic console.

Self-Installing Car Seat: A car seat that installs itself

Microsoft Surface Pro 4: Powerful multi-purpose tablet

Nanoleaf Aurora: A modular LED panel lighting system

Samsung Galaxy X7 and X7 Edge: Smart phone

Petcube Play and Petcube Camera: Pet monitor and pet selfie device

Prepara iPrep Foldable/Adjutsable E-reader: E-reader and adjustable stand

Amazon Echo Dot: Voice-controlled; cloud based Alexa Voice speaker

Sensorwake: Olfactory alarm clock

Hudway Glass: Heads up display for any car

Wilson X Football and Basketball: Smart football and basketball device

Urbanears: Washable headphones

Anki’s Cozmo Robot: Robot

Smart Remote: Smart remote that instantly connects to house appliances

CHiP: Robotic dog pet

Trust Accounting for Lawyers Nov 23, 2016

Starting, or running, a law firm requires legal know how and business acumen. In this episode of The Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway talk with Oregon State Bar Professional Liability Fund Practice Management Advisor Sheila Blackford about her advice for attorneys seeking to better manage their client trust accounts.

Sheila Blackford is an attorney and practice management advisor for the Oregon State Bar Professional Liability Fund. She helps lawyers learn to set up and manage their client trust accounts and authored “Trust Accounting for Lawyers in One Hour.”

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, CloudMask, and Scorpion.

Analysis of the ABA Report on the Future of Legal Services Oct 21, 2016

Many lawyers are familiar with the varied services and resources that the American Bar Association provides to their members around the country. In this episode of The Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway talk with Vandenack Williams LLC. founder Mary Vandenack about the American Bar Association Future of Legal Services commission, the data found in that study, and how those findings can help lawyers improve and prepare for the future of law.

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, CloudMask, and Scorpion.

Attaining Law Firm Diversity Sep 19, 2016

As the demographics that make up our society continue to shift, the question of diversity in the legal profession continues to grow in prominence. How would an increase in diversity benefit law firms and what can attorneys do to promote that change within the profession? In this episode of The Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway talk with KM Advisors, LLC Managing Director John Mitchell about the difference between diversity and inclusion, diversity fatigue, and factors within the industry that might hinder the advancement of diverse lawyers.

John “The Purple Coach” Mitchell is managing director of KM Advisors, LLC in Chicago. He spends his days supporting and advising leaders of law firms and legal departments as they navigate a constantly changing marketplace.

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, CloudMask, and Scorpion.

Metadata Management and Daily Best Practices Aug 31, 2016

In this episode of The Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway talk with PayneGroup CEO Donna Payne about ways attorneys can better handle their metadata. Donna reminisces about starting her company in 1998, the client experience that inspired the creation of her Metadata Assistant software, and The Wall Street Journal’s front page article mention that resulted in 150,000 downloads. She analyzes how metadata has changed since she started and provides a list of things, such as track changes and hidden text, that lawyers should be on the lookout for. She states that one of the best things you can do if you can’t afford a third party assistant program is to know what is in the document and use any free options available in your preferred office software suite. Donna closes the interview with an explanation of what exchangeable image file format data is, her checklist of the most common metadata mistakes that lawyers make, and some daily best practices that lawyers can implement to help protect their data.

Donna Payne is the founder and serves as chief executive officer of PayneGroup, Inc. She is a member of the American Bar Association, the American Society of Journalists and Authors, and the Project Management Institute. In addition Donna is an original member of the Microsoft Legal Advisory Council. She is a frequent speaker at legal and technical conferences worldwide and has spoken to Congressional committees, the Senate, and at international judicial conferences on the subject of metadata and preventing accidental disclosure.

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, CloudMask, and Scorpion.

Tips for Managing Technology from a Chief Information Officer Aug 03, 2016

In this episode of The Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway speak with Legal Technology Consultant Andrew Adkins about his time as chief information officer for the law firm of Steptoe & Johnson PLLC. Andy reflects on his 23 years as a technology consultant and gives a brief breakdown of the variables that led to his move to West Virginia and employment with Steptoe & Johnson PLLC. The firm was large and successful when he arrived but, as he recalls, the information technology infrastructure was understaffed and mostly focused on day-to-day problem solving. This lack of needed staff was one of his biggest challenges as he began to expand the law firm’s IT capabilities and integrate new software to help the attorneys improve the services they provided. Andy talks about the process of building relationships among his teammates, learning their strengths and weaknesses, and the challenges he had convincing management of the necessity of continued employee training. He warns other CIOs of potential “upgrade fatigue” within their IT departments and shares how traveling to introduce himself to each branch of the company and incorporating a monthly newsletter to inform staff of upcoming tech changes helped to prepare staff for company-wide tech improvements. Andy closes the interview with an analysis of how he addressed the law firm's cyber security needs and his list of his best and worst professional moments during his four year employment there.

Andy Adkins has been assisting law firms to improve their services to clients since the late 1980s. His career/journey has continuously led him down various paths, including a four year gig as the Chief Information Officer at Steptoe & Johnson PLLC, a large law firm based in Bridgeport, West Virginia.

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, CloudMask, and Scorpion.

The Benefits and Challenges of Implementing a Firm-Wide Strategic Plan Jun 24, 2016

As the legal marketplace becomes more globalized, many lawyers are venturing out and starting their own law firms. However, many attorneys also establish law firms without creating a company-wide strategic business plan to help guide future growth and company development. How do attorneys create a strategic business plan for their firm and what are the best ways to implement that plan?

In this episode of The Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway talk with The Remsen Group President John Remsen, Jr. about the benefits of creating a firm-wide business plan. John expresses how important it is for law firm leadership to recognize that they are running a business and states that it is difficult to run a successful business without a plan of where you are going. He shares that his research results show that only 40% of midsize firms report that they have a written strategic plan and less than 5% give themselves a positive score on implementing that plan well. Gordon also reveals that 90% of firms with a plan will attribute improved performance in areas like increased cohesiveness, profitability, long term sustainability, and growth to the planning exercise. He then analyzes the top five concerns of midsize firms, like associate development and firm governance, and provides ways that firms can address these concerns. He closes the interview with reasons that older lawyers resist these types of improvements and tips to help law firms start the strategic planning process.

John Remsen, Jr. is a frequent speaker and author on law firm leadership and marketing topics. He has spoken at national and regional conferences of the Legal Marketing Association, the Association of Legal Administrators, American Bar Association and numerous state and local bar associations. After serving as in-house marketing director at two major law firms, John formed The Remsen Group, a consulting firm that works exclusively with law firms to help them develop and implement long-term strategic objectives to improve cohesiveness, performance and profitability.

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, CloudMask, and Scorpion.

What Lawyers Should Know About Cloud Computing Security Standards May 20, 2016

The large volume of data that many law firms handle makes utilizing cloud computing services a very enticing prospect. What ethical standards should lawyers expect these companies to abide by? What should lawyers look for in a cloud computing provider?

In this episode of The Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway speak with Clio founder and CEO Jack Newton and Rocket Matter founder and CEO Larry Port about cloud computing and the new cloud security standards for legal professionals released by the Legal Cloud Computing Association. Larry explains what the LCCA is and how it formed out of a need to educate lawyers about what is happening in the cloud. Jack provides some insight into the creation of the security standards, such as terms of service privacy policies and encryption, and states that with these standards as a baseline lawyers will be able to more easily assess if a cloud computing provider is adhering to certain ethical standards. Larry also lists a few factors lawyers should consider, like where the SaaS data center is located, and the four things (vulnerability scans, penetration testing, and aesthetic code and dynamic code reviews) that the standards require in security testing. They both end the interview with an analysis of in-transit and at rest encryption and the benefits and drawbacks of zero knowledge level security.

Jack Newton is the founder and CEO of Clio and recently joined the board of the International Legal Technology Standards Organization (ILTSO). He also co-founded and is acting president of the Legal Cloud Computing Association (LCCA). Jack received his master of science in computing science from the University of Alberta.

Larry Port is the founder and CEO of Rocket Matter and is a speaker and award winning writer at the crossroads of the legal profession, cutting edge technology, and law firm marketing. He was named to the 2012 Fastcase 50 and received his master of computer science with an emphasis in distributed systems from New York University.

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, CloudMask, and Scorpion.

How Technology Has, and Will, Impact the Practice of Law May 04, 2016

Over the past 100 years technology has made enormous leaps toward improving the ease of everyday living for the average citizen. This progress has also been reflected in the legal profession as tech becomes more integrated into the working lives of lawyers. However, in what ways has technology improved the profession and how can technological advancements aid us in the future?

In this special centennial episode of The Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway sit down with ABA President-Elect Linda Klein to reflect on how technology has improved the practice of law throughout their careers. The hosts open by taking some time to reflect on the last 100 episodes of the podcast and Linda shares her memory of having the Digital Edge be the very first podcast she ever listened to. She then muses over being introduced to technology early in her career and how tech started to influence and improve the way she practiced law. Within these reflections, Linda provides some insight into why she thinks it is important for lawyers to give back to their communities and tips on how tech can help fit everything into one’s busy life. The group then focuses on ABA initiatives centered around positively influencing the rapid change happening in the legal profession spurred by globalization and technology. Linda then looks toward the future and discusses goals that she has for her presidency relating specifically to technology and the practice of law.

Linda A. Klein is president-elect of the American Bar Association. She is also a senior managing shareholder at Baker Donelson, recently completing a 6 year term on the Firm's Board of Directors. Her practice includes most types of business dispute resolution, including contract law, employment law and professional liability.

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, CloudMask, and Scorpion.

The Law is Not Copyrightable: Fastcase Sues Casemaker Apr 01, 2016

Recently, the legal publishing company Fastcase received a takedown notice from the parent company of another publishing company, Casemaker, claiming they had exclusive rights to distribute, for commercial use, the Georgia Administrative Rules and Regulations. Fastcase CEO Ed Walters was surprised by this demand, because public law is not copyrightable. As a response, Ed decided to initiate litigation with Casemaker for the rights to the regulations and also to set a countrywide precedent. But why did Casemaker think they had exclusive rights to these Georgia laws in the first place?

In this episode of The Digital Edge, Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway interview Ed Walters about the case, why he thinks keeping public law in the public domain is so important, and the history of law citations, annotations, and publication.

Topics include:

The verbiage in Casemaker’s takedown notice to Fastcase
Contracts with the Secretary of State of Georgia and other states
The importance of having a federal court declare that private publishers can’t own the law
The history of laws published with citations, annotations, or editorial enhancements
How the digitalization of laws has changed the publishing landscape
What happens when a state designates a version of the code as official (even if it was published by a private company like LexisNexis)
What will happen next with the Casemaker/Fastcase lawsuit

Ed Walters is the CEO and co-founder of Fastcase, a legal publishing company based in Washington D.C. Before working at Fastcase, he was a lawyer at Covington & Burling in Washington D.C. and Brussels. Ed also teaches The Law of Robots at Georgetown University Law Center.

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, CloudMask, and Scorpion.

The Lawyer’s Duty of Technology Competence Mar 10, 2016

In 2009, the American Bar Association created the Commission on Ethics 20/20 to examine in depth how changes in technology affect the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct. The commission made many recommendations and, most notably, the ABA modified Rule 1.1 regarding lawyer competence. In the new version, Rule 1.1 Comment 8 reads “To maintain the requisite knowledge and skill, a lawyer should keep abreast of changes in the law and its practice, including the benefits and risks associated with relevant technology...” But what does it really mean to be competent in technology as a lawyer?

In this episode of The Digital Edge, Jim Calloway interviews lawyer and legal technology blogger/podcaster Bob Ambrogi about the lawyer’s duty of technology competence, how it applies to discovery and confidentiality, and how technology can really benefit lawyers too.

Topics include:

Tech duty: regulatory burden versus the reality of practicing law today
State bars that have adopted the ABA rule change
Implications of the California eDiscovery Ethics Opinion
Relevant technology and knowing what you don’t know
Getting up to speed on encryption
eDiscovery and knowing how to collect, preserve, and search data properly
How to effectively contract out competence
The duty to supervise
Benefits of technology in practice management

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, CloudMask, and Scorpion.

ABA TECHSHOW 2016: An Interview with Chair Steve Best Jan 27, 2016

30 years ago, the legal community began to see the value in the intersection between technology and the law. Lawyers are now using new software and tech devices more than ever in their practices and the courtroom, making the ABA TECHSHOW’s 30th anniversary valuable to anyone working in the legal field. So what’s going on this year?

In this episode of The Digital Edge, Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway interview Steve Best, chair of ABA TECHSHOW’s Planning Board, about the popular technology topics that will be covered at the conference in March, why lawyers and other law firm staff should care about tech trends, and how Steve personally became so intricately involved.

Topics include:

Steve’s career transition from a practicing lawyer to a legal technology consultant
Why lawyers should care about security, mobility, and the cloud
Regulation violations and security breaches
Learning helpful info from the exhibit hall
The planning board: IT professionals, in-house attorneys, lawyers, and consultants
Two special plenary sessions
Getting the most out of the technology you already have
The 30th anniversary party at the Chicago Hilton hotel

Steve Best is an attorney and the founding partner at Affinity Consulting Group, a well-known and well-respected law office management and technology company. He is a member of the Florida Bar and the Georgia Bar and is also a certified consultant and trainer, maintaining certifications in many law office software products including time billing and accounting, practice management, document management, PDF production, document assembly, and paperless office packages.

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow and CloudMask.

The Future of the Professions: An Interview with Richard and Daniel Susskind Jan 19, 2016

“The question is not can a machine exhibit empathy or judgement but instead for what problems are empathy, judgement, or creativity the solution?” -Richard Susskind

After years of writing and thinking about the future of the legal profession, Richard Susskind began to run into legal professionals whose careers are being affected by technology. In addition to lawyers, those in the medical, architecture, financial, and other fields have begun to notice a shift in the provision of professional services. Richard got together with his son, Daniel Susskind, at the time working in justice policy, education policy, and health policy for the British Prime Minister, to examine how technology is increasingly playing a fundamental role in how all service-based professions work. They recently published a book on the subject called “The Future of the Professions.”

In this episode of The Digital Edge, Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway interview Richard and Daniel Susskind about their new book and key topics within that might interest lawyers who wish to prepare for the future. They discuss a “grand bargain” concept of exclusivity, the capability of machines to replace cognitive, physical/manual, and emotional skills currently provided by human professionals, and the right questions to ask about the future of legal services. Are there any tasks that computers won’t be able to do?

Topics include:

Society’s expectation for affordable, accessible, and reliable professional services
Computers and artificial intelligence as a threat to the legal profession
Professionals to be redeployed into new roles
Embedded knowledge
Free sharing of information through online avenues
Incremental changes versus complete changes
Commercial and social circumstances of the current systems

Professor Richard Susskind is an author, speaker, and independent advisor to international professional firms and national governments. He is president for the Society for Computers and Law, IT advisor to the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, and chair of the Oxford Internet Institute Advisory Board. His books include the best sellers, “The End of Lawyers?” and “Tomorrow’s Lawyers.”

Daniel Susskind is a lecturer in economics at Balliol College, University of Oxford, where he researches and teaches, and from where he has two degrees in economics. He was also a Kennedy Scholar at Harvard University. Previously, he worked for the British government as a policy adviser in the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit and as a senior policy adviser at the Cabinet Office.

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow and CloudMask.

What’s Hot in Cybersecurity for Law Firms Jan 04, 2016

With the data breaches and ransomware that has plagued law firms (and other companies) of all sizes recently, clients and firm managers alike are seeking more advanced data security. Certifications like the ISO 27001 provide guidelines and standards for how to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the information your firm holds. But what does implementing the high level of cybersecurity mean practically, how much will it cost, and what if a solo or small law firm can’t afford it?

In this episode of The Digital Edge, Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway interview John Simek about the International Standards Organization (ISO) 27001 certification, The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) small business standards, and other news concerning law firm cybersecurity.

Topics include:

Updates, guidelines, and costs of getting the ISO 27001 certification
NISTIR 7621 Revision 1: absolutely necessary, highly recommended, and advanced cybersecurity actions
Helpful resources for small firms
Client wishes and data breaches in 2015
How to implement an incident response plan (IRP)
Email encryption and Opinion 648 of the Texas Center for Legal Ethics
Protection from ransomware
Passwords, multi-factor authentication, and biometrics
Changing defaults and patching applications

John Simek is the vice president of Sensei Enterprises, Inc. in Fairfax, Virginia, which offers IT, information security, and digital forensics services for law firms and other businesses. John is a co-author of the book “Encryption Made Simple for Lawyers,” published by the American Bar Association in 2015 and a co-author of the second edition of “Locked Down: Practical Information Security for Lawyers” which will be published in March of 2016. John is one of the country’s leading cybersecurity experts for law firms.

The Internet's Role in Client Development Dec 17, 2015

How do people find lawyers these days? Although many attorneys believe they are discovered through a Google or Bing search, legal service consumers are actually still taking recommendations from people they know and trust. But technology has added a multitude of new ways that people perform research and journey to find lawyers. Potential clients will likely search for the lawyer or law firm’s website, Yelp or Avvo reviews, social media, and blogs before picking up the phone. So what should we, as lawyers, do to improve our online presence for more effective client development?

In this episode of The Digital Edge, Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway interview Gyi Tsakalakis, founder of the online legal marketing agency Attorney Sync, about the internet’s role in client development, the mistakes most lawyers make, and the “magic” of online legal marketing strategies.

Topics include:

The role of Google, Facebook, and Avvo in vetting legal service providers.
Providing valuable content versus blatant advertising
Understanding your audience and catering your marketing
Being authentic, direct, and transparent
Learning to use the technology properly
What to look for in a marketing agency
Properly defining your advertising goals for success
Utilizing current and past charity events participation

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow and CloudMask.

‘Tis the Season: Tech Toys for the Holidays 2015 Nov 11, 2015

And we’re back with another year of gift ideas for the tech savvy lawyer. Whether you are looking for a Star Wars drone for… ahem… your children, a computer or printer that you can fit in your pocket, or a whiskey glass to bring to Mars, Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway have the inside tip. Tune in to this episode of The Digital Edge for another year of tech toys for your friends, your family, or yourself.

Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.

Products Mentioned:

The New Apple TV: More memory, new interface, search with Siri, and since our fingers are tired of clicking, now with swipe!

The Surface Pro 4: Lighter than ever (1.69lbs) and 9 hours of battery

Intel Compute Stick: A fully functioning computer in a small stick

Microsoft Surface Book: High performance laptop

Polaroid Zip Mobile Printer: Instant photo printer that fits in your pocket

.law: A domain only available to qualified lawyers

FurniQi Wireless Charging Bamboo Side Table: Bamboo side table with two charging pucks in the bottom

Amazon Echo: Alexa is always listening and can play music, answer questions, and control smart devices. Next stop, smart houses?

Swarovski USB Stainless Steel Bracelet: For the lady lawyer in your life (depending on which lady lawyer is in your life)

Roku 4K Video Streamer: 2500+ channels on demand and, more importantly, a lost remote finder

Ring Zero: The world’s smallest input device

Bosch eBike: Electronic motor assisted biking

Panono: 360 degree panoramic photography ball (camera)

Mycestro wearable mouse: Ergonomic and controlled with natural gestures

AKGQ701 Headphones: “The Holy Grail of Headphones”

Zero Gravity Whiskey Glass: To avoid spilling your whiskey once space travel becomes a thing

Steakchamp Thermometer: Cook your steak the way you like it every time

Star Wars Speros BB8: The Star Wars drone with an adaptive personality

Pet Cube: Play with your pets at home while you are at work

Darth Vader and R2D2 Handheld Showerhead

Bonus: Which of these products isn’t available to the public yet?

Windows 10: What Lawyers Need to Know Oct 12, 2015

In this episode of The Digital Edge, Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway interview technologist and Microsoft expert Ben Schorr about the price, benefits, and downfalls of Windows 10 and what lawyers specifically need to know.

Topics Include:

What happened to Windows 9
The start menu and live tiles on desktops without touch screens
Microsoft Edge versus Internet Explorer
The quality of Cortana
Rumors of peer-to-peer networks and bandwidth use
New and existing hardware and software compatibility
Whether lawyers should download the operating system and when
How much Windows 10 costs?

Results-Oriented Financial Management for Lawyers Sep 10, 2015

Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway interview John Iezzi, author of “Results-Oriented Financial Management: A Step-by-Step Guide to Law Firm Profitability,” which is a book about compensation issues in small and mid-sized firms, what successful financial management looks like, and changes small firm lawyers need to make.

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow and CloudMask.

How to Attract Clients in the Digital Era Aug 27, 2015

Legal marketing has changed dramatically in the past 20 years as we have reached “the digital era.” Some lawyers have embraced this new world of social media marketing, engaging website content, and cloud-based computing. But those who have not, particularly solo and small firm lawyers, are missing out on an opportunity for increased client base, client satisfaction, and competition with big law firms.

Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway interview Sona Pancholy, a business development director, about the ways in which the digital age impacts law firm marketing, what mistakes lawyers should avoid making, where busy professionals should start, and some dos and don’ts of social media.

Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow and CloudMask.

How Lawyers Can Do More in Less Time Jul 27, 2015

Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway interview Allison Shields, co-author of “How to Do More in Less Time: The Complete Guide to Improving Your Productivity and Increasing Your Bottom Line.” Allison discusses why she wrote the book, productivity mistakes lawyers often make, and specific suggestions she has for increasing time efficiency.

The ABA Commission on the Future of Legal Services Jun 10, 2015

In this episode of The Digital Edge, Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway interview Judy Perry Martinez, chair of the ABA Presidential Commission on the Future of Legal Services. Martinez discusses specific actions the commission is taking to find solutions, including grassroots meetings across the country, a national summit, public hearings, and lawyer education. She explains how discussions with lawyers, judges, technology innovators, law students, academics, and law librarians bring awareness to issues in the changing legal landscape and encourages solution ideas. These changes present challenges and opportunities for lawyers today, but those who do not jump on board will likely be left behind.

Website Wizardry: The Right SEO for Your Law Firm May 12, 2015

In this episode of The Digital Edge, Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway interview attorney and marketing consultant Jennifer Ellis about what SEO is, why it is so complicated and expensive, and steps lawyers and law firms can take to start marketing online. Fundamentally, she explains, SEO means optimizing your law firm’s website so that people searching for your services in your area will find you on the results page. For example, if you own a family law firm in Phoenix, you want people who are searching in Google or Bing for “How do I find a divorce lawyer in Phoenix?” to find your law firm in the results. Due to complicated Google, Bing, and Yahoo algorithms and factors like mobile-friendliness, valuable content, and anti-spam rules, Ellis estimates that high-quality SEO should cost from $3,000 to $10,000 a month. If you are a solo or small firm with a limited marketing budget, she gives several other online marketing suggestions including running Pay Per Click campaigns or boosting social media posts. Ellis has suggestions for any lawyer or law firm on any budget and she strongly advises lawyers to spend some time on their online presence. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.

Why the iPad is the Best Tablet for Litigators Apr 21, 2015

In this episode of The Digital Edge, Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway interview The Kennedy-Mighell Report host Tom Mighell, lawyer and author of “iPad in One Hour for Litigators,” about why the iPad is the best tablet for litigators and how to best use the tools and applications available on the iPad. Mighell makes many suggestions about which apps are most useful for litigation, including apps for note taking, case intake, document transfer, discovery, legal research, and trial presentation. In addition, he recommends accessories for data input (handwriting or keyboard) and data output (evidence presentations or a printer). Most importantly, he emphasizes, lawyers should never assume they know how to use an app just because they downloaded it. Make sure you practice using every application before you enter the courtroom. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.

Speech Recognition and Dictation Solutions for Today’s Lawyer Mar 10, 2015

In this episode of The Digital Edge, Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway interview law firm consultant Britt Lorish about today’s speech recognition and dictation solutions, added benefits of current dictation software, common misconceptions about Dragon NaturallySpeaking, and the best microphones and apps to consider. Lorish explains that most lawyers who use dictation have embraced digital recording and filing, but many lawyers are still wary of using speech recognition softwares due to previous bad experiences. She talks about using softwares from dictation vendors like Philips, BigHand, and Winscribe in the cloud, and how Dragon is lagging in cloud-based usability. Additionally, Lorish discusses custom commands, a system of automating commonly-used commands like adding a signature block, opening a document template, or inserting standard client/attorney language. These speech solutions, Lorish says, can greatly help lawyers with disabilities, those who type slowly, and can even help younger lawyers improve oral argument abilities.

The Ethical Misadventures of Luddite Lawyers Feb 17, 2015

In this episode of The Digital Edge, Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway interview lawyer and legal technology blogger Sam Glover about when technology became an issue for attorneys, how they can get in trouble due to ignorance, and what all attorneys need to know about hackers, cloud services, and the resulting ethical duties. First, Glover explains that lawyers are getting into trouble in the courtroom by not knowing about how technologies like Twitter work, therefore losing cases that could be easily won. Concerning cyber security, he discusses the many reasons lawyers cannot simply outsource technology knowledge. Gloverhas been writing about technology, law practice management, marketing, and other legal information on Lawyerist since he started it in 2007.

ABA TECHSHOW 2015: Don’t Miss It! Jan 07, 2015

The ABA TECHSHOW is an annual legal technology conference in Chicago, sponsored by the Law Practice Division of the ABA. The goal of the conference is to educate lawyers, legal professionals, and law firm employees on using technology in their practice. The 2015 conference will be held April 16th through the 18th, and will feature many new and recurring educational topics that are trending in legal technology. Want to find out if this conference will benefit your practice?

In this episode of The Digital Edge, Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway interview the Chair of the ABA TECHSHOW Board, Brett Burney, about the 2015 conference, what attendees can expect, and why attendance is useful to almost anyone working in the legal field. The people who should attend, Burney says, are solo and small firm lawyers, government lawyers, members of corporate legal departments, and big firm lawyers. Additionally, law firm employees such as paralegals, legal assistants, CIOs, IT professionals, law firm administrators, office administrators, litigation support professionals, and many others will benefit from the educational value of the ABA TECHSHOW. He talks about this year's legal technology topics such as cloud computing, a paperless office, digital security, and many others, and how the board selects speakers of quality and relevance. Burney discusses how having vendors and exhibitors at the conference can help users, why a legal professional should attend for the first time, and what's new and cool for the 2015 conference. The ABA TECHSHOW comes highly recommended by past attendees for legal professionals at any level of tech experience, from novice to expert.

Brett Burney is the Chair of this year's ABA TECHSHOW Board and is also the Principal of Burney Consultants LLC. He focuses the bulk of his time consulting on e-discovery and litigation support topics. He also works with lawyers who want to integrate Macs, iPhones, and iPads into their practice. Burney is a frequent contributor to Legal Technology News and speaks around the country on litigation support, e-discovery, Mac and iOS-related topics.

Microsoft Surface Pro 3: The Tablet That Really Can Replace a Laptop Dec 11, 2014

The Microsoft Surface Pro 3 has been released and, according to these lawyers, it finally lives up to the standards of a laptop. It is lighter and more mobile than even the lightest laptop, which makes it better for travel. However, this tablet can download the software and applications that many lawyers use in business like Acrobat, Photoshop, Microsoft Office, while also supporting multiple users. The Digital Edge host Sharon Nelson purchased a Microsoft Surface Pro 3 recently and has put it through the test of whether this tablet can actually replace the laptop she uses for her business.

In this episode of The Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway invite Nelson's business partner, husband, and technology expert John Simek on to analyze the statistics of the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 and assess for whom it can replace a laptop computer. The beneficial features of the tablet include:

Bluetooth
USB Port
Solid State Hard Disk
Wireless Connectivity
Hard Wire Capability
12" Screen
2160x1440 Resolution
Micro SD Card Slot
Headphone Jack
Mini Display Port for Additional Monitors
Kickstand
Front and Rear Cameras
Multiple Processor Options

Nelson found that these features made this tablet work for her as a laptop replacement. She found the i7 Processor particularly nice since lawyers often have little patience with a slow computer. However, this isn't an advertisement for the Surface Pro 3, so Simek pointed out some downsides to the product. Purchasers should expect to pay laptop prices (instead of tablet prices) ranging from $799 to $1949, not including necessary accessories like the keyboard, which will cost an additional $199. The battery life ranges from 8 to 9 hours, relative to the iPad which consistently lasts 10 hours. Also, the Surface Pro 3 can't sit atop a lap; it needs a hard surface to work with the kickstand. Despite the downfalls, however, Simek and Nelson have agreed that this tablet can replace a laptop, at least in their legal practice.

John Simek is the Vice President of Sensei Enterprises, holds many digital forensics and IT certifications, and is the co-host of Legal Talk Network's Digital Detectives podcast. Simek is the co-author of 12 books with two more slated to come out next year and a frequent speaker on the lecture circuit where he talks about IT, information security, and digital forensics.

Special thanks to our sponsor, Serve Now.

Tis the Season: Tech Toys for the Holidays 2014 Nov 19, 2014

Are you a lawyer who always has the newest tech products and apps? Do you already have a drone even though most people think they are only in sci fi movies? Are you looking for a holiday gift for your tech junkie spouse?

In this edition of The Digital Edge, Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway present their favorite tech toys for the holidays. Nelson and Calloway have each picked out their choice of new electronics for themselves or loved ones. These new gadgets range in practicality from the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 to a bacon scented alarm clock and they range in price from a $20 Bluetooth Shower Speakerphone/Radio to a glass yacht that you can't afford if you care how much it costs. Other products include a tablet, an Apple integrated flash drive, a cheap drone, noise-cancelling headphones, a flux capacitor USB port for your car, rhumbas for your grill and driveway, and even a Yeti cup. Tune in for inspiration and awe on the direction technology is heading. Who knows, you might hear about a new tech toy you have to have!

Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.

Lawyers Love New Apple Products: iPhone 6, Apple Pay, and Apple Watch Oct 21, 2014

There are many exciting new Apple products available now or launching in the near future. Many lawyers love to use Apple products in their practice and personal lives and are often eager to learn about the newest change in the technology or services. The iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, and iOS 8 were released in September 2014, Apple Pay launches in October 2014, and the Apple Watch is set to be released in the spring of 2015. If attorneys want to know about what's new, there is one lawyer who is an expert on all Apple products: Jeff Richardson.

On this episode of The Digital Edge, Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway interview attorney and iPhone J.D. blog writer Jeff Richardson about the new Apple products and services, what he recommends for lawyers, and predictions for the future of technology. Richardson starts by describing the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, differences from previous iPhones, and size and storage recommendations for lawyers using a smartphone in their practice. He gives some suggestions for essential accessories including a case, external battery, additional cables, and bluetooth headphones. Richardson then describes new iOS 8 features such as predictive text and interactive notifications, how the Apple Watch will change the future of wearable technology, and what Apple Pay means for consumers and vendors. Although Apple is always coming out with new products, it is a particularly exciting time for lawyers and technology.

Jeff Richardson is a partner in the New Orleans office of Adams and Reese LLP. His practice focuses on defending companies sued in class actions and complex litigation, as well as appellate litigation. Richardson publishes iPhone J.D., the oldest and most comprehensive website for attorneys who use iPhones and iPads.

Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.

Microsoft Office 365 for Lawyers is Here! Sep 29, 2014

Lawyers now have the option to purchase Microsoft Office 365 for their small, medium, or big law firms. Microsoft Office 365 is a collection of products and services that can be purchased individually or in bundles known as stockkeeping units (SKUs). The products available include Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft SharePoint, Microsoft Lync, Yammer, Office Suite 2013, and Matter Center. These provide everything from document management, email and contacts, voice and text communication, to a corporate social network. How might these services benefit a law firm and what questions should lawyers be asking?

In this episode of The Digital Edge, Sharon Nelson and John Simek interview Microsoft expert and technologist Ben Schorr about the Office 365 services and products as they pertain to use in a law firm. Schorr answers some of the often asked questions concerning the difference between Office 365 and Office Suite 2013, cloud based information storage, collaboration and sharing, and the way that Microsoft's pricing differs from other software providers. He wraps up the interview by explaining the differences between SharePoint and Matter Center for document management and advises lawyers and legal professionals to do online research and work with a Microsoft partner before deciding on products for a firm. There are many options to pick and choose from for a firm of any size, from solo to big law.

Ben M. Schorr is a technologist and Chief Executive Officer for Roland Schorr and Tower, a professional consulting firm headquartered in Flagstaff, Arizona with offices in Hawaii and Oregon. He has been involved with management and technology for more than 20 years and a Microsoft MVP for more than 15. He is the author of several books and articles on technology including "The Lawyer's Guide to Microsoft Outlook," "The Lawyer's Guide to Microsoft Word," and "OneNote in One Hour."

Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.

The Future of Wearable Technology for Lawyers Sep 04, 2014

Wearable technology like the smartwatch is the next in a long line of new technological advancements that are embraced by some, but viewed skeptically by most lawyers. Judges already discourage smart phones in court and many clients worry about a decrease in information security. But if used properly, a smartwatch can actually increase the productivity, availability, and even safety of any lawyer's practice with fewer disruptions. What are the best practices for using wearable technology to benefit your practice?

In this episode of The Digital Edge, Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway interview legal technology expert Richard Georges about wearable technology, how smartwatches enhances his ability to be productive, and what lawyers need to consider when adopting this new technology. Having a smartwatch, Georges explains, actually decreases court disruptions and car distractions while making him accessible to clients at all times. Most of the issues concerning data security are due to human error rather than technology. As long as lawyers learn how to properly embrace wearable technology, he says, it can improve any practice from big law to a solo firm. The risks are not greater, they are simply different.

Richard Georges practices in real property, corporations, wills, trusts, and estates law in Pinellas County, Florida. A self-proclaimed tech junkie, he is well known for writing the Futurelawyer blog and has taught many seminars on technology and the law.

Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.

When Lawyers Get Divorced: Ethically Breaking up a Law Firm Jul 14, 2014

When a law firm breaks up or a lawyer leaves to start a new practice, there are always clients, contingency arrangements, and hourly cases to split up. It is important to know what ethical steps a lawyer or law firm should take when parting ways. If the firm splits up, who has the rights to the name, brand, clients, or even client files? How can both parties ethically allocate unfinished business, accounts receivable, or unsettled contingency prearrangements? An ethical and professional split is inevitably beneficial for the future of the law firm and the lawyer.

On this episode of The Digital Edge, Sharon D. Nelson and Jim Calloway ask legal ethics expert Tom Spahn about the proper way to professionally deal with the various situations that arise when a law firm splits up. He explains that lawyers and their firms should remain civil and open to negotiation before the lawyer has left. Firms have run into trouble while trying to penalize leaving employees on an individual basis. He discusses the ethically proper way to deal with unfinished business doctrines, document retention programs, and fiduciary duties to clients. Due to technology, there are new issues to consider including digital files or property ownership of domain names. Overall, however, Spahn emphasizes that every partner has a continuing duty to make sure every client is adequately served.

Tom Spahn, often known as "Mr. Ethics" in Virginia, practices as a commercial litigator in the Tysons Corner office of McGuireWoods. He has served on the ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professionalism, and has spoken over 1,200 times on ethics and other topics in the United States and abroad.

Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.

Tips and Tricks for Lawyers Using PowerPoint in Trial Presentations Jun 20, 2014

Many attorneys now use PowerPoint in trial to preview, highlight, and sum up the evidence for their arguments and organize their presentations. Effective PowerPoints garner the attention of court personnel and jury members and enhance their overall presentation. However, ineffective PowerPoints can be confusing, difficult to read, or distract the audience from the presentation's overall objective. Attorney and legal technology consultant Paul Unger argues that only with the proper skills and learning can a lawyer create an informative and engaging PowerPoint presentation that will be a useful tool in the courtroom.

In this episode of The Digital Edge, Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway interview Unger about the best practices in using PowerPoint in the courtroom. Unger emphasizes simplicity, professionalism, and making PowerPoint a tool that reinforces the content rather than providing it. According to research Unger has done, audiences who are distracted by bullet points and excess text are unlikely to remember much of the slide's content or even the presenting lawyer's main point. He recommends that the PowerPoint slides provide only headlines and pictures that are held together by the attorney's narrative.

Unger's experience in PowerPoint and legal technology comes from being an attorney and founding principal of Affinity Consulting Group, a nationwide consulting company providing legal technology consulting, continuing legal education, and training. He specializes in trial presentation and litigation technology, document and case management, and paperless office strategies. To learn more, pick up a copy of his book, PowerPoint in One Hour for Lawyers, at the ABA bookstore.

Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.

The Best of Legal Tech for Solos and Small Firms 2014 May 14, 2014

There are a multitude of technology options to help run small firms and solo practices, but deciding on which ones can be a daunting endeavor. Mac vs. PC, practice management systems, and encryption of client data are among numerous issues attorneys must resolve. On this episode of The Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway interview John Simek from Sensei Enterprises. Together, they discuss modern innovations that make running firms easier and keep client data safe. Tune in to learn more about meta data, benefits of paperless, and John's favorite software tools.

John Simek is the vice president of Sensei Enterprises, a digital forensics, information technology and information security firm located in Fairfax, Virginia. He is a co-author of The 2014 Solo and Small Firm Legal Technology Guide: Critical Decisions Made Simple, published by the American Bar Association along with many other books on technology, security and electronic evidence. John is a testifying expert and holds many technical certifications. He's also a co-host on another Legal Talk Network podcast, the Digital Detectives.

Headlines from ABA TECHSHOW 2014 Apr 03, 2014

Breaking all of its previous attendance records, ABA TECHSHOW 2014 will certainly go down as one of the most successful. True-to-form, many of the attendees were from small firms and solo practices. With the introduction of How-To sessions, lawyers will be getting more out of ABA TECHSHOW for many years to come. On this episode of the Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway interview this year's ABA TECHSHOW Chair Natalie Kelly. Together, they cover the highlights of the 2014 show plus take a look into the future Planning Board. This year's hottest topics: the re-emergence of paperless, the Cloud, and iOS. Tune in to hear about the Solutions Lab, Exhibits, and much, much more.

Natalie Kelly is the Chair of this year's ABA TECHSHOW. She is the Director of the State Bar of Georgia's Law Practice Management Program where she provides extensive practice management and technology consulting to members of the Georgia Bar. Kelly is a Certified Consultant and Trainer for AbacusLaw, Amicus Attorney, PCLaw, PracticeMaster, Tabs3, Time Matters, Billing Matters, and TimeSlips software applications. She also speaks and writes frequently on these topics. At home, Natalie is a hard-working wife and mother of 3 daughters.

Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.

Ethical Perils of Social Media for Lawyers and Judges Mar 17, 2014

Of the 46% of judges using social media, 80% are on Facebook and over 30% are on LinkedIn, but activity on social media presents a number of ethical dilemmas for judges, attorneys, jurors, and litigants. In a recent case in Georgia, a judge stepped down after being scrutinized for sending a friend request to a litigant on his upcoming trial calendar and later releasing her on a personal recognizance bond. Similar activities from other judges and attorneys have resulted in violations of both the Code of Professional Conduct and the Code of Judicial Conduct, from unauthorized practice of law across state lines and breaching attorney-client privilege to posting inappropriate comments and sending friend requests to litigants and related attorneys. These ethical perils extend to jurors, who must be reminded of their own limitations in social media use with regard to pending trials. On this episode of The Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway interview Judge Herbert B. Dixon, Jr., discussing stories of collateral damage associated with inappropriate social media use and ways legal professionals can avoid ethical missteps. Stay tuned at the end for Judge Dixon's 4 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Posting on Social Media.

Judge Herbert B. Dixon, Jr. sits on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia and is a former chair of the National Conference of State Trial Judges. He is the technology columnist for The Judges' Journal magazine and a former member of the ABA Techshow Planning Board. Judge Dixon is Senior Judicial Advisor to William and Mary Law School's Courtroom 21 Project, the Presiding Judge for the Superior Court's Technology-Enhanced Courtroom Project, and a frequent speaker on topics related to the intersection of law and technology.

Lawyer Scams and How to Avoid Them Feb 21, 2014

In this edition of The Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway discuss check fraud with expert Dan Pinnington. Together, they reveal how lawyers are repeatedly falling into the trap of check fraudsters and what can be done to avoid it. Tune in for tips on how to spot a check fraudster in your practice or law firm.

Pinnington is the Vice President of Claims Prevention and Stakeholder Relations at Lawyers' Professional Indemnity Company (LAWPRO). He is a prolific writer, speaker, and blogger on topics including practice management, risk management, and legal technology. He is also a contributor to AvoidAClaim.com which is blog by LAWPRO that, among many things, helps attorneys prevent malpractice claims.

Acrobat Tips and Tricks for Lawyers Jan 23, 2014

In this edition of The Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway invite Ernie Svenson, commonly known as "Ernie the Attorney," to discuss his recently published ABA book Acrobat in One Hour for Lawyers and unveil all the abilities, outside of just viewing, that PDFs offer. Topics include the benefits of the professional version versus the standard version, specific features for lawyers such as bookmarking, Bates stamping, redaction, quick tips, and more.

Svenson started his career at mid-sized New Orleans law firm where he learned how to do more with less, and at less cost. This made an easy transition to a solo firm where he continued working on the same kinds of commercial litigation cases he handled at his former firm. He then started PaperlessChase.com to help share what he learned from using technology in his law practice.

Time Management for Lawyers Dec 20, 2013

Meg Spencer Dixon pulled three consecutive all-nighters before she began pursuing time management as a career. Now, she is a consultant in task management for legal professionals. In this edition of The Digital Edge hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway invite Dixon to discuss her top tips for legal professionals looking to master project management, how to stop procrastinating, and more. Founder of Spencer Consulting, Dixon has been working as a time-management consultant for more than a decade. Her company focuses on providing seminars on time management, project management, stress management, and how to run effective meetings for law firms, CLE providers, government agencies, and corporate law departments.

Tis the Season: Tech Toys for the Holidays 2013 Nov 15, 2013

In this edition of The Digital Edge, Sharon Nelson, Esq. and Jim Calloway present their annual Tech Toys for the Holidays episode. Your hosts each present the top electronics on their wish lists and shopping lists for the gift-giving season. Tune in for inspiration and an update on the newest, coolest gadgets like smartphone spy lenses, doorbells connected via wifi, portable chargers powered by hydrogen and oxygen, and more.

Technology Audits for Your Firm – By Your Clients Oct 18, 2013

On this edition of The Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson, Esq. and Jim Calloway invite lawyer, friend, and co-presenter Andy Perlman of Suffolk Law School to discuss the new technology audits for lawyers. Kasey D. Flaherty of corporate counsel for Kia Motors developed a technology audit to measure how efficiently lawyers are using technology and determine how much time (and clients' money) they could be saving. Suffolk University is partnering with Flaherty to enhance and automate the audit. Tune in to hear more about the audit, the partnership with Suffolk, how to get involved, and more. Andy Perlman is a Suffolk Law School professor and the director of the University's Institute of Law Practice Technology Innovation. Perlman was the co-chief reporter for the ABA Commission of Ethics 20/20, which successfully implemented changes to the Model Rules of Professional Conduct and related ABA policies to address ethical issues from globalization and technological developments. He also contributes to the blog Legal Ethics Forum.

11th Edition: Outlook 2007 with Ben Schorr Sep 26, 2013

Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway talk with Ben Schorr, author of the newly released book,"The Lawyer's Guide to Microsoft Outlook 2007.

10th Edition: The ABC's of SEO Sep 26, 2013

Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway share their expertise on the subject of Search Engine Optimization.

9th Edition: Adobe Acrobat Sep 26, 2013

A discussion on using Adobe Acrobat, featuring David Masters.

8th Edition: ABA TECHSHOW 2008 - Preview Edition Sep 26, 2013

Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway explain how ABA TECHSHOW is so much more than just a legal technology conference.

7th Edition: The Legal Technology Year in Review Sep 26, 2013

Jim Calloway and Sharron Nelson review some of the most notable technology software products of 2007.

6th Edition: Tech Toys for the Holidays Sep 26, 2013

Looking for the perfect tech gadget for a colleague or yourself? Sharon and Jim share a few of their favorite things for the holidays.

5th Edition: Ethics in the Electronic Era: Staying Out of the Briar Patch Sep 26, 2013

Technology can make an attorney's repetitive tasks much easier, but it can also make their lives a lot more complicated. With all the advances in technology it is easy for lawyers to accidentally commit malpractice at the speed of light. In this month's edition of "The Digital Edge: Lawyers and Technology" you'll learn ways to avoid the ethical briar patch.

4th Edition: Better than Batman's Belt: Our Favorite Utilities Sep 26, 2013

Holy downloadable data directors! In this edition of "The Digital Edge: Lawyers and Technology" Jim Calloway and Sharon Nelson discuss their favorite software utilities.

3rd Edition: Courthouse Technology: Lawyers Go Hollywood Sep 26, 2013

Jim and Sharon discuss courtroom technology and how to be your own Steven Spielberg at trial, storyboarding your case and showcasing technology. They go through the use of various kinds of technology explaining their uses and dangers and recounting stories from real-life trials.

2nd Edition: Electronic Marketing: Harnessing the Web's Whizbang Sep 26, 2013

How do you help clients find their way to your doorstep? Use the Internet's whizbang! This podcast contains many tips and strategies, including website development and search engine optimization, the purchase of keywords on search engines, directory listings (free and paid), electronic newsletters, blogs, podcasts, and much more.

1st Edition: Talking to Yourself: Is Speech Recognition Ready for Prime Time? Sep 26, 2013

Computers that can be controlled by speech used to be a matter of science fiction. In the real world speech recognition software has matured slowly. There have been significant improvements in recent years, but is speech recognition practical for daily use in your law office? Jim and Sharon discuss the highs and lows of digital dictation.

12th Edition: Outsourcing Electronic Discovery Review Abroad< Sep 26, 2013

Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway discuss the pros and cons of outsourcing Electronic Discovery tasks overseas.

13th Edition: Ball in Your Court - Craig Ball on Electronic Discovery Sep 26, 2013

A wealth of free electronic discovery resources may be found at Craig Ball's website at www.craigball.com

14th Edition: Tech Toys for the Holidays Sep 26, 2013

Suggestions for tech toys from Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway!

15th Edition: ABA TECHSHOW Sep 26, 2013

Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway explain how ABA TECHSHOW is so much more than just a legal technology conference. Find related links at Law Practice Today a webzine of the ABA Law Practice Management Section here.

16th Edition: Social Networking for Lawyers Sep 26, 2013

Jim Calloway and Sharon Nelson discuss social networking for lawyers, focusing on the use of Twitter and Facebook.

17th Edition: Marketing in a Down Economy Sep 26, 2013

This month Jim Calloway and Sharon Nelson discuss Marketing in a Down Economy on the Digital Edge: Lawyers and Technology podcast.

18th Edition: Practice Management Sep 26, 2013

Jim Calloway and John Simek speak with Andy Adkins to discuss discuss his recently-published book, The Lawyer's Guide to Practice Management Systems Software, Second Edition.

19th Edition: Essential Tips to Power Your Practice Sep 26, 2013

Jim Calloway and Sharon Nelson speak with Dan Pinnington and Reid Trautz to discuss discuss their recently-published book, The Busy Lawyer's Guide to Success: Essential Tips to Power Your Practice.

20th Edition: How to Select an S.E.O. Company Sep 26, 2013

Jim Calloway and Sharon Nelson discuss the importance of search engine optimization and share tips for selecting the right company to help put your Web site on the on the search engine map.

21st Edition: How Good Lawyers Survive Bad Times Sep 26, 2013

Jim Calloway and Sharon Nelson welcome guest Ross Kodner to discuss the economic downturn and its effect on lawyers. Stay tuned for Jim, Sharon, and Ross's book, How Good Lawyers Survive Bad Times.

22nd Edition: How Good Lawyers Survive Bad Times - Marketing and Management Sep 26, 2013

Following the informative discussion of Jim Calloway, Sharon Nelson, Ross Kodner's book "How Good Lawyers Survive Bad Times," this edition of The Digital Edge, explores marketing and management tools for lawyers during a down economy.

23rd Edition: Looking Ahead Sep 26, 2013

Join Jim and Sharon for a look at trends for the future – the economy and its effect on the legal profession, technology, and more!

24th Edition: Find Info Like a Pro: Investigative Research on the Internet Sep 26, 2013

Jim and Sharon welcome Carole Levitt and Mark Rosch to discuss their book (to be published later this year) "Find Info Like a Pro, Volume 1: Mining the Internet's Publicly Available Resources for Investigative Research.

25th Edition: Tech Toys for the Holidays Sep 26, 2013

Jim and Sharon prepare for the season of giving (and wanting!) with some great gift ideas for the tech lover in all of us.

26th Edition: Cloud Computering for Lawyers Sep 26, 2013

Authors Erik Mazzone and Ben Schorr join Jim and Sharon to discuss the cloud computing title bout between the cloud curmudgeon and the cloud champion.

27th Edition: Computer Forensic FAQs Sep 26, 2013

Sharon Nelson (flying solo because Jim Calloway is under the weather) interviews John Simek, one the foremost experts on computer forensics, and gets answers to some of the computer forensics questions most frequently asked by lawyers.

28th Edition: What's Hot in Technology for 2010 Sep 26, 2013

We welcome back Jim as he and Sharon discuss some hot technologies that may change the business of practicing law in 2010 and beyond.

29th Edition: The Next Generation of Lawyers Sep 26, 2013

Dennis Kennedy, respected legal technologist and author, chats with Jim and Sharon about how the practice of law is likely to change for the next generation of lawyers.

30th Edition: ABA TECHSHOW 2010 - It's a Wrap Sep 26, 2013

Jim and Sharon discuss some of the highlights of this year's ABA TECHSHOW.

31st Edition: Alternative Fee Arrangements: Is it Finally Time? Sep 26, 2013

A long-standing source of debate, Jim and Sharon talk about the billable hour, its role in so many firms, and creative solutions to it - AFAs.

32nd Edition: Surviving the Law Practice Shark Tank - the Top 6 Mistakes That Can Kill You in Your Practice Sep 26, 2013

Jim and Sharon welcome long-time friend and colleague Nerino Petro, as they discuss some of the greatest mistakes lawyers can make and how to avoid them.

33rd Edition: Virtual Lawyering Goes Mainstream Sep 26, 2013

With 14% of attorneys reporting to the ABA that they are now engaged in the virtual practice of law, Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway discuss how VLOs (virtual law offices) have gone mainstream.

34th Edition: 2010 ABA Legal Technology Survey Report Sep 26, 2013

Listen in as Jim and Sharon are joined by Catherine Sanders Reach – Director of the ABA Legal Technology Resource Center – to discuss some exciting and useful findings from the sixth volume of the Center's Survey Report.

35th Edition: Metadata - What You Can't See Can Hurt You Sep 26, 2013

Jim and Sharon discuss the importance understanding metadata. With the amount of misinformation and lack of knowledge about metadata, it is important for legal professionals to understand how misuse could ultimately affect their businesses.

36th Edition: Anatomy of a Law Firm Audit Sep 26, 2013

Jim and Sharon take a look at the little-discussed topic of law practice management audits. Hopefully you will never have an audit ordered on you or your law practice. But what can you learn from the items that an auditor might examine that will help you be a better lawyer?

37th Edition: Tech Toys for the Holidays Sep 26, 2013

'Tis the season to be a techie as Jim and Sharon highlight tools - and most importantly, toys - for everyone's holidays.

38th Edition: Google for Lawyers Sep 26, 2013

Jim and Sharon welcome author experts Carole Levitt and Mark Rosch to discuss their recent (and extremely successful) book, Google for Lawyers: Essential Search Tips and Productivity Tools.

39th Edition: Legal Talk Network - Taking Legal Podcasts to the Next Level Sep 26, 2013

Jim and Sharon are joined by two-time Emmy Award winner Lu Ann Reeb, Co-founder and President of Legal Talk Network, LLC.

40th Edition: ABA TECHSHOW - 25th Anniversary Sep 26, 2013

Past ABA TECHSHOW Chairs Jim and Sharon welcome Paul Unger, Chair of ABA TECHSHOW 2011, for a preview of the exciting 25th anniversary of bringing lawyers and technology together!

41st Edition: Contemplating the Future of Law Practice Sep 26, 2013

Jim and Sharon discuss a number of trends that impact the future of the legal profession.

42nd Edition: New Book Release - iPad in One Hour for Lawyers Sep 26, 2013

Jim and Sharon discuss a New Book Release - iPad in One Hour for Lawyers by Tom Mighell

43rd Edition: 24 Favorite Websites Sep 26, 2013

ABA TECHSHOW 2011 closed with a crowd in attendance for 60 Sites in 60 Minutes. Jim and Sharon joined colleagues ABA TECHSHOW 2010 chair Paul Unger and TECHSHOW planning board member Erik Mazzone for this lively presentation. Jim and Sharon just couldn't get enough of talking about interesting and fun websites for lawyers so they decided to discuss some of the websites here, beginning with a 'missing site" that was mysteriously omitted from the original 60 Sites presentation.

44th Edition: Information Security for Lawyers Sep 26, 2013

Information security for lawyers is major issue. Bedrocks of the attorney-client relationship are attorney-client privilege and confidentiality of client information. Jim and Sharon are joined by Dave Ries, who is a partner with the firm of Thorp, Reed and Armstrong, a former ABA TECHSHOW planning board member and an expert on information security for lawyers, to discuss this critical issue.

45th Edition: How to Start a Law Practice Sep 26, 2013

Sharon and Jim interview Bill Gibson, noted author and lecturer and the President at the College of Law Practice Management about starting a law practice. Bill tells newly-minted lawyers what it is essential to have and to think about as you form your own practice and offers his very best tips and techniques.

46th Edition: All Things Apple for Lawyers Sep 26, 2013

Hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway talk to Brett Burney, the principal of Burney Consultants and a nationally-recognized expert on Apple products about "All Things Apple for Lawyers.

47th Edition: The Lawyer's Guide to Microsoft Word 2010 Sep 26, 2013

This month Jim Calloway and Sharon Nelson interview Ben Schorr of Roland Schorr and Tower, who is the author of The Lawyer's Guide to Microsoft Word 2010. Ben shares several tips and great information about all of Microsoft Office 2010.

48th Edition: Favorite Social Media Tips Sep 26, 2013

Sharon and Jim discuss their favorite tips for using social media, including ways to maximize your results while minimizing your time, privacy safeguards and stories from their own successful use of social media.

49th Edition: Tech Toys for the Holidays Sep 26, 2013

This month Jim Calloway and Sharon Nelson continue their annual tradition with Tech Toys for the Holidays 2011, the 49th edition of The Digital Edge: Lawyers and Technology podcast. They agree that this is their favorite podcast of the year and note that if any listeners want to send them any holiday presents, they are not hard to locate.

50th Edition: Solo By Choice Sep 26, 2013

Sharon and Jim welcome Carolyn Elefant, an attorney and the author of Solo by Choice: Be the Lawyer You Always Wanted to Be. Carolyn talks about how solos should market themselves through social media and in other ways, how they can stay current with technology and the budgetary and ethical implications of cloud computing for solos.

51st Edition - ABA TECHSHOW 2012 Sep 26, 2013

Sharon and Jim welcome Reid Trautz, the Chair of ABA TECHSHOW 2012. Reid offers a preview of the conference, which will take place March 29-31 in Chicago, including new educational sessions, social events, the keynote by Ben Stein and discounted pricing.

52nd Edition - Start It Up Reboot or Reload Sep 26, 2013

Sharon and Jim interview Barron Henley, a partner at Affinity Consulting Group, about the technology that lawyers need today to efficiently open and operate a law office. These are the various specific products mentioned by Mr. Henley during the discussion. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list.

53rd Edition - iPad for Litigators Sep 26, 2013

In this episode, Sharon and Jim discuss using iPads in the courtroom with Tom Mighell. This podcast was motivated by a webinar that Jim and Tom did with trial lawyer Jamie Moncus earlier this year for the ABA Law Practice Management Section.

54th Edition - Ethics and Technology – The Rules Are Changing Sep 26, 2013

This month Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway interview Catherine Sanders Reach Director of Law Practice Management and Technology for the Chicago Bar Association. The topic is Ethics and Technology The Rules are Changing.

55th Edition - Locked Down: Information Security for Lawyers Sep 26, 2013

Sharon and Jim talk to noted litigator Dave Ries about information security (or the lack thereof) in law firms. They discuss why law firms are increasingly targeted by hackers, how the hacks are accomplished and steps that law firms should be taking to safeguard their data.

56th Edition - The Future of Law Practice Sep 26, 2013

Sharon turns the tables on Jim and makes him her guest to talk about the future of law practice. Jim discusses current trends, technology implications, alternative fees arrangements and gives advice about what lawyers can do to prepare for the future of law practice.

57th Edition - Avoid Bad Check Frauds Sep 26, 2013

Jim and Sharon talk to Dan Pinnington, the Vice President of Claims Prevention and Stakeholder Relations for the Laywers Professional Indemnity Company in Ontario about how lawyers can avoid bad check frauds. Dan explains exactly how these frauds work, notes some red flags to alert lawyers that something is wrong and gives a number of helpful resources for further information.

58th Edition - The New Normal Sep 26, 2013

Jim and Sharon interview Arthur Greene about "the new normal" in the economy and how it impacts law firms.

59th Edition: Model Rules Have Changed Sep 26, 2013

Jim and Sharon welcome guest Andy Perlman, a noted professor, author and lecturer, who serves as the Chief Reporter for the ABA Commission on Ethics 20/20. The House of Delegates adopted a number of the Commission's recommendations in August of 2012 and Andy provides a great overview of what lawyers need to know about the changes in what it means to be competent, the protection of client data and ethical marketing.

60th Edition - iPad for Lawyers, 2nd Edition Sep 26, 2013

Sharon and Jim welcome Tom Mighell, the author of the second edition of The iPad for Lawyers. Everything moves fast in the iPad world so Tom brings us up to date on the latest apps, accessories and tips!

61st Edition - 2012 Tech Toys Sep 26, 2013

Sharon and Jim present their annual Holiday Tech Toys podcast including some heavy duty technology and some light-hearted technology to entertain you over the holiday season

62nd Edition - 2012 Top Tech Trends Sep 26, 2013

Sharon and Jim talk to Toby Brown, the Director or Strategic Pricing and Analytics for Akin Gump, about technology trends in large firms - it's a very different IT world from that of solos and small firms!

63rd Edition - Windows 8 for Solos and Small Firms: Should You Upgrade? Sep 26, 2013

In this very timely podcast, Jim and Sharon talk to legal technologist Ben Schorr about the pros and cons of Windows 8, what it costs, how easy it is to install and its best and worst features.

64th Edition - Social Media, Part 1 Sep 26, 2013

Jim and Sharon talk to Ernie Svenson and Jared Correia about how lawyers can effectively and ethically use Twitter and blogs.

65th Edition - Social Media, Part 2 Sep 26, 2013

In Part 2 of Lawyers and Social Media, Jim and Sharon are joined by Allison Shields and Dennis Kennedy who talk about their favorite tips for ethically using Facebook and LinkedIn.

66th Edition - Big Data for Lawyers Sep 26, 2013

Sharon and Jim interview Jobst Elster, the Head of Content for InsideLegal.com, about the implications of big data for all lawyers in firms small and large. Big data provides both opportunities and challenges for lawyers! Show Notes Software TyMetrix RateDriver app (free download) Big Data Articles and Blog Posts Legal IT Insider

2013 ABA Legal Technology Survey Report: Has Virtual Lawyering Declined? Sep 06, 2013

This year’s ABA Legal Technology Survey Report found a slight (from seven to five percent) decline in virtual lawyering. This spurred the discussion of: What, exactly, is virtual lawyering? What is the growth potential in this type of practice? and, Is it a viable business model for lawyers? On this episode of The Digital Edge, co-hosts Sharon D. Nelson, Esq. and Jim Calloway chat with Bob Ambrogi about the survey results, virtual and online lawyering, and how although clients may be ready for these e-services, lawyers may not be. Bob Ambrogi is the co-host of Legal Talk Network’s legal-affairs podcast Lawyer2Lawyer. He authors the blog LawSites, where he posts new and intriguing websites and e-tools for the legal profession, and the blog Media Law, covering freedom of the press. He is a Massachusetts lawyer, writer, and media consultant.

Lawyers Swarm to Ghost Blogging, But is it Ethical? Aug 14, 2013

The days of just having a website are over. With the increase in social media profiles and supplementary links lawyers need to rank well in search engines, it’s no surprise they are farming out their blogging, and whatever else they can, to keep up. There are many services out there which will provide blog posts, but does this fit within the Model Rules of Professional Conduct? According to lawyer and blogger Kevin O’Keefe, ghost blogging defeats the purpose of blogging and, with no disclosure, is unethical. Kevin O’Keefe is the founder and CEO of Lexblog, a leading provider of social media and blogging to law firms. After working as an attorney for 17 years, successfully marketing his firm online, he redirected his energies to educating lawyers about the use of social media and blogging. He also writes Real Lawyers Have Blogs. On this edition of The Digital Edge, hosts Sharon D. Nelson, Esq. and Jim Calloway are joined by O'Keefe to discuss the purpose of blogging and the ethical dilemmas of ghost blogging.

How People Search for Lawyers: The Consumer Law Revolution Jul 30, 2013

On this edition of The Digital Edge, co-hosts Sharon D. Nelson, Esq. and Jim Calloway chat with Stephanie Kimbro about her new book, The Consumer Law Revolution: The Lawyer’s Guide to the Online Legal Marketplace. The book focuses on how to join a branded-legal network to acquire leads and create an online marketing strategy. She stresses the importance of small and solo firms benefiting from having a large-branded network behind them to market their presence. Kimbro is a practicing attorney at Burton LLC and a member of the North Carolina State Bar. Burton LLC is a virtual law firm that delivers legal services in North Carolina, D.C., and Ohio. In addition to her practice, she writes a blog, www.virtuallawfirm.com, covering the ethics and technology issues of delivering legal services online. Tune in to learn more about branded networks for lawyers, why you want to join one, how to choose the right one for your practice, and more.

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