♬ Who would have guessed
That it’s as simple as it seems…♬

Lyrics and Music by: Katy Perry, Glen Ballard, and Arnold Matthiew, recorded by Katy Perry and Glen Ballard.

Email is the bane of most lawyers and law offices. It has become a real problem handling the volume of incoming emails. Fortunately there are three tools that can help tame the email beast provided that you are using Microsoft Outlook as your email client. These are “SimplyFile”, “EZDetach” and “Adobe Acrobat Standard” or “Adobe Acrobat Professional”

“SimplyFile” and “EZDetach”

SimplyFile

SimplyFile is undoubtedly the best tool I have found for helping with email. It is an Intelligent Filing Assistant for Microsoft Outlook. Once you install the plug-in for Outlook, SimplyFile “guesses” the folder that an email should go. One click later – and it is filed. It does the same for outgoing emails too – which ensures that all your emails – both incoming and outgoing – are in the correct client folder in Outlook. No more searching in “Sent” to try to find an email that you did on a client file.

This filing ability vastly speeds up handling the email avalanche! (more…)

♬ Tell me what you want and i’ll give you what you need… ♬

Lyrics and Music by Patrick Simmons, recorded by The Doobie Brothers.

PLTC 2011 Logo

The 2011 Pacific Legal Technology Conference will be held Friday October 7, 2011 at the new West wing of the Vancouver Trade and Convention Center.

The Pacific Legal Technology Conference is a bit different from other legal technology conferences due to the fact that attendees can take the conference survey and tell us which courses, issues and topics they would like to see in the program. The survey contains the ‘short list’ of topics that the Advisory Board pulled together in their preparations and deliberations.

So: Welcome to the 2011 Pacific Legal Technology Conference Survey – where you can design the conference that you wish to see! I invite you to have a hand in designing this year’s Conference by indicating to us which proposed sessions are of most interest to you.

This survey should take approximately 10 minutes to complete and we ask that you complete the survey on or before JUNE 30, 2011.

Here is a link to the survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NN3PKZF

Furthermore, at the end of the survey you will receive a web address entitling you to a special survey respondent admission rate for this year’s conference. This special rate of $325+ HST CDN ($325 USD) (or $225+HST CDN for law students/staff ($225 USD)) is our way of saying ‘Thanks’ and represents a $50 savings off of our Early Bird Rate!

This special survey rate is only good until July 31, 2011 – you have to complete the survey by June 30, 2011 and send in the registration by July 31, 2011 to be eligible for this offer.

Furthermore, by completing the survey you are eligible for a draw for one of two free admissions to the Conference.

Thanks for your participation!

Tell me what you want and as Chair of the Conference, I will endeavor to give you what you need…

♬ Blue skies
Smiling at me
Nothing but blue skies
Do I see…♬

Lyrics and Music by Irving Berlin.

This is a great guest post by Gerry Purdy PHD, the Principal Analyst, Mobile & Wireless services for MobileTrax LLC.  I have been reading Gerry’s “Inside Mobile” newsletters for some time now, but this latest one on Apple’s iCloud was a really good analysis of what Apple aims to do with the cloud and – in consequence – how this changes the way we all look at the cloud . So with Gerry’s permission secured, here is his post entitled:  Blue Skies Ahead for Apple’s iCloud:

iCloud

“MobileMe wasn’t our finest hour … we have completely rewritten and integrated it into iCloud.” - Steve Jobs

I had one of those ah ha moments as I watched the replay of Steve Jobs delivering part of the keynote address at last week’s Apple WWDC (World Wide Developer’s Conference) at which he announced that they are opening iCloud to developers by providing a family of application programming interfaces (APIs) that will help developers build cloud-based services.  This is basically the same thing that Apple did when it announced the App Store and provided developers with a host of APIs that enabled them to build apps, which have grown to over 425,000.

Did Apple need to also announce an iCloud Store?  Not really, because the store front is already there.  Developers can now build apps for iOS that reside in the cloud and connect to them via the Internet, typically, over a wireless link such as Wi-Fi or 3G/4G. Watch for an entirely new kind of cloud-based service environment that works in concert with local iOS apps that enable a hybrid between local apps and cloud apps. (more…)

♬ Because it keeps on working …♬

Lyrics and Music by Peter Kingsbery, recorded by Cock Robin.

ioSafe Portable Hard Drive

I have been a big fan of the ioSafe line of disaster proof external hard drives for some time now (back in October I wrote about the ioSafe Solo Pro hardened hard drive). I use a 1.5 terabyte SoloPro to back up my MacBook (using TimeMachine) regularly. I even replaced the internal hard drive using the SoloPro/TimeMachine back up and the data transferred perfectly to the bigger internal MacBook hard drive and I was up and running in no time. Voila!

But now ioSafe have come up with a hardened portable hard drive! Does it get any better than this? Look at the specs: (more…)

♫ I feel connected (connected), protected (protected),
it’s like you’re standing right with me all the time.
You hear me (you hear me), you’re near me (you’re near me),
and everything else is gonna be alright…♫

Music and lyrics by: Amy Powers, Guy Roche, recorded by: Katharine McPhee.

This is another “Leadership Moments” guest post by Beth Flynn of the Ohio Leadership Center.

This particular post is taken from A. Christiansen (2010): The 40:40 principle: Are you Really Connected or just Linked?: How to create powerful, inspiring conversations that lead to greater success. Bloomington, IN: WestBow Press.

1. Become genuinely interested in other people.
2. Use other people’s names when you talk to them.
3. Be a good listener, encouraging others to talk about themselves.
4. Ask others about their interests, rather than talking about your own.
5. Make others feel important – and do so sincerely.
6. Smile often (Christiansen, p. 44).

The 40:40 Principle is available on loan from the Ohio State University Leadership Center.  Click here to borrow this resource or any other resource.   Then click on the Spectrum http://leadershipcenter.osu.edu

♫ And I’m thinking two is better than one… ♫

Lyrics and Music by Martin Johnson, recorded by Boys Like Girls with Taylor Swift.

Having recently acquired an iPad2, I am just starting to explore how to integrate this tablet into my daily workflow. As with any new gadget, I had questions as to the degree the iPad2 would replace my MacBook or fit into my existing workflow. Surprisingly, I have found that, rather than replacing my MacBook, the iPad has integrated into the workflow quite nicely. So here are the initial steps in my journey with the iPad2:

I realized that using the onboard screen keyboard was not something that I was prepared to use long-term if I was going to use the iPad seriously. So the first thing that I did was to purchase a Kensington iPad wireless keyboard + case:

Kensington iPad Case & Wireless Keyboard

This provided me with a nice bluetooth keyboard along with a very attractive leather case for carrying and protecting the iPad. The bluetooth setup was straightforward and the iPad ‘discovered’ the keyboard in short order once the settings were turned on in “System Preferences” on the iPad. In addition, the Kensington case props the iPad up on an angle in front of you with the keyboard out level in front. Great for working at a desk but not really suitable for lap-use, since the iPad is just propped up and if you shift or move, this may dislodge the iPad from its ‘groove’ that keeps it upright. But otherwise I love the case and the keyboard. The case is really designed for the original iPad which is thicker, so the iPad2 really needs a small bit of foam between the back of the iPad and the case to keep it tight in the case. Not really a problem. (more…)

♫ Lend me your ears and I’ll sing you a song,
And I’ll try not to sing out of key.
Oh I get by with a little help from my friends… ♫

Lyrics and Music by Lennon & McCartney, recorded by The Beatles.

Mandatory e-filing for certain documents in the Land Title Office in British Columbia is coming:

Moreover, phase 2 of the mandatory e-filing requirements is expected to include subdivision and strata plan applications.

So what is a lawyer (or notary public in BC) to do? Well you can learn how to file documents electronically in BC. For some lawyers and notaries, this is a given.

There is no question that the business case for the Land Title and Survey Authority to mandate e-filing (the “Electronic Filing System – EFS”) has been made. EFS offers may advantages to both lawyers as well as to the LTSA. The LTSA needs to update their business processes, it needs to accommodate a large number of staff retirements and it sees the EFS as the way to handle a large number of increasing complex land title and survey submissions. EFS is essential to the LTSA to maintain its service level commitments to the people of BC (full disclosure: the writer sits on the LTSA’s Business Transformation Advisory Committee). Lawyers can prepare documents in advance, submit them with a ‘hold’, have them submitted with a ‘meet’ etc – all electronically.

However, not everyone adjusts to technology at the same rate. For those lawyers and notaries that only file periodically, they may not have the time, energy or resources to learn the new EFS system, notwithstanding that the LTSA offers free training. What are they to do? (more…)

♬ She’s my little deuce coupe
You don’t know what I got…♬

Lyrics and music by Brian Wilson, recorded by The Beach Boys.

The notice popped up on the screen – my hard drive had run out of space. I was facing the dilemma of either upgrading the original 160 GB hard drive in my MacBook or upgrading to a new MacBook or MacBook Pro. A bit of research into a new hard drive for my venerable MacBook made the decision easy…a Western Digital Scorpio 2.5-Inch 500 GB SATA Internal Hard Drive WD5000BEKT (Black) was $69.92 on Amazon.com. With shipping, taxes and duties, the total was under $90.00. A far cry from the cost of replacing my MacBook.

My reading up on the web tried to assure me that it was not that difficult to replace the hard drive (I most certainly know my limitations in working with my hands….) Despite my reservations, I took a deep breath and ordered the new hard drive. (more…)

♬  Modern technology
unleashed upon mankind…♬

Lyrics, music and recorded by Cause For Effect.

Microsoft Office for the Mac

Well I thought it was about time to try the latest version of Microsoft’s Office for the Mac, version 2011.  2011 was released in Oct, 2010 and has been followed by ‘bug fixes’ and the usual series of updates (one major one shortly after release), so I thought it would be safe to download this latest version by now.

I had been using the 2008 version with Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Entourage.

One of the major differences in the 2011 version is the incorporation of Outlook onto the Mac to replace Entourage.   I won’t go into an extensive review of the differences between the 2008 and 2011 version since PCMag did such a great job, giving the 2011 version of Microsoft Office for the Mac a Best of the Year 2010 Award.

Now I have to say that while I learned to adjust to Entourage, I use Outlook on a PC daily (I work concurrently on a PC and a Mac).  I learned to like (and know) Entourage, I knew Outlook from years of use and experience.  So yes, I was actually looking forward to seeing Outlook on the Mac. (more…)

♬  It’s more than a feeling (more than a feeling)…♬

Lyrics and Music by Tom Scholz, recorded by Boston.

Wireless Internet at the BC Courthouse Libraries and Courts

Nate Russell over at the BC Courthouse Library Society has advised of the launch of Wireless Internet for lawyers in libraries and courthouses across BC on a pilot basis.  This is a long-overdue initiative and one which should be met with applause by lawyers!  However use of the Wi-Fi network has considerations both from a technical as well as a legal and ethical standpoint.  Accordingly I am grateful to Nate for writing this overview of the Wi-Fi network which should be read by every lawyer before they log on and start using the service.

Accordingly, here is Nate’s memo (in full) summarizing the Courthouse Wi-Fi service:

Overview

The Courthouse Library Society of BC (“CLBC”)  is in the process of implementing wireless (“Wi-Fi”) networks throughout its regional branches, and in a handful of smaller branches. Presently (January 18, 2011), Wi-Fi is available to library clients on a pilot basis at Victoria and North Vancouver branches.

Kamloops, Kelowna, Nanaimo, New Westminster, Prince George and Vancouver branches will soon also have Wi-Fi networks open to library users on a pilot basis. We have yet to confirm which smaller branches other than North Vancouver will be included in the pilot. (more…)