Practice Technology

Paralegal jobs being overtaken by technology, analysis reports

It was just two years ago that the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicted an 18 percent growth rate in paralegal jobs through 2020, but now, according to an Associated Press analysis, a lot of that work is being taken over by technology replacing humans. “Those (paralegals) without technology knowledge and…

Feb 7, 2013 9:10 PM CST

Around the Blawgosphere: Pool of trained associates will eventually dry up, blogger warns

The pool is drying up To an extent, in-house law departments and “New Normal” law firms are benefiting from the investment that “old normal” law firms make in training new associates. “My recollection of the stat is that after five years only two out of ten new associates will still…

Feb 1, 2013 2:45 PM CST

6th Annual ABA Journal Blawg 100 Fan Favorites

After four weeks of online voting by more than 4,000 readers, the following law blogs can claim bragging rights for winning their respective categories: Business of Law: Divorce Discourse Careers/Law Schools: Inside the Law School Scam Corporate: California Corporate & Securities Law Courts: SCOTUSblog Criminal Justice: Koehler Law For Fun:…

Feb 1, 2013 10:00 AM CST

Manage app overload on your iPad or iPhone with folders

While we used to say “There’s an app for that,” now we often find there are many apps for “that.” Are you starting to experience app overload? You’ve probably noticed retailers, banks, publications and others are issuing their own free apps. Dallas lawyer Tom Mighell’s book iPad Apps in One…

Feb 1, 2013 8:30 AM CST

Should firms move to the cloud? Legal IT professionals are split

Legal IT Professionals’ online survey of its readership presented a split decision on whether key technology functions should become Internet-based–a process commonly known as moving to the cloud. The online news publication covering international legal information technology asked readers: “If your law firm’s management asked for your advice regarding moving…

Feb 1, 2013 8:20 AM CST

Texas justice illustrates his Twitter prowess with character-limit interview

Texas Supreme Court Justice Don Willett is so adept at Twitter use that he answered an interviewer’s questions with a 140-character word limit. Willett has more than 1,300 Twitter followers, according to Texas Lawyer’s Tex Parte Blog. His posts are “a daily stream of photos, personal factoids, political commentary, legal…

Jan 31, 2013 2:20 PM CST

Is predictive coding better than lawyers at document review?

A lawyer who pushed for and obtained a judge’s order mandating predictive coding in a civil dispute is pleased with the computer’s findings. The results suggest a computerized document search using predictive coding may surpass human ability, lawyer Thomas Gricks tells the Wall Street Journal Law Blog (sub. req.). Last…

Jan 22, 2013 11:30 AM CST

New-model firm plans hiring spree, 50 to 100 lawyers a year

One part law firm and one part business entity, Washington D.C.-based Clearspire aims to expand its nontraditional legal services model across the country with the addition of 50 to 100 former BigLaw lawyers each year for the next five years. With brick-and-mortar outposts recently opened in New York, Los Angeles…

Jan 17, 2013 5:25 PM CST

Around the Blawgosphere: Craigslist Ad Offers Law Grads an Opportunity to Pay Their Dues—in Cash

For a monthly fee … “It’s come to this,” New Haven, Conn.-based writer Jane Genova wrote at Law and More in reference to a local lawyer’s ad on craigslist that appears to be seeking a “monthly fee” from new law grads interested in shadowing him or her. “Observe the following…

Jan 11, 2013 2:29 PM CST

Hacker Steals ‘Large 6-Figure’ Sum from Law Firm Trust Account Using Trojan Banker Virus

An unidentified Canadian law firm reportedly lost “a large six-figure” sum over the holidays last month when its bookkeeper was tricked into providing an online password to its trust account to Internet fraudsters. LawPRO, an entity associated with an insurance company that provides malpractice coverage to attorneys, says the hackers…

Jan 7, 2013 4:50 PM CST

Votes Are in on the 6th Annual ABA Journal Blawg 100 Fan Favorites

After four weeks of online voting by more than 4,000 readers, the following law blogs can claim bragging rights for winning their respective categories: Business of Law: Divorce Discourse Careers/Law Schools: Inside the Law School Scam Corporate: California Corporate & Securities Law Courts: SCOTUSblog Criminal Justice: Koehler Law For Fun:…

Jan 3, 2013 4:00 PM CST

Not Playing Games: Firm Takes Decision-Making Theory into Transactions

James Ring wants to eliminate the time lawyers spend bullying and bluffing their way through monetary disputes and other protracted negotiations. So the Boston-based trial lawyer has borrowed from the practice of game theory, the science behind conflict resolution, to introduce a series of online solutions that entice both sides…

Jan 1, 2013 8:40 AM CST

Does Your Firm Have a Bring-Your-Own-Device Policy?

One of the biggest trends in workplace technology is known as the “consumerization of information technology.” The idea is that people like the personal technology devices they use so much, they want to use those for work or trade their work-issued devices for the ones they use personally. Consider using…

Jan 1, 2013 8:30 AM CST

Drexel University’s Law School Takes Practical Training Online with LawMeets Course

As calls grow for change in tuition costs, loan policies and even the end of (some) law schools, is the Socratic teaching method—the 1L torment immortalized in the classic The Paper Chase—next to face the challenge? If so, Karl Okamoto, a professor at Drexel University’s Earle Mack School of Law,…

Jan 1, 2013 8:10 AM CST

Law Blogger Predicts ‘Massive Rise’ in Videoconferencing

A Canadian law blogger has looked into his crystal ball to make his legal technology predictions for 2013. Writing at Slaw, Steven Matthews of Stem Legal says he’s the guy who predicted last year that Facebook would buy Twitter, “so you know I’m not afraid to take a shot in…

Dec 21, 2012 12:00 PM CST