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ABA Legal Technology Resource Center

Articles

The Legal Technology Resource Center is staffed by professional librarians and legal professionals with a wide range of expertise and experience. The staff regularly publishes articles and performs outreach to bar associations, law schools, and law firms. We hope you will find these articles useful and that you will visit our online presentations, where you'll find many of the continuing legal education (CLE) handouts that our staff prepares.

Articles

  • Digital-Age Communication Concerns for Family Law Attorneys
    The technological advances of the computer age have helped attorneys become more effective and efficient, but they've also created a variety of concerns--many related to the security of client information and communications. This is particularly true for family law attorneys whose clients may share a computer--or even an e-mail address--with potential opposing parties. Scroll to the bottom of the Family Law eNewsletter page to view. This article first appeared in the ABA Section of Family Law eNewsletter, June 2008.
  • Parenting Plan Technology
    When you hear the term "timeshare," you might first think of real estate or condos in Las Vegas. But in the realm of family law, timeshare often refers to the time a child spends with each parent. Now there are more technological advances at your disposal to assist with managing the schedules of separate households. Scroll to the bottom of the Family Law eNewsletter page to view. This article first appeared in the ABA Section of Family Law eNewsletter, May 2008.
  • What's the Password?
    Modern computing causes the proliferation of usernames and passwords like pollen in the springtime. In order to access everything from online banking accounts to online legal research to Amazon, a username and password must be created. Properly configured computers also demand passwords for startup, accessing the network, disabling the screen saver, and more. And that isn't even counting encryption keys! It is difficult and time-consuming to generate strong passwords and keep up with them, but for a responsible lawyer it is a necessity. Scroll to the bottom of the Family Law eNewsletter page to view. This article first appeared in the ABA Section of Family Law eNewsletter, April 2008.
  • PowerPoint for Lawyers: Tips for Better Presentations
    The practice of law is regarded as a writing profession, but many attorneys find that their key professional moments come not in front of a keyboard, but in front of a live audience. To accomplish this, many attorneys turn to Microsoft PowerPoint, the ubiquitous presentation software. Scroll to the bottom of the Family Law eNewsletter page to view. This article first appeared in the ABA Section of Family Law eNewsletter, March 2008.
  • Office Live Small Business: Putting Your Firm on the Internet Map
    Thinking about establishing a presence for your family law firm on the Information Superhighway? If so, Microsoft's Office Live Small Business (OLSB) wants to be your on-ramp! Scroll to the bottom of the Family Law eNewsletter page to view. This article first appeared in the ABA Section of Family Law eNewsletter, February 2008.
  • Online Collaboration with Basecamp
    Looking for a convenient way to share information and collaborate with fellow attorneys, staff, and clients without relying on e-mail, phone calls, and snail mail? If you don't have an intranet or extranet, then Basecamp, an online collaboration software application produced by the company 37signals, may be worth looking into. This article was originally published in the January 2008 ABA Section of Family Law eNewsletter.
  • E-mail Productivity
    E-mail is an indispensable tool for most attorneys, but it's not without its shortcomings: mailboxes become overloaded, messages are missed or swallowed by spam filters, and time is wasted responding to the same question over and over again. Thankfully, with a little discipline you can make e-mail a productivity boost rather than a productivity drain for your firm or organization. Scroll to the bottom of the Family Law eNewsletter page to view. This article first appeared in the ABA Section of Family Law eNewsletter, November 2007.
  • Legal Technology Resources for New Practitioners
    Starting a new practice is a major endeavor. You have business to develop, clients to find, an office to manage, and a great deal of legal technology to consider using. The ABA Legal Technology Resource Center (LTRC) has gathered many valuable resources and put them in one place to help ease the transition. This article first appeared in the ABA Section of Family Law eNewsletter, October 2007.
  • Get Your Law Office to Go Green
    The concept of "green business"—the idea that businesses (including law firms) can save money, attract clients, and help protect the environment by adopting environmentally-friendly business practices—is garnering a lot of attention … Scroll to the bottom of the Family Law eNewsletter page to view. This article first appeared in the ABA Section of Family Law eNewsletter, September 2007.
  • Get More From Google
    Google is the search engine of choice for millions of people, but it can do more than just find websites. In this article originally published in the August 2007 ABA Section of Family Law eNewsletter, we we share five easy tips to make Google a little bit more helpful in your every day life and practice.


  • Take Note of Microsoft's OneNote Software
    Microsoft Office OneNote helps you organize notes you intend to incorporate into a lengthier document. Originally designed with Tablet PCs in mind, Microsoft OneNote offers many benefits to desktop and laptop users alike. Family Law practitioner and ABA Family Law Section member Stephen M. Worrall of the Tablet PC Lawyer Blog and Neil Squillante of TechnoLawyer have both positively reviewed Microsoft OneNote as a good tool for many lawyers. This article first appeared in the ABA Section of Family Law eNewsletter, July 2007.


  • Fire(fox) Up Your Browser!
    Originally released in late 2004, Firefox is a relatively new web browser on the block compared to Microsoft's older and ubiquitous (to the point of being the focus of antitrust litigation) Internet Explorer (IE). You may have heard some of the hype about Firefox--there are compelling reasons for trying it out, not the least of which is its ability to keep you organized while online. Firefox's most compelling feature may be its "tabbed browsing" system (for readers who are still using Internet Explorer 6, a similar tab system has also been built into Internet Explorer 7). This article first appeared in the ABA Section of Family Law eNewsletter, June 2007.

  • PDFs: Pretty Darned Flexible
    If you're looking to add a new technology to your law practice this year, consider PDF! PDF stands for Portable Document Format and you've likely encountered this type of file while searching the Internet. PDF is one of the best tools for a law office because it provides a solution to many issues. This article first appeared in the ABA Section of Family Law eNewsletter, May 2007.



  • No Mess with RSS
    How would you like to create your own personal newspaper that automatically compiles just the news and current awareness information you want to see without having to visit multiple websites? With RSS--Really Simple Syndication or Rich Site Summary--you can do exactly that, and more. Instead of visiting websites to get daily news, blogs and commentary, court opinions, or court orders, rely on your RSS feeds to deliver your materials, just like the morning paper. This article first appeared in the ABA Section of Family Law eNewsletter, April 2007.


  • Family Lawyers on the Go
    Family lawyers are going mobile! So say the results of the 2006 ABA Legal Technology Survey Report. The findings indicate that while family lawyers use mobile devices in smaller numbers than the general respondent population, their use of these devices is in fact increasing. This article first appeared in the ABA Section of Family Law eNewsletter, March 2007.

  • Trends in Courtroom Technology: Has the Picture Changed?
    Read the legal press and you’ll think that litigation technology and technology in the courtroom are all the rage. And for some attorneys, it is. But the results of the annual ABA Legal Technology Survey, published in June 2006, show that most attorney-respondents do not have a lot of sophisticated trial technology available to them and seldom use even laptops or notebooks in the courtroom. This article first appeared in Legal Tech Newsletter, January 2007.

  • If You Can't Beat 'Em, Train 'Em: How Lawyers Conduct Legal Research
    If librarians only had a nickel for every time they heard "isn't everything available on the internet?" they would all be able to retire to their own private islands. However, we know that is not the case and even if all information anyone ever needed were available on the internet, users would still face obstacles in finding the exact answer they require using online sources. This article first appeared in Legal Information Alert, Volume 25, Number 1, January 2006.

  • Survey Says! 2004-2005 ABA Legal Technology Survey Highlights
    This article first appeared in Law Technology News September 2005
    This article includes highlights from the 2004-2005 ABA Legal Technology Survey, including information about e-discovery, e-filing, CLE and more.

  • And Now the Litigators: A Closer Look at the ABA’s Tech Survey
    Based on survey results from the 2004-2005 Legal Technology Survey Report, this article provides an in depth look into how law firms and the courts are both adopting and utilizing technology including: Online Research, Electronic filing, Mobile Technology in the Courtroom, Courtroom Hardware, Litigation Support Software, and Electronic Discovery. This article first appeared in LJN's Legal Tech Newsletter, Volume 23, Number 10, January 2006

  • The Importance of Having Backups
    Supplementary material for the program "Nuts & Bolts of Running a Law Practice" at the 7th National Conference for the Minority Lawyer, June 2005
    Do you have a disaster recovery plan? Have you ever tested it? Practices and procedures for backup, storage, disaster recovery, and restoration are crucial to your law practice. Become familiar with your firm’s backup procedures – don’t wait to “break glass in case of emergency".

  • New Security Threats – SpIM, Pharming, and More
    This article first appeared in Law Technology News, May 2005
    What are the next security threats on the technology horizon? Cell phones and wireless devices, instant messaging, and websites are becoming targets for malicious or intrusive activity. Learn about these threats and how to protect yourself before they become prevalent.

  • Attack of the Pernicious Spyware
    This article first appeared in Law Technology News, February 2005
    Spyware, malware, phishing, and other threats abound in the online world. What can you do to protect yourself and avoid the attacks? Read up on ways to protect yourself and your computer.

  • Practice Control: A Purchasing Guide for Practice Manangement Software
    This article first appeared in American Lawyer Media's Small Firm Business Fall 2004
    A major software purchase can be an ordeal for any small firm or solo practitioner. This article describes the must-have software features and other things to look out for.

  • Lemon Juice, Cornstarch, and Microsoft: Invisible Ink And Your Documents
    This article first appeared in WI State Bar Section of Law Practice's Law Practice News Summer 2004
    Did you know that electronic documents are often embedded with hiddent text that reveals information regarding authors, edits, text changes, and more? The information is called "metadata" and it has become the source of delight and disgust for many attorneys.

  • Anatomy Of Trial Technology
    This article first appeared in Law Journal Newsletters' Legal Tech Newsletter August 2004
    Trial technologies are all the buzz for legal technologists, early adopters, vendors, and consultants - but have they made it to the main stream practice of law? This article traces availability and use of trial preparation and presentation software, court technology, and more through the most recent ABA Legal Technology Survey Report volume on Courtroom and Litigation Technology.

  • Make Technology Part of Your CLE!
    This article first appeared in Law Technology News Volume 11, No. 8 August 2004
    Using technology in the practice of law enhances a lawyer's ability to serve the client. Attorneys need to educate themselves on the use the technology in the same way as they would their area of practice.

  • Cost Recovery: What’s Fair Game?
    This article first appeared in The Professional Lawyer Volume 15; Issue 2>
    How can lawyers recover costs without compromising their ethics? This article outlines popular cost recovery technology tools.

  • Brave New World: Law Office Software for the Law Student
    This article first appeared in Student Lawyer May 2004
    This article provides an introduction to law office technology, providing descriptions of legal specific types of software such as case management, time and billing, document assembly and more.

  • A Necessary Security Blanket: Document Retention Policies
    This article first appeared in The Public Lawyer Volume 12, No.1 Winter 2004
    This article explores the creation of document retention policy best practices and provides solutions for retention of electronic documents.

  • Tips, Tricks, and Tools: Taming the Internet
    An alternate version first appeared in The Public Lawyer Winter 2004
    For lawyers who use email and are on the Web everyday, we provide some tips and tricks to help make the experience more efficient, more useful, and maybe even fun! Keeping up on the latest news, organizing and sharing frequently used websites, toolbars, new search engines, personalization, combating spam, and much more are covered.

  • Where's the Portable Lawyer?
    Wisconsin Law Journal, special edition, 11/2003
    Lawyers are using portable technology - laptops, voice recognition - to gain efficiencies from mobility while still using technology in practical ways.

  • What's Hot and Not in Small and Mid-Size Law Firm Technology
    Law Office Management and Administration Report, 11/2003
    A review of recent trends in legal technology, based on the ABA Legal Technology Resource Center's annual technology survey.

  • The Future is Now! Law Technology News, 10/2003
    What will legal technology look like in 2013? Here are some predictions.

  • Taming Online Research: Tracking, Reporting, and Cost Recovery
    Business Information Alert 9/2003
    Law firm libraries and information centers have new and better oppurtunities to track usage of online research and participate in cost recovery endeavors. Software vendors, both new comers and old timers, help make better reporting possible.

  • Ever More E-mail
    Philadelphia Lawyer, Fall 2003
    Flooded with e-mail? Learn some quick ways to control spam and filter your incoming e-mail.

  • Feasibility/Viability of Digital Law Library
    Library Journal Fall 2003.
    Discussion of research on the private law firm library, conducted throughout 2002 as part of a AALL/Aspen Legal Publishing research grant. The article looks at issues helping or hindering adoption of digital law libraries in private US law firms.

  • 8 Reasons to Summon FedEx and UPS Online
    Law Firm, Inc. 4/2003.
    Eight quick reasons for using online package delivery services.

  • KM 101: Assistive Technology for Knowledge Management Initiatives
    An abbreviated version of this article first appeared in AALL Spectrum 12/2002.>
    Find out how to take the sting out of the buzzword with this introductory article on how technology can assist a law firm in achieving knowledge management. Discrete areas of information within a law firm are identified and suggestions for technologies to help capture, organize, and retrieve this information are discussed.

  • The Near Future for Technology and the Lawyer
    Wisconsin Law Journal, special edition, 12/2002
    Technology hype hides some valuable trends in law firm technology and this article suggests some that may become to the forefront in 2003.

  • Raising the Bar: Get the Most Out of Your Bar Association
    Law Office Computing, 12-1/2003
    Bar associations provide a wealth of resources, tools, and information for their members. This article discusses some of the features you may not realize your bar association offers and includes a 50 state comparison of bar association Web site features.

  • Faster Internet Connection Can Speed Your Work
    Philadelphia Bar Association Bar Reporter, 11/2002
    Faster Internet connections can mean better access to research and can allow lawyers to use their time more efficiently - for more work or for more play. DSL, cable, and the increased use of broadband connections by lawyers are are discussed as are security issues raised by broadband access.

  • Great - and CHEAP - Ways to Give Your Web Site a Boost
    Bar Leader, 10/2002
    Bar associations are notoriously challenged for finding the financial and human resources to enhance Web sites to attract and keep members. The smaller the bar association, the greater the challenge is. Here are some cheap and free tools for bar associations to use to make their sites more interesting and useable.

  • Beyond the Newsletter: Leveraging Technology to Market the Library
    Legal Information Alert,10/2002

    • Law firm libraries and information centers need to practice aggresive internal marketing in order to make attorneys aware of the full scope of available services. Harnassing technology can help put this endeavor on the fast track. Creating "brand", logos and slogans, and marketing plans are discussed.

  • Expect the Unexpected
    Law Technology News, 09/2002 (Web Only)

    • Law firms are at risk of losing data and suffering business disruptions if they fail to plan, and test those plans, before a crisis arises.

  • Positioning for Power: Technology and the Law Firm Librarian
    Legal Information Alert, 05/2002

    • Law firm librarians are in a unique position to get involved with the evaluative and training stages of law office automation efforts.

  • Review: Essential Guide to the Best and Worst Legal Sites on the Web
    Research Advisor, 05/2002
    A book review about a guide to legal websites.

  • Welcome to the Wireless World
    Law Office Computing, 04/2002
    Feature article discusses the state of the wireless world and how law firms can take advantage of this exciting new technology, as well as consideing whether it is right for your particular law office.

  • Destruction May Lurk Behind Your Files
    Law Technology News, 04/2002
    Firewalls and anti-virus software are only two components in the modern law firm's front line of technology defense.

  • Review: ALI-ABA's Practice Checklist Manual on Alternative Dispute Resolution
    Legal Information Alert, 04/2002
    A book review about a manual designed for attorneys and other professionals who are involved in ADR.

  • Emerging Electronic Filing Court Rules and Standards
    E-Filing Report, 02/2002
    An overview of emerging e-filing standards and the court rules that enable and govern filing.

  • Review: The Sourcebook to Public Record Information
    Legal Information Alert, 02/2002
    A book review of a reference work that provides detailed information on how to retrieve public records at the county, state, and federal levels.

  • Secret Technology Tools for Surviving Law School
    American Bar Association. General Practice, Solo, and Small Firm Section. GPSolo, 12/2001
    This article is based a series of interviews with second and third year students about their use of technology in law school.

  • Dot-com or Dot-law: Where Was That Information?
    American Association of Law Libraries AALL Spectrum, 07/2001
    The new top level domains (TLDs) created by ICANN raise issues about how information will be found in the future, particularly as the root systems that manage domain names begin to collide.

  • Review: I-Dep.com
    Legal Information Alert, 9/2000
    A review of a new service that provides online, video and audio depositions through court reporters.

  • Review: Drafting Internet Agreements
    Legal Information Alert, 12/2000
    A book review of a thorough forms book covering the breadth of contracts a law firm might require to assist their clients with technology issues.

  • Review: Introduction to Academic Law Library Design: A Features Approach
    Legal Information Alert, 4/2001
    A book review of an introduction to the planning and stages of building an academic law library.

  • Virtual Law Librarian
    Chicago Association of Law Libraries Bulletin, Spring 2001
    The virtual law librarian is going to be more common. Some thoughts on what this person will be doing and how to prepare.

  • Trends in Legal Publishing for the Millenium
    Professional Publications, 92nd SLA Annual Conference, 06/2001
    Analysis of survey research of legal publishers, attorneys, and law librarians presented as a paper at the Special Libraries Association annual meeting in 2001.

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