Director of the Oklahoma Bar Association’s Management Assistance Program, Jim Calloway is a recognized speaker on legal technology issues, Internet research, law office management, and legal ethics. In addition to running the Law Practice Tips blog, Calloway writes articles for noted legal magazines, including Law Practice Management and Law Technology News.
Nothing in life is free… or is it? Gyi Tsakalakis shares no-cost methods for improving your online presence to gain more clients.
ABA TECHSHOW co-chairs Allan Mackenzie and Roberta Tepper offer a sneak peek at the content and events coming to this year’s fully online conference.
Jim Calloway and Sharon Nelson give their take on which of the many pandemic-related changes will most likely impact the future of the legal profession.
Tech Toys are back! Jim Calloway and Sharon Nelson share their favorite wishlist picks for the 2020 holiday season.
Arizona Vice Chief Justice Ann Timmer gives an overview of the state’s reforms allowing lawyers and non-lawyers to share fees.
Margaret Ogden, wellness coordinator at the Supreme Court of Virginia, shares insights into new initiatives focused on attorney mental health and wellbeing.
Young lawyer Graham Bryant shares the struggles of his demographic as they cope with the hardships of the pandemic.
A/V forensics expert David Notowitz discusses strategies for enhancing your presentations of audio and video evidence in court.
Bob Ambrogi, Joe Patrice, and Tom Mighell join Sharon and Jim to discuss their experiences in the world of legal podcasting.
Professor Richard Susskind shares insights on how the pandemic will impact the future of online legal and court services.
Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway offer guidance for weathering COVID-19 and its economic impacts on the legal profession.
Richard Ferguson offers tips for selecting the right technology tools for your law firm.
Stewart Levine discusses his ABA-published book about practical strategies for increasing lawyer well-being.
Erin Levine offers insights on how to meet the changing needs of modern legal consumers.
ABA TECHSHOW 2020 co-chairs Heidi Alexander and Catherine Sanders Reach share insights.
Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway share their list of must-have tech toys for 2019!
Katy Goshtasbi shares strategies for clearly defining your values in order to effectively grow your brand.
John Simek offers essential cybersecurity tips for solo and small firm lawyers.
Lance Johnson, contributing features editor of the ABA’s Law Practice magazine, gives an overview of recent articles in the magazine’s Big Ideas Issue.
Brooke Moore discusses the benefits of moving to a virtual law practice and shares useful tactics for setting up a web-based firm.
Roberta Tepper talks about digital addiction for lawyers and gives a step-by-step process of how legal professions can reduce their time when using their mobile devices.
Tom Martin talks about how chatbots are being put to work in the legal industry.
Stacey Caywood and Dean Sonderegger discuss the Wolters Kluwer 2019 Future Ready Lawyer Survey.
Gyi Tsakalakis gives an overview of some of the best strategies solo/small firms can use in their marketing plans.
Sofia Lingos talks about the ABA 2018 Legal Technology Survey.
David Colarusso talks about the Learned Hands project.
Lincoln Mead and John Simek share how the conference stays current on tech for lawyers and give tips on how to best prepare for attending the show.
Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway share their complete list of picks for the best new technology -- some serious and some just plain fun.
Chris Newbold discusses the role of malpractice carriers and how the risk assessment process changes in law practice and the future of the profession.
Katherine Alteneder discusses how her organization aims to create an environment in the civil justice system that is supportive of unrepresented litigants.
Marlene Gebauer and Greg Lambert talk about the skills of law librarians and the roles they play in different areas of the law.
Lucian Pera talks about the ethics of lawyers using the cloud and how they can use it with confidence.
Len Heath talks about lawyer mental wellness and why it’s an issue worthy of attention in today’s legal industry.
Erin Gerstenzang talks about the initiative and the current landscape of ethics reform including lawyer regulations.
Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss their book that talks about doing collaborations and why it’s necessary for lawyers, as well as tools attorneys can use to create efficient teamwork.
Larry Port and Dave Maxfield, authors of The Lean Law Firm, talk about running a lean law firm and the first steps to adopting lean techniques.
Molly McDonough talks about news stories lawyers want to read and how the ABA Journal has adapted to changes in media consumption.
Colin Rule explains how online dispute resolution works and how it has the potential to fill access to justice needs.
Casey Trupin, Michael Santos, Angela Vigil, Melanie Redman, Darla Bardine, and Stephen Gaetz talk about the ABA homeless youth initiatives and how lawyers can get involved.
Jack Young talks about why the ABA’s Opioid Summit is important and how it will help lawyers deal with the crisis both professionally and personally.
Rosevelie Marquez Morales, Rhonda Hunter, and Tommy Wells talk about implicit bias, how it affects the legal industry, and how to overcome it on a daily basis.
In this On The Road from ABA Midyear 2018, Karen Hutchins talks about what the NABE is and how it serves the legal community.
ABA TECHSHOW 2018 co-chairs Debbie Foster and Tom Mighell talk about this year’s conference.
Tom Bolt, whose firm was hit by hurricanes Irma and Maria, talks about how lawyers can prepare for natural disasters.
Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway discuss a wide range of products, from doorbells to submarines, to help you brainstorm gift ideas for everyone on your list.
Brett Burney talks about the latest Apple products and how they can serve lawyers.
Brian Kuhn, global co-leader for the IBM Watson legal practice, talks about why lawyers should be interested in cognitive computing (or augmented intelligence).
Guest Darin Fox talks about how he sees technology functioning in legal education including the program he oversees at the University of Oklahoma.
Heidi Alexander talks about Evernote and how it can help lawyers organize thoughts, research, and marketing.
Shantelle Argyle discusses low bono legal services and their impact on the access to justice movement.
This legal podcast covers the shift of the legal industry from a seller's to a buyer's market.
This legal podcast defines artificial intelligence and what its growing popularity means for lawyers.
Andrew Arruda, CEO of ROSS Intelligence, talks about how artificial intelligence assists lawyers, not replaces them.
Sharon and Jim discuss legal writing with Gary Kinder, founder of the editing program WordRake.
David Beech, CEO of Knights discusses his professional services firm with a successful alternative business structure (ABS) in the U.K.
Practice Management Advisor Sheila Blackford advises lawyers on client trust account management.
The ABA 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.
John Mitchell, a law firm diversity coach, talks about the difference between diversity and inclusion and explains diversity fatigue.
PayneGroup CEO Donna Payne talks about ways attorneys can better handle their metadata.
Sharon and Jim speak with Legal Technology Consultant Andrew Adkins about his time as chief information officer for the law firm of Steptoe & Johnson PLLC.
Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway talk with The Remsen Group President John Remsen, Jr. about the benefits of creating a firm-wide business plan.
Jack Newton and Larry Port discuss cloud computing and the new cloud security standards for legal professionals released by the Legal Cloud Computing Association.
Friend of the show Linda Klein talks about how she has used technology in her legal practice over the years and why lawyers should pay attention now.
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...
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...
Fenwick & West civil practitioner Laurence Pulgram and Schoeman Updike & Kaufman complex litigator Beth Kaufman stop by to discuss amendments that were made to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure in this Special Report. In 2010, at a symposium at Duke University, rule amendments to improve civil litigation were proposed and over 2,300 individuals...
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...
“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...
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...
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...
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....
After the disaster that was Windows 8, many lawyers are hesitant to upgrade to Windows 10. But for those of you with Microsoft operating systems, the change is likely inevitable. Furthermore, Windows 10 has a free upgrade for a year! So what do lawyers need to know about the new OS? Are rumors of high...
Due to the changing landscape of legal services, small to medium sized law firms need to consistently update their financial management processes. Essentially, these firms need to provide affordable services to their clients while ensuring the owners get the compensation they believe they deserve. But without necessarily having an in-house financial manager, how do they...
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,...
Many lawyers work far more than 40 hours a week and still lack the time to work on firm marketing, practice management, and spending time with friends and family. Furthermore, with increases in technology, it seems as though lawyers should be more efficient, but this isn’t always the case. What are we doing wrong and...
The legal service industry has been changing rapidly, causing many lawyers to worry about the future of their practice. Many potential clients are now looking online for solutions to legal problems. Despite this, there is still a large percentage of the population without access to the legal services they need. In order to deal with...
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) has become an incredibly popular term in marketing, but many lawyers (and most business owners) are still confused about what SEO is and how to hire the right SEO consultant. Furthermore, having an online presence is not all about SEO. Online marketing can be frustrating and confusing, but it is essential...
Legal Talk Network producer Laurence Colletti, The Digital Edge host Jim Calloway, and ABA Journal legal affairs writer Victor Li interview three presenters from the 2015 ABA TECHSHOW. Jeff Richardson recommends some fun and productive apps for iOS devices. In talking about his favorite Android apps, Rick Georges mentions that any app or technological device...
Most lawyers who listen to The Digital Edge are already aware of many benefits of tablet use in the courtroom. There are apps for note taking, document review, legal research, and, of course, trial presentation. But this is just the beginning! Having a tablet opens up many avenues of convenience for litigators, trial prep and...
Ten years ago, dictation and speech recognition were clunky, inefficient, and inaccurate softwares. As the technology emerged, lawyers tried programs like Dragon Dictation, but most decided that speech solutions were not practical or worth using. Today, these softwares are much more accurate and useful for many lawyers, but maintain a similar reputation. How have dictation...
The Digital Edge podcast Host Jim Calloway interviews Trish Refo, chair of the ABA House of Delegates, at the 2015 ABA Midyear Meeting. Refo equates the House of Delegates to the Legislative branch; it makes and sets policy for the entire association. She discusses the various future issues that may be brought to the house...
Luddite: a person opposed to increased industrialization or new technology. As we’ve heard time and time again, many lawyers are averse to becoming knowledgeable about modern technology. Older attorneys often do not want to learn a computer-based management tool and feel as though they can hire someone to manage the security and encryption of their...
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...
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...
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...
The Digital Edge host Jim Calloway interviews Robert Young about the 2014 American Bar Association Law Practice Division Fall Meeting. Young explains the rebranding of the division from the law practice management section of the ABA and the four core groups now included: marketing, technology, finance, and law firm management. He suggests that every lawyer...
The Digital Edge host Jim Calloway interviews Law Practice Magazine Editor-in-Chief John Bowers at the 2014 American Bar Association Law Practice Division Fall Meeting. Bowers gives examples of top themes covered such as data security and work/life balance, his favorite articles including one with Richard Susskind, and how lawyers and other legal professionals can subscribe...
The Digital Edge host Jim Calloway interviews Law Practice Today Editor-in-Chief Micah Buchdahl about the Webzine at the 2014 American Bar Association Law Practice Division Fall Meeting. Buchdahl gives some examples of high quality content topics the webzine provides, how they are doing Local and State Bar outreach, and explains how previously unpublished lawyers can...
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...
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,...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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 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...
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...
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...
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,...
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. D. Casey Flaherty of corporate counsel for Kia Motors developed a technology audit to measure how efficiently lawyers are using technology and...
