SBM Blog

[Updated] Practice Tip: Don't Use The Word "Churn" In Intra-Office Emails About Billing

There's more than one reason why suing a client for unpaid legal fees is usually considered inadvisable, even if you're the world's largest law firm.  Here's one -- your ex-client may countersue, accuse you of a “sweeping practice of overbilling,” and offer your own emails as evidence.  And then, insult to injury, a global newspaper like the New York Times may put the story  on its front page, including emails like:

“Now Vince has random people working full time on random research projects in standard ‘churn that bill, baby!’ mode. That bill shall know no limits.”

Update: Reuters reports that DLA Piper now has said in an internal memo that the series of emails written by former (emphasis added) DLA Piper lawyers about the law firm's billing practices had been "an unfortunate attempt at humor by three former (emphasis added) lawyers of the firm."

Ha ha.

Practice Management Tip of the Week - ieSpell

Are you a dedicated Internet Explorer user with a spelling problem? Here is a solution: ieSpell is a free Internet Explorer browser extension that provides spelling assistance in web page text input boxes. Install this free add-in and you will have a spell-checker similar to the one found in Microsoft Office applications that can be used in interactive message boards, web-based email, posting to your blog or working on your website. After installation, the app can be accessed through IE’s Tools menu. Once launched, it spell checks the entire page. Read more

Every week, the Practice Management Resource Center posts a new Tip of the Week. (Here are the archived tips.) To reach a practice management advisor, call the PMRC Helpline at (800) 341-9715 or e-mail questions to pmrcHelpline@mail.michbar.org.

Practice Management Tip of the Week - Touchfire Keyboard for iPads

This super thin overlay keyboard is an amazing advance, bringing true touch typing to the iPad while adding almost nothing to its profile or weight. The transparent keyboard attaches magnetically to the bottom half of the iPad in a profile so thin you can “swipe” right through it to see the keys underneath, and so flexible it can be folded out of the way. Some early reviews of the Touchfire include:

New York Times - "The keyboard is incredibly simple to use. Typing on it is like typing on a physical keyboard"

Wired - "Two Seattle-based inventors have come up with an iPad keyboard that could dramatically alter the tablet keyboard landscape"

FastCompany – "Turns the iPad into a true laptop killer"

CNET – "The super-thin-and-lightweight TouchFire adds virtually no physical bulk"

Technolawyer’s review of the Touchfire is titled “This Accessory Is The Best Thing To Ever Happen To Your iPad's Keyboard”. Read the review or go right to the Touchfire website and watch the video. Either way, if you own an iPad, are thinking about buying one, or simply like technology, check out the new Touchfire keyboard.

Every week, the Practice Management Resource Center posts a new Tip of the Week. (Here are the archived tips.) To reach a practice management advisor, call the PMRC Helpline at (800) 341-9715 or e-mail questions to pmrcHelpline@mail.michbar.org.

Practice Management Tip of the Week - Document Assembly - Free Podcast

 

 

Legal Talk Network's "The Un-Billable Hour" host Rodney Dowell and State Bar of Michigan Practice Management Advisor Diane Ebersole explain how document assembly applications have advanced in the last few years and how these applications can increase the bottom line for your law firm. Listen to the free podcast (34 min) and download the accompanying list of resources to explore the many ways a lawyer can increase productivity, particularly for document intensive practices.

Every week, the Practice Management Resource Center posts a new Tip of the Week. (Here are the archived tips.) To reach a practice management advisor, call the PMRC Helpline at (800) 341-9715 or e-mail questions to pmrcHelpline@mail.michbar.org.

Practice Management Tip of the Week - Adobe SENDNOW For Large Files

Adobe® SENDNOW

If you need to send large files and have struggled with different solutions, spend a few minutes exploring Adobe® SENDNOW. This service provides a way to send large files, convert the files to PDF prior to sending, limit the amount of time the recipient has to retrieve the file, provide an email receipt when the file has been retrieved, attach personal branding items, and supply detailed tracking. Functionality options vary according to pricing plan. You can get a free version of the plan, or spend $9.99 a month for the Basic Plan, or $15.83 a month for the Plus Plan.

Every week, the Practice Management Resource Center posts a new Tip of the Week. (Here are the archived tips.) To reach a practice management advisor, call the PMRC Helpline at (800) 341-9715 or e-mail questions to pmrcHelpline@mail.michbar.org.

Change Your LinkedIn Password to Protect Your Account

The blogosphere and mainstream media are blowing up with reports that LinkedIn has suffered a serious data breach, and that hackers have stolen upwards of 6.4 million user passwords from the social networking site. Online security experts are recommending that all LinkedIn users change their passwords to protect themselves.

Reuters reports: "The data was found on underground websites where criminal hackers frequently exchange stolen information, including scrambled passwords. The files only included passwords and not corresponding email addresses, which means that people who download the files and unscramble the passwords will not easily be able to access any accounts with compromised passwords. Yet analysts said it is likely that the hackers who stole the passwords also have the corresponding email addresses and would be able to access the accounts." For more information, read the rest of the Reuters story.

If you've got a LinkedIn account, you can follow these easy steps to change your password:

1. Login to LinkedIn

2. Click on your name in the upper right hand corner of the page

3. Click on "Settings" in the drop-down menu

4. About halfway down the next page, right under your e-mail address, it says "change password" in blue - click that and then enter your old password and enter your new password twice.

If the reports are true, however, LinkedIn users who have used the same password on other sites and accounts may have some serious password-changing homework to do.

Posted by Samantha Meinke

 

Practice Management Tip of the Week - Smart Phone Dictation

Optimize your smart phone efficiency by installing and using a smart phone dictation application. These applications do more than enable digital dictation--they also make it easy to attach your dictated file to an email or send it to an Internet storage location like Dropbox. Using either of these options, your transcription assistant has easy access to the digital file. The file can also be processed by a digital transcription application.

Some of the most popular digital transcription applications are listed here:

• Dictamus (iPhone, free and $14.95)

• Pocket Dictate (iPhone, iPod, iPad, free)

• Voxie Pro Recorder (iPhone, $4.99)

• DictaNet Mobile for iPhone ($11.99, control by tilting your phone)

• FlexT9 Speak-Trace-Write-Tap (Android, $4.99, 4 input options)

• Dictadroid (Android, free and $1.99)

Every week, the Practice Management Resource Center posts a new Tip of the Week. (Here are the archived tips.) To reach a practice management advisor, call the PMRC Helpline at (800) 341-9715 or e-mail questions to pmrcHelpline@mail.michbar.org.

Practice Management Tip of the Week - LAW PRACTICE TODAY

ABA TECHSHOW Tips, the current issue of The ABA Law Practice Management bi-monthly magazine Law Practice Today, has articles and informative columns written by frequent presenters at TECHSHOW. This issue, available on the web even if you are not a member of the ABA, will help to Increase your knowledge and skills in a variety of applications. The magazine provides a great list of books, blogs, and websites, feature articles, columns, and product reviews that are designed to help move your practice to the next level of efficiency by utilizing technology.

Every week, the Practice Management Resource Center posts a new Tip of the Week. (Here are the archived tips.) To reach a practice management advisor, call the PMRC Helpline at (800) 341-9715 or e-mail questions to pmrcHelpline@mail.michbar.org.

Practice Management Tip of the Week - Mac Trojan Flashback

If you are a Mac user, you may have noticed that the trojan Flashback, a malicious software program, is making the news. The difference between Flashback and earlier Mac attack applications is the way your machine becomes infected. Flashback is known as a drive-by download--all you have to do is visit a website that is hosting Flashback and the application can install itself. Macword magazine has published a very thorough article outlining the steps to take to minimize the risk of drive-by malware infections like Flashback. If you use a Mac in your practice or at home and haven’t yet taken the time to get up-to-speed on drive-by malware risks, make the time today.

Every week, the Practice Management Resource Center posts a new Tip of the Week. (Here are the archived tips.) To reach a practice management advisor, call the PMRC Helpline at (800) 341-9715 or e-mail questions to pmrcHelpline@mail.michbar.org.

Practice Management Tip of the Week - Keep Your Touch Screens Fingerprint Free

Sharon Nelson, attorney and president of Sensei Enterprises, Inc. has written an uncharacteristically low tech post on her Ride the Lightening blog. Sharon has found a solution for those smudges, fingerprints, and germs that are covering our touch screen devices. Read her post about Mobile Cloth and while you are there, explore some of her other posts. If computer forensics and information security are of interest to you, be sure to bookmark Ride the Lightening.

 Every week, the Practice Management Resource Center posts a new Tip of the Week. (Here are the archived tips.) To reach a practice management advisor, call the PMRC Helpline at (800) 341-9715 or e-mail questions to pmrcHelpline@mail.michbar.org.