Top best practices for exhibit scanning
It’s a near certainty that, no matter how hard you strive for your office to be paperless, you will find that you need to scan items such as incoming correspondence, signatures pages, and exhibits. As the items that often have the most detail, it’s important to learn the best practices for exhibit scanning as one […]
[New ebook] Are you prepared for eFiling at a court near you?
The fact is that eFiling is rapidly becoming a reality in state courts through the US, including California’s superior courts. Right now in California, eFiling is available in 15 courts but during 2017 it’s very likely that more than half of all of the state’s county-level courts, including massive cities like Los Angeles, will have […]
5 quick tips for educating your office about cyber security
When it comes to learning about cyber security, the first thing you notice is that there are a lot of threats out there. Sometimes the tools you use will be to blame. Other times (some might even say most times) it is down to human error. In other words, it’s you. In fact, of the […]
Simple ways to start preparing for eFiling in your law office
Originally published July 5, 2016. Updated October 25, 2016. The days of filing paper documents at courthouses in California are numbered. That’s because electronic court filing, the uploading, and submission of documents to a court in electronic form, is rapidly becoming the new standard. That’s because courts across California are clambering to take advantage of the […]
5 steps to getting serious about law firm cyber security
Law firms have a clear duty of care with respect to the sensitive information they hold about their clients and the matters they’re working on. Last week, as part of our contribution to Cyber Security Awareness Month, we wrote about the seriousness of the cybercrime threat facing law firms. In particular, we noted that one […]
Electronic court filing — the most frequently asked questions
State courts are increasingly following the example of the federal courts and moving to require electronic filing. Just look at the changes underway in the nation’s two largest states, Texas and California. In Texas, it will soon be mandatory to eFile in every local court in the state while, in California, 12 superior courts currently […]
25 Twitter accounts all legal professionals should be following [updated]
Originally published August 28, 2015. Updated October 4, 2016. This time last year we published a list of the top 25 legal professionals to follow on Twitter. The post got a great response from people out there looking for experts and insiders to help them navigate the web and to point them in the direction […]
How to use Microsoft Word Styles (a guide for legal professionals)
A well-formatted and -presented legal document can go a long way toward enhancing readability. However, worrying about consistent formatting can seem trivial when it’s the content that really matters. If (like me) you’re a bit of a pedant for a consistently-presented document, then you may have spent a lot of time manually making titles a […]
5 essential questioning techniques for legal professionals
From questioning witnesses on the stand or taking depositions, to conducting preliminary client interviews, or simply interacting daily with other colleagues, effective communication is critical to your success as a legal professional. Among the most important communication skills to master is asking questions effectively. We wrote previously about how to improve the ways you conduct […]
The best books, blogs, and resources for legal writing
The vast majority of legal jobs require the deployment of legal writing skills. In fact, your writing, along with your interpersonal abilities, will almost certainly be the most important elements on which you are professionally judged. However, because of the sheer volume of written material produced by legal professionals — wills, leases, contracts, pleadings, briefs, […]
Why typography should matter to lawyers
“Typography matters because it helps conserve the most valuable resource you have as a writer — reader attention.” So says Matthew Butterick, a graphic designer-turned-lawyer who has authored a book called “Typography for Lawyers”, which seeks to bust a lot of presentational myths that persist in the legal profession, and suggest ways legal documents can […]