We’re Back

by

With the new year, we have new SSL certificates and a commitment to posting on new developments in Document Assembly and Work Flow. I have written several recent articles for the American Bar Association focused on developments in Artificial Intelligence. The whole area can be both “frightening” and “confusing”. I may be able to guide you through the hype. Don’t take my musings as a reason to invest. AI stocks are sky high. Rather, I will look into how you can use “AI” in its current iteration in your business practice.

Since I last posted (several years ago), I have spent a lot of time honing my skills in SQL Server based programming tools becoming a data wonk and NetDocuments migration specialist. However, I have not strayed too far from my roots in document assembly. I am working on several large Xpressdox-based projects. I am also working with HotDocs’ new owner Mitratech in making HotDocs Advanced (their slick web platform) available to the masses (or at least small law firms). I am also pleased to announce I am working on my first DocMinder project. I am also revisiting Knackly which is the document assembly platform chosen by Actionstep online practice management system.

WannaCry? Don’t Panic!

by

Synopsis: Guest Contributor, Samuel Rowland, has looked into the recent news articles about the global computer hack known as WannaCry or WannaCrypt.  He offers guidance on what to look for and how to protect yourself.  Enjoy.

To quote The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy: “Don’t Panic”. Yes, I think we are all aware of the recent and ongoing ransomware cyberattack. For those who don’t know, ransomware is malware that encrypts all of a user’s files before demanding a fee to unlock them. This malware – known as WannaCry or WannaCrypt – specifically says that you have 7 days to pay about $300.00 in BitCoin payments before they lock your files away forever. The program enters your system usually through an attachment to an email that is usually, but not always, a zip file. When this file is opened or previewed, it instills the malware. This sort of virus will force you to wipe your entire hard drive and restore your files from whatever backups you have, so it’s best to learn how to protect yourself.

Read moreWannaCry? Don’t Panic!

Contract Express Lessons Learned

by

I have been working with and following Contract Express as a consultant for a number of years.  I recently had the opportunity to convert a complex GhostFill document assembly system to Contract Express.  In working on the project I had chance to do an in depth look at Contract Express in its current incarnation.  At the outset of the project, after initial planning but before coding began, Contract Express enabled developers and consultant to create custom functions.  This brand new feature became key to leveraging features that had existed in GhostFill, but, till that time, were beyond the reach of Contract Express.

Read moreContract Express Lessons Learned

The Sweet Spot – HotDocs Client Questionnaires

by
Online client intake for estate planning using HotDocs

Wouldn’t it be great if your clients could answer your INTAKE QUESTIONNAIRE online, and you could use those answers, immediately, to create documents for them using HotDocs document assembly.  How much do you think this would cost?  The answer is less than you think.

Read moreThe Sweet Spot – HotDocs Client Questionnaires

Passover – Rabbinical Mandated Spring Cleaning – For the Law Office

by

Every year, I engage in a little ritual I like to call “rabbincally mandated spring cleaning” – in other words, turning my kitchen over for Passover.  One of the most interesting things about pulling out my Passover dishes and pots each year is that I get to read year old newspapers.  It is always rather comforting to read about some horrific event that was happening in the world a year ago and realize we survived it.  This year, as I was taking out my Passover stuff and glancing over the year-old newspapers, I was struck with a thought.  Everything has a history, even news stories.  And sometimes, things that seem extremely important at one time turn out to be not so important later on.

Software has history.  Especially the software that we use in our daily business life.  And sometimes, in the urge to immediately solve a present issue with fascinating new software, we skip over history.  Let’s say, two years ago, your office installed a up to the minute Practice Management System, such as Time Matters or TABS/Practice Master.  After the pain and agony of initial setup, it was wonderful – a real step forward.  But, fast forward two years and that wonderful practice management software system begins to look as antiquated as last year’s newspaper stories.  You’re ready to move to The Cloud – chuck out the old, in with the new.

Read morePassover – Rabbinical Mandated Spring Cleaning – For the Law Office

Getting an Early Start on the Garden – Moving Indoors

by

These days, Mother Nature doesn’t always cooperate.  After a mild winter, spring seemed to arrive early.  I was out on my hammock soaking in the sunlight only a few weeks ago.  I got ambitious and turned over the soil in the raised beds for my vegetable and herb garden.  Last year I started the garden too late, only to have many plants dry out in the heat before hitting full fruit.  I wasn’t going to make that mistake again.  But then, Mother Nature played a joke on me (and all of us in the Northern part of the U.S.).  We had 3 successive days of below freezing temperatures, including actual snow on the ground in April.  Egads!!!!  Add so I pulled out my Jung Seed catalog.  Instead of just getting seeds, I loaded up on starter soil, biodegradeable seed kits, and deck planters.

Read moreGetting an Early Start on the Garden – Moving Indoors

Guest Feature: The Ultimate Paralegal

by

As we all know, paralegals are an essential component of the legal profession today.  But, there is a drawback – aren’t they just a little bit too “human”.

Still in R&D but very exciting – The Paralegal of the 21st Century from Japan Industries.  21Para, as the prototype is called is more than a robot – it is a completely actualized and optimized Paralegal.  Using a simple in-office procedure, a computer chip is inserted into your Paralegal’s brain.  The chip will allow your Paralegals to bypass the necessity for physical computer and keyboard by becoming computers themselves.

Read moreGuest Feature: The Ultimate Paralegal

Gadget Watch – Meet the Squirrel Buster

by

I am lucky that my office looks out on a wooded area with a lake.  We often see ducks and other waterfowl cavorting in the lake and hunting for food.  The occasional neighbor’s dog, white tailed deer, or even a coyote strolls into the yard for our diversion.  We see birds, woodpeckers and others, but they are often camouflaged in the trees.  I had thought about bird feeders, but had been worried that I would spend more time feeding the grey squirrels, rather than feeding actual birds.

Read moreGadget Watch – Meet the Squirrel Buster

Women and Computers by Rose Rowland

by
Many years ago, there was a book called “Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus” which became wildly popular.  Since it was so popular, Basha ripped it off for a lovely little article called “If Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus – how do you sell computers  (really software) on Venus?”.  The basic gist of the article was that men and women view and use computers and software differently.  Men were more excited by the gee whiz  aspect of new software while women looked at computers as a necessary work tool.

Read moreWomen and Computers by Rose Rowland

Life is not a struggle. It’s a wiggle

by

Wisdom can come from anywhere if you are open to it.  For me, wisdom came from a trip to the Waffle House on Airline Drive in New Orleans.  We have just returned from a mini-vacation in New Orleans, with the family.  Yes, we took the “family” to New Orleans … probably should have left them behind (Bourbon Street isn’t exactly kid-friendly).  And so we found ourselves driving to the airport on Easter Sunday … and nothing was open but the Waffle House.  And so, we found ourselves drinking french roast and downing a double hash-browns with cheese and tops, with grits and chocolate pecan waffles.

Read moreLife is not a struggle. It’s a wiggle