Technology expectations as described by lawyers

I've noted a flurry of articles and blog posts around the issue of lawyers and their familiarity with technology issues, specifically social media and Microsoft Office software. Some say young attorneys should know how to post on social media and monitor different feeds. Some say their job is to learn how to be lawyers first. Some say they should know how to use software efficiently enough to sort lists in Excel and do first draft word processing.

I also found a post about librarians and skill development, and thought it fit with the general theme.

Open Letter to New Lawyer: You should be dragging me into the 21st century not the other way around
by Carolyn Elefant on January 17, 2013
myShingle.com
http://myshingle.com/2013/01/articles/trends/open-letter-to-new-lawyer-you-should-be-dragging-me-into-the-21st-century-not-the-other-way-around/

Open Letter to Senior Lawyer: I’m Not a Tech Expert
by Josh Camson on January 23, 2013
Lawyerist.com
http://lawyerist.com/open-letter-to-senior-lawyer/

An Open Letter to Lawyers Young and Old
3 Geeks and a Law Blog
1/23/2013
Ryan McClead
http://www.geeklawblog.com/2013/01/an-open-letter-to-lawyers-young-and-old.html

As part of beauty contests, Kia Motors' corporate counsel tests associates to assess technology skills.
By Monica Bay
Tech Drive
Law Technology News
December 1, 2012
http://www.law.com/jsp/lawtechnologynews/PubArticleLTN.jsp?id=1202578835700

Kia Motors Tests Outside Counsel Tech Skills (part I)
By D. Casey Flaherty
Law Technology News
January 24, 2013
http://www.law.com/jsp/lawtechnologynews/PubArticleLTN.jsp?id=1202585496232

Kia Motors Tests Outside Counsel Tech Skills, Part II
By D. Casey Flaherty
Law Technology News
January 25, 2013
http://www.law.com/jsp/lawtechnologynews/PubArticleLTN.jsp?id=1202585662374&rss=rss_ltn&slreturn=20130025142505

The Skill Development Disconnect in Law Libraries
by Connie Crosby
Slaw: Canada's online legal magazine.
January 14, 2013
http://www.slaw.ca/2013/01/14/the-skill-development-disconnect-in-law-libraries/

Law Prof Blogosphere = Disruption?

Has the Law Prof Blogosphere Established Itself as a Disruptive Publishing Medium? Joe Hodnicki ponders law faculty blogging and how it augments and disrupts traditional publishing of law reviews.

First paragraph:

Law prof blogging is no longer the latest "hot" thing to do. Hasn't been for years. After some ten years or so the law prof blog is a mature publishing medium. Denver Law prof J. Robert Brown Jr. has been publishing a series of posts entitled "Law Faculty Blogs and Disruptive Innovation" on the Race to the Bottom blog. [First post here]. The posts are based on and highlight themes from his Essay: Law Faculty Blogs and Disruptive Innovation [SSRN].

Is "Self-Help" a Good Thing Or a Bad Thing?

Is "Self-Help" a Good Thing Or a Bad Thing? Greg Lambert posts on 3 Geeks and a Law blog about the trend for lawyers to handle tasks that they previously delegated to staff. Is this a good trend, bad trend, or neutral trend?

25 Game-Changing iPad Apps for Law Students & Lawyers

OnlineCollege.org provided a list of iPad Apps for Law Students and Lawyers.

Top 10 Most Useful iPad Apps for Lawyers & Law Students

SkytechGeek's Top 10 Most Useful iPad Apps for Lawyers & Law Students

Copyrighted briefs?

Something I saw over at the Law Librarian Blog:

Lawyer Copyrights Briefs, Sues West And Lexis for Distributing Them
February 24, 2012
Law Librarian Blog
Two lawyers have opened a can of copyright worms by filing a class action suit against West and Lexis for using briefs in the brief banks sold by their respective companies. (cont)

LexisNexis Rolls out Newly Re-designed Martindale-Hubbell Lawyer Index App for iPhone

Lawyers are becoming more and more mobile – working remotely, traveling to meetings, back and forth to court and speaking at conferences – so it is no wonder that applications which aid in productivity have gained enormous significance. For lawyers who are always on the go, LexisNexis recently released a completely redesigned Martindale-Hubbell Lawyer Index app for iPhone to help them connect with other lawyers or referral sources.

The app provides direct access to the renowned Martindale-Hubbell database of more than 1 million lawyers and law firms so that legal professionals can quickly refer cases to an attorney in another jurisdiction, check out an opposing lawyer’s credentials or search for outside counsel then quickly connect with the most appropriate person or firm. Its features include:

• Options to search for lawyers and law firms according to Martindale-Hubbell Ratings, law school, name, area of practice and location
• Ability to call a firm or lawyer directly from the search results page
• Access to comprehensive profile listings with contact information, Martindale-Hubbell Peer and Client Review ratings, bar admission details, website link, and more
• Maps and driving directions to a lawyer’s office
• Ability to create and store notes on lawyers and law firms for future reference

“We developed this iPhone app with lawyers in mind and rolled it out quietly last year, so we were amazed when there were nearly 1,000 downloads of the app within weeks,” said Len Gilbert, vice president, Customer Experience. “Since the initial soft launch, we redesigned the app to bring the user experience to the next level, including all-new screen images for easier viewing, location detection functionality and additional search fields for finding the right attorney or law firm. This app is a great mobile tool that allows legal professionals to find, evaluate and connect with the right lawyer while they’re on the go.”

To download the Martindale-Hubbell Lawyer Index app for the iPhone, click here.

Legal iPad Apps for Lawyers

Legal blogger, Nicole Black provided a list of useful iPad apps developed for attorneys. She listed these apps that provide a specific tool or programs for lawyers. Check it out here.

iPhone J.D.

iPhone J.D. is blog by Jeff Richardson an attorney in the New Orleans office of Adams & Reese. The blog is for attorneys using iPhone and iPad along other related topics. You contact Jeff via email: jeff@iphonejd.com or follow on Twitter: @jeffrichardson.

Lawyers and iPads

Tom Mighell, of inter-alia.net fame, has a blog specifically for iPad using lawyers called iPad4Lawyers (http://ipad4lawyers.squarespace.com/). The posts are well-written, have pictures to illustrate points, and are very practical. If you have questions about what iPads can do in the legal world, I'd recommend following this blog.

How much does your online vendor know about...

This Law Library Blog post includes a snippet from the original post by Jason Wilson's post, "What does {choose one: Westlaw, Lexis, Loislaw, Fastcase, Casemaker} know about you?" The LLB post also refers back to an earlier post about online activities being tracked. Interesting food for thought.

The 7 Sins of Social Media

Lawyerist.com has provided a list of do's and don'ts in the use of social networking in the legal field. Read here.

7 Essential Apps for Busy Legal Professionals

7 Essential Apps for Busy Legal Professionals
by Tim Baran on August 17, 2011
Lawyerist.com

Tim Baran covers seven essential mobile apps for lawyers and librarians on the go.