III. ITEMS YOU CAN DO WITHOUT
With a budget of $10,000, you'll have to omit a few items. I believe a small
firm can omit the following items without significantly impacting productivity.
A. VOICE RECOGNITION
I have dabbled with it, but don't think it's ready for regular use. Even
if it's 95% accurate, that means five of every 100 words is wrong. By definition,
the computer will generate a word -- often an incorrect word correctly spelled.
Proofreading becomes very difficult. I found the extra time needed to proofread
and make corrections outweighs the value of voice recognition.
B. DIGITAL COPIER
I investigated a combination digital copier/printer, but the cost was too
high. Also, the warmup time before the first page printed was too long,
though second and third pages printed quickly. I'm sticking with a standard
copier for now.
C. PAPERLESS OFFICE
Many lawyers and consultants dream of paperless offices in which every document
is scanned and stored electronically. In such an office, lawyers would read
mail on their computers, and take entire case files home without packing
a single piece of paper.
Small firms can do without this expense for four reasons. First, the amount
of digital storage required is tremendous. Second, such a system requires
a high-volume scanner, and the staff to use the scanner. Third, it can be
difficult to review multi-page digital images, rather than paper copies.
Finally, I don't like the idea of putting evidence into a format that can
be altered.
D. VIDEO CAPTURE
Video capture refers to taking regular videotape and converting it to digital
movie clips that play on the computer.
I love using video in cases. I also use it in settlement brochures, including
PowerPoint settlement presentations. But I find it cheaper to send out the
video I need to a local computer store and get a CD back than invest in
a video-capture card and a machine with enough horsepower to run it.
E. WIRELESS NETWORKING
Wireless networking is great for home use, but not for a law office. I just
don't see how it's secure and confidential.
F. ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
 Uhm
... I don't use anti-virus software. I've tried it in the past, but found
it slowed down and crashed my system. I've tried McAfee and Norton, and
prefer the Norton product. But it seems to me that anti-virus software is
like closing the barn door once the horse is out. By the time the software
company updates its virus definitions and you download the updates, you're
likely infected already.
How do I avoid viruses without a software defense? First, I only get on
the Internet when I have a reason, and only stay on as long as necessary.
This practice prevents "sniffers" from finding and infiltrating your system.
Those of you with "always on" connections who stay online all the time are
asking for trouble.
Second, I don't download anything from the Internet unless I'm as sure as
possible that it's virus-free. That means no music, no little utilities
that haven't been vouched for, no games. I don't even download program updates
for at least two weeks, so others can see if there's an embedded virus.
Third, I don't open e-mail attachments that I don't expect to receive. E-mail
attachments are the number one way viruses spread. I never open attachments,
even from people I know, unless I expect it. My mother forwards me hundreds
of jokes. I never open them. Even when I expect an attachment, I don't open
it if it has a .exe, .bat, or .vbs extension.
Finally, I turn off the preview pane in Outlook Express. That way, I can
delete e-mail without viewing it. This defeats some of the new viruses embedded
in HTML code, which runs when you view the e-mail message, even without
opening it up.
CONCLUSION
If you budgeted $10,000 and follow my plan, you've got money left over.
Use the extra dough to buy faster computers, more storage, a better digital
camera, a headset so you can work hands-free from your telephone (and save
the cricks in your neck), or to hire a consultant to help make some choices
and install your systems.
The "wired" office can be done. It's not easy. It takes patience and persistence
to use the computers and software to your best advantage. But I'm convinced
that the only way a solo or small office can litigate with the big defense
firms is to use technology. If you're ready to take the plunge, I hope the
road map in this article helps.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jeffrey S. Lisson is a 1985 graduate
of Austin (TX) College, and a 1992 graduate of Wake Forest Law School.
He is a solo practitioner in Winston-Salem, specializing in criminal
defense, personal injury, product liability, and federal statutory
causes of action. He is licensed in both North Carolina and Texas.
Before law school, Jeffrey was a newspaper reporter for five years.
You can contact Jeffrey via e-mail (jlisson@lissonlaw.com)
This article originated in TechnoLawyer, a popular legal technology and
practice management resource that consists of a network of free,
critically-acclaimed e-mail newsletters, and a searchable Web-based
repository of all TechnoLawyer content since January 1997. To join, search,
or learn more about TechnoLawyer, visit the following Web site:
www.technolawyer.com
Copyright 2002 Jeffrey S. Lisson. All
rights reserved.
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