Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

A Case for Operating in the Cloud

By James C. Nolan
November 25, 2009

A 27.5% drop in revenue will get your attention. It did mine in April 2009 when I reviewed my firm's financial results for the first quarter of the year. I was shocked, and worried whether my practice could stay open. I knew some of my competitors had gone out of business and I was afraid I was next.

But, I didn't feel things were too bad and as I looked farther down the income statement I realized why.

  • Rent Expense: down 50%;
  • IT Costs: down 90%;
  • Outside Workers Cost: down 60%; and
  • Payroll Costs: down 40%.

I realized then that my movement to Microsoft's “cloud” enabled me to survive this downturn and will help me thrive in the upturn. Without it, I may not have stayed in business. There are two ideas I would like to emphasize with this article.

Read These Next
The DOJ's Corporate Enforcement Policy: One Year Later Image

The DOJ's Criminal Division issued three declinations since the issuance of the revised CEP a year ago. Review of these cases gives insight into DOJ's implementation of the new policy in practice.

Use of Deferred Prosecution Agreements In White Collar Investigations Image

This article discusses the practical and policy reasons for the use of DPAs and NPAs in white-collar criminal investigations, and considers the NDAA's new reporting provision and its relationship with other efforts to enhance transparency in DOJ decision-making.

The DOJ's New Parameters for Evaluating Corporate Compliance Programs Image

The parameters set forth in the DOJ's memorandum have implications not only for the government's evaluation of compliance programs in the context of criminal charging decisions, but also for how defense counsel structure their conference-room advocacy seeking declinations or lesser sanctions in both criminal and civil investigations.

How AI Has Affected PR Image

When we consider how the use of AI affects legal PR and communications, we have to look at it as an industrywide global phenomenon. A recent online conference provided an overview of the latest AI trends in public relations, and specifically, the impact of AI on communications. Here are some of the key points and takeaways from several of the speakers, who provided current best practices, tips, concerns and case studies.

CLE Shouldn't Be the Only Mandatory Training for Attorneys Image

Each stage of an attorney's career offers opportunities for a curriculum that addresses both the individual's and the firm's need to drive success.