LJN Newsletters

The inaugural "Raindance" conference of the Legal Sales and Service Organization took place in Boston in June. It marked the first time ever that there was a critical mass of people to hold a conference devoted sales and business development in law.

Two years ago, we set out on a comprehensive KM strategy that would ultimately improve how we manage firm information. Identifying and implementing the tools and processes needed to best manage electronic client, matter and expertise files took some time. Some of the tools were readily available, but others, including Sanitize by OpenSource, took significant time to either find or develop.

Just as the old real estate axiom: "Location, Location, Location" keeps the buyers on their toes, so goes it in the legal profession with: "Security, Security, Security" keeping the firms tightly geared to making their computers as secure as possible in these heightened threat days.

Cross-references are a feature in Microsoft Word that allows you to create references to other items in the same document. This is particularly helpful with longer, more complex documents, the likes of which are often encountered in the legal document-production process.

Technology leaders at law firms are under increasing pressure to provide information ubiquity ' not an easy task given the challenge of actually connecting heterogeneous data structures and file types across multiple information sources to the people who need them.

What if we told you that Microsoft Excel was part of a litigation technology strategy used in a case that involved complex document management? At Paul, Hastings, Janofsky and Walker LLP, we traditionally use aggressive case management, including early case assessment, client connectivity, and the use of cost-saving discovery and litigation technology. This was the first time we used technology that exists on almost everyone's computer to manage discovery and facilitate document review. Our litigation team was so impressed by the utility of Excel that they requested we use it in every large-scale document production.

Movement among major law firms and corporations.

What tools can be used by an executive committee to take a fresh look at its firm, sustain a successful culture and make strategic decisions? Remember: No decision is a decision! Let's ask some questions about your executive committee.