| ‘I Just Need an Answer
to a Simple Question.’ |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal April 12, 2008 - Vol. 79; No.10) |
When it comes from an unfamiliar voice on the telephone in the law office, this phrase roughly translates to “I would like some free legal advice from you, please, and I really have five or six questions, but this is a good way to get you started talking.” |
| What’s in My Electronic Toolbox? |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal February 9, 2008 - Vol. 79; No.4) |
What’s in your electronic toolbox? Is your computer workstation pretty much as it came from the factory or are you one of those people who customizes a lot of different things on your PC and adds many utility programs? |
| For 2008, I Hereby Resolve… |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal January 12, 2008 - Vol. 79; No.1) |
But they seem to be honored more in the breach than in the accomplishment. Some of them are followed for a week. Some may last for a month. A very few last for a year or a lifetime. In fact, the cynic in me wants to guess that most New Year’s resolutions will be broken by the time you read this month’s column. |
| Year’s Best in Law Office Management and Technology |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal December 8, 2007 - Vol. 78; No.34) |
I know that all of you have traditions. Some traditions are handed down from our parents. Others we do regularly even though we may not be sure how we started the tradition in the first place. Obviously, the year-end holiday season has lots of traditions. |
| Test Your Legal Technology IQ |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal November 3, 2007 - Vol. 78; No.30) |
Every day it becomes a little more difficult to be a competent lawyer without an underlying understanding of certain types of technology. |
| Voice-Activated Technology for Lawyers |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal October 6, 2007 - Vol. 78; No.27) |
| This month we cover what some might think to be an unusual topic - the role of your voice combining with technology in the 21st century law office. |
Closing
Files, Destroying Files and Making Money (Part 2)
How to Shred Almost Anything |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published
in the Oklahoma Bar Journal September 1, 2007 - Vol. 78; No.24) |
| Last month I wrote “Closing
Files, Destroying Files and Making Money” for the Oklahoma
Bar Journal. I didn’t really intend for there to be
a part two at the time. But, I received several requests for more
information. Several articles on related topics have also recently
crossed my desk (or my computer screen). |
| Closing
Files, Destroying Files and Making Money |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published
in the Oklahoma Bar Journal August 4, 2007 - Vol. 78; No.21) |
| When I was a young
lawyer starting my own practice, a more experienced lawyer asked
me if I was making any money. I responded that I had opened five
new files the previous week. “Son,” he replied, “you
don’t make money opening files. You make money closing files.” So
hopefully readers will understand that they, too, are making money
when they properly close old client files. |
| Subscribe
to CoreVault Online Backup at a Discount |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published
in the Oklahoma Bar Journal May 12, 2007 - Vol. 78; No.15) |
| The Oklahoma Bar Association
has endorsed Oklahoma-based CoreVault as the official online backup
service of the OBA. This action may come as a surprise to some
Oklahoma lawyers who could believe that allowing your confidential
client data to be transmitted across the Internet and stored on
another computer system outside of your control is a breach of
client confidentiality. |
| The
Rise and Fall of the Dictation Tape |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published
in the Oklahoma Bar Journal April 14, 2007 - Vol. 78; No.12) |
| “My firm has
gone digital! As a result, we have over 100 dictation machines
that need a good home.” That was a recent post on OBA-NET,
our bar online forum, from Jerrod S. Geiger of the firm Pierce
Couch Hendrickson Baysinger & Green LLP. |
| Bless
This Messy Desk |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published
in the Oklahoma Bar Journal Feb. 10, 2007 - Vol. 78; No.06) |
| In some ways, opinions
about general tidiness or messiness of your desk can be as divisive
as any of today’s great political issues. Those who tend
to keep a tidy desk have a difficult time restraining themselves
from commenting when they see another lawyer’s desk containing
piles of paperwork. |
| The
Effective Tightwad Lawyer |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published
in the Oklahoma Bar Journal Jan. 13, 2007 - Vol. 78; No.02) |
| If you search Google
for the phrase “Technology for Tightwads,” you get
81 “hits.” Most all of these are written by or for
members of the legal profession. I’m not sure if that says
more about our thriftiness or our ability to coin a good phrase. |
| Make
a New Year’s Resolution to Use OBA-NET |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published
in the Oklahoma Bar Journal Dec. 9, 2006 - Vol. 77; No.34) |
| Every Oklahoma attorney
should read this column. Please do not let the title of this article
cause you to skip reading it entirely. I am well aware of the fact
that, for a certain group of lawyers, the label OBA-NET translates
as “that online thing that the bar has that I don’t
know how to use” or that “online bar service I never
have time to use.” Some lawyers do not even realize that
OBA-NET is now free. |
| Maximizing
Your E-Potential |
| by Jacob Williams |
| (originally published
in the Oklahoma Bar Journal Nov. 4, 2006 - Vol. 77; No.30) |
| Opening a solo law
practice is quite daunting. I have to admit, when I first made
the decision to hang a shingle and go out on my own, I had many
concerns. Number one was financing, number two was financing and
number three was financing. |
| E-Discovery
The New Federal Rules |
| by Jerry Green
and Susan K. Carns |
| (originally published
in the Oklahoma Bar Journal Nov. 4, 2006 - Vol. 77; No.30) |
| It had been true “once
upon a time” that satisfying a request for production was
often as straightforward as opening a file cabinet and pulling
out the requested document(s). Today, a request for production
may well stir caution, confusion and not just a little fear in
the heart of the attorney who appreciates the new complicating
realities created by advances in computer technology. |
| Motivating
Law Firm Staff |
| by Jim Calloway,
Director, OBA Management Assistance Program |
| (originally published
in the Oklahoma Bar Journal Nov. 4, 2006 - Vol. 77; No.30) |
| Sometimes when discussing
matters with the partners of a small law firm, I will ask the question, “Who’s
your director of human relations?” Inevitably the answer
comes back “We don’t have one.” |
| Conflict
Checking Systems from A to Z |
| by Jim Calloway,
Director, OBA Management Assistance Program |
| (originally published
in the Oklahoma Bar Journal Nov. 4, 2006 - Vol. 77; No.30) |
| A sometimes troubling
issue in law firm management is developing an appropriate system
for checking conflicts of interest. Every lawyer or law firm, no
matter how small or how limited the practice area, must have a
conflicts database and a procedure by which it is consulted and
the review is logged. |
| A
Lawyer’s Guide to Mobile Computer Security |
| by Ellen Freedman,
Reid Trautz and Jim Calloway |
| (originally published
in the Oklahoma Bar Journal Nov. 4, 2006 - Vol. 77; No.30) |
| By all accounts, a
personal computer is lost or stolen every 12 seconds. Most contain
confidential or sensitive information. |
| Web
Sites Worth a Visit |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published
in the Oklahoma Bar Journal Nov. 4, 2006 - Vol. 77; No.30) |
| Each year at ABA TECHSHOW
one of the most popular programs is “60 Sites in 60 Minutes.” After
days spent absorbing great information about technology, visiting
with vendors about their products and, hopefully, taking in a few
of the sites of Chicago, most attendees are ready for a chance
to have a few laughs as well as learn about valuable Internet resources. |
| New
Lawyer Training Holds Lessons for All Lawyers |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published
in the Oklahoma Bar Journal Oct. 7, 2006 - Vol. 77; No.27) |
| One hundred and fifty
lawyers recently attended a free day-long program produced by the
Oklahoma Bar Association called “The New Lawyer Experience.” More
than half of the attendees were brand-new lawyers, having been
sworn in to our profession just the week before. |
‘Computer,
Can You Hear Me Now?’
One Lawyer’s Surprisingly Positive Experience
with Speech Recognition Software |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published
in the Oklahoma Bar Journal Sept. 2, 2006 - Vol. 77; No.24) |
| In the movie “Star
Trek IV, The Voyage Home,” the crew of the Enterprise journeys
to Earth’s past (San Francisco, 1986) to search for humpback
whales. In one humorous scene, Scotty needs to use a computer. |
| Online
Filing Cabinets |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published
in the Oklahoma Bar Journal Aug. 5, 2006 - Vol. 77; No.21) |
| After a recent presentation
at the Cleveland County Bar Association (“30 Technology Tips
in 30 Minutes”), I was approached by Cleveland County Bar
President John Sparks, who wanted to give me one of his best technology
tips. |
| The
Lawyer’s Flawed Search for Perfection |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published
in the Oklahoma Bar Journal May 20, 2006 - Vol. 77; No.15) |
| Do not take the title
of this column the wrong way. Striving to come as close to perfection
as possible in one’s life is generally a laudable goal. We
always want to prepare perfect work product for our clients. Lawyers
are by nature and training proofreaders and detail-checkers. |
| Ten
Technology Tools for Lawyers |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published
in the Oklahoma Bar Journal April 15, 2006 - Vol. 77; No.12) |
| Technological advances
continue at a rapid pace. Sometimes these advances are useful for
those in legal practice. This month I thought it would be useful
to do a brief survey of several interesting technology ideas and
services that may have escaped our readers’ attention. |
| The New Lawyer Experience |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal February 11, 2006 - Vol. 77; No.06) |
| The month of February brings a semiannual ritual that many of us recall not very fondly and some of us have managed to suppress from our memories entirely. |
| The “Next Generation” of the Internet? — Web 2.0 |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal January 14, 2006 - Vol. 77; No.02) |
| So many things that we routinely use today were a part of the science fiction literature, movies and programs that many of us followed when we were younger. Captain Kirk’s communicators looked very much like the flip phones of today. |
| End-of-the-Year ‘To Dos’ |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal December 10, 2005 - Vol. 76; No.34) |
| The end of the calendar year brings many things; much colder weather, the holiday season, parties, bowl games and soon-to-be broken resolutions, just to name a few. |
| The
Trials and Tribulations of Internet Research |
| By Lee F. Peoples |
| (originally published
in the Oklahoma Bar Journal November 19, 2005 - Vol. 76; No.32) |
| Internet use is pervasive
in all areas of modern life and the law is no exception. Stories
abound of judges and their clerks using the Internet to verify
facts, delve into the backgrounds of parties before them and challenge
information presented by attorneys. |
| Ten
Essential Technologies for Solo and Small Firms |
| By Jeffrey S. Lisson |
| (originally published
in the Oklahoma Bar Journal November 19, 2005 - Vol. 76; No.32) |
| As we steam headlong
into the second half of the first decade of the 21st century, this
seems like a good time to examine the technology all solo and small
firms need. Regardless of practice and regardless of location,
there are certain hardware, software and technology practices all
lawyers should have — and use! After all, a technology investment
does no good if it just sits on a shelf. |
| Making
the Case for Macs |
| By Jack Haggard |
| (originally published
in the Oklahoma Bar Journal November 19, 2005 - Vol. 76; No.32) |
| Information quality
is something we often take for granted when working with known
authoritative sources. More care is required when venturing away
from familiar legal publishers and Web sites. |
| Management
Tips from a Solo Practitioner |
| By Marilyn D. Barringer-Thomson |
| (originally published
in the Oklahoma Bar Journal November 19, 2005 - Vol. 76; No.32) |
| After graduating from
law school, I worked for a law firm for two years and experienced
all of the benefits of practicing with other attorneys and with
full administrative support personnel — office manager, file
clerks, secretaries, law clerks and runners. |
| A Backup Proposal for Those Who Know That They Aren’t Doing Backup Well |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal November 19, 2005 - Vol. 76; No.32) |
| This month I am going to outline a plan for backing up your data using only the tools you’re likely to have: a CD-ROM burner, some blank CDs and the software already installed on your system. Then I have to follow up by explaining its shortcomings. |
| One Law Office to Go, Please |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal October 1, 2005 - Vol. 76; No.27) |
| While the correspondence on this page is not real, the ability to assemble and carry all of the technology tools that the modern law office requires in a couple of bags is now undoubtedly real. |
| A Desktop Search Primer |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal September 3, 2005 - Vol. 76; No.24) |
| Can you locate an old document more easily on the Internet than on your own computer network? |
Do You Have the Time?
A Few Thoughts about Time Management for Attorneys |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal August 13, 2005 - Vol. 76; No.22) |
| One of the most common complaints among all attorneys is that they do not have enough time. In fact, that seems to be a common complaint from many people in our society today. I never seem to talk to anyone, no matter what their occupation, who isn’t time-challenged and overscheduled. |
| The Lawyer’s Bank Accounts |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal May 14, 2005 - Vol. 76; No.15) |
| This month we will talk about a topic that should be near and dear to every lawyer’s heart — the lawyer’s bank accounts. Several new admittees have recently taken their oaths as attorneys, and this article is directed at making sure that those who are opening a practice get started correctly with their bank accounts. |
Utilities Power-up Your PC
Jim’s Top Picks for Programs That Enhance Your Existing Hardware or Software |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal April 9, 2005 - Vol. 76; No.12) |
| Favorite computer utilities (and high-tech gadgets) will be the topic of one presentation that I will be giving with Ross Kodner at the 2005 OBA Solo and Small Firm Conference June 23 – 25. |
| Macs Become a Familiar Sight in Law Offices |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal February 12, 2005 - Vol. 76; No.6) |
| Apple Computer Inc. has certainly had a great past several months. The stock price has increased almost fourfold during the past year. The company received a great deal of publicity with the recent announcement of its MiniMac, a $499 personal computer sans monitor and keyboard. |
| The iPod: A Gadget You Can Truly Love |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal February 12, 2005 - Vol. 76; No.6) |
| Some readers might wonder why we would discuss the iPod in the Oklahoma Bar Journal. They are just music players. Right? |
| Was 2004 'The Year of the Blog'? |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal January 15, 2005 - Vol. 76; No.2) |
| Do you know what a blog, or weblog, is? If so, count yourself among the most sophisticated of Internet users. Two surveys about weblogs were recently released by the Pew Internet & American Life Project and one finding was that 62 percent of Internet users do not understand what a blog is. |
| Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) from OBA MAP |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal December 11 , 2004 - Vol. 75; No.35) |
| One of the services provided by the OBA Management Assistance Program is a telephone hotline where members contact us with questions about law practice management, technology, the Internet and other related issues. |
| Find it for Free (or Cheap) on the Internet |
| by Tom Mighell |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal November 6 , 2004 - Vol. 75; No.31) |
| Recently, my firm dealt with an ever-increasing issue: clients who will not pay for traditional online electronic research services. More and more, the litigation policies of corporate and insurance clients completely prohibit the use of electronic research or allow it only with prior approval. Other clients cannot afford to pay for the relatively expensive services. |
| Internet Explorer vs. The World |
| by John B. Husted |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal November 6 , 2004 - Vol. 75; No.31) |
| Contrary to popular belief, Al Gore did not bring about the creation of the Internet. Believe it or not, that distinction can arguably be given to the Soviet Union. |
| Disasters Do Happen: How You Can Recover and Plan for the Future |
| by Mark T. Coke |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal November 6 , 2004 - Vol. 75; No.31) |
| In recent years we have witnessed the devastating impact that disaster can have upon our lives, our work and our possessions. Many disasters are of the natural kind, such as the recent series of hurricanes in Florida, floods of recent years in the Midwest, and wildfires and earthquakes in California. |
| Office Sharing: The Promise and the Pitfalls |
| by James Slayton and Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal November 6 , 2004 - Vol. 75; No.31) |
| Remember last week, you returned from the courthouse wondering about a certain point of law which was raised by the court. You go to your office mate(s) or partner(s), and talk about it. What’s that you say? |
| Backing up Your Data — Part II |
| by John N. Brewer |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal November 6 , 2004 - Vol. 75; No.31) |
| The first part of this article appeared in the Nov. 1, 2003, issue of the Oklahoma Bar Journal. It was titled “Backing Up Your Data: There’s No More Important Technology Task.” The article was very broad in scope. Many options and different software applications were explored. |
| Valuable Tips for New Lawyers |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal November 6 , 2004 - Vol. 75; No.31) |
| A number of new lawyers have recently joined the ranks of the Oklahoma Bar Association in September. This Oklahoma Bar Journal theme issue on law office management and technology presents a good opportunity to provide some tips for lawyers just starting out in private practice or for the more seasoned OBA members who may be contemplating leaving employment at their firm to open their own practice. |
| Essential Technology Skills for Lawyers |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal October 2, 2004 - Vol. 75; No.28) |
| A well-known lawyer stopped me at an OBA reception the other day. He was bemoaning his lack of law office technology knowledge and skills. He indicated that he often felt behind the times. |
| The Power of Planning |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal September 4 , 2004 - Vol. 75; No.24) |
| Most everyone understands the power of good planning and the consequences of poor planning. But taking time for good planning is often difficult for time-challenged lawyers. That is not to say that lawyers are not good planners. In my estimation, they are among the best. |
| Should Your Next Computer Be a Laptop? |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal August 14, 2004 - Vol. 75; No.22) |
| While a growing number of Oklahoma lawyers now use notebook (a.k.a. laptop) computers, we would still guess that they are in the minority. |
| The Brave New World of E-Filing |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal May 15, 2004 - Vol. 75; No.15) |
| "We'll always have paper," was a comment one lawyer made to me a few years ago when I was discussing paperless office processes. Well, for lawyers who practice in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, that statement is no longer true since the requirement of mandatory electronic filing (or e-filing,) which became effective on May 1, 2004. |
OBA Solo and Small Firm Conference 2004
Young Lawyers Division to Hold Midyear Meeting |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal April 17, 2004 - Vol. 75; No.12) |
| What features zoo animals, lawyers and has so many events that it sounds like a three-ring circus? The 2004 OBA Solo and Small Firm Conference and YLD Midyear Meeting! |
| Online with the OBA |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal March 13, 2004 - Vol. 75; No.9) |
| The Oklahoma Bar Association strives to provide the best of online services for its members and the Oklahoma Supreme Court strives to provide the best of online services to the public. |
| The Client-Centered Law Practice (Part 2 of 2) |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal February 14, 2004 - Vol. 75; No.6) |
| Author's Note: This is the second part of a two-part article on planning to make your law office more "user friendly." The first part appeared in the January 17 Bar Journal and is online. That section discusses client communication issues and how many times the client's perception is more important than what you believe to be reality. |
| The Client-Centered Law Practice (Part 1 of 2) |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal January 17, 2004 - Vol. 75; No.2) |
| Author's Note: For well over a year, I've given my program on the client-centered law practice to many of our county bars and other state legal organizations. It was also presented in a slightly different format to ABA TECHSHOW® 2003. |
| Malpractice or Ethical Violations with Your Computer |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal December 13, 2003 - Vol. 74; No.34) |
| "What Do You Mean My Computer Committed Malpractice?" was one of my presentations at the OBA Annual Meeting this year. |
| Technology, Stress and the Lawyer's Quality of Life |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal November 11, 2003 - Vol. 74; No.30) |
| Lawyers and their office staff generally have a lot of job stress. Frankly most people currently have a lot more job stress than people would have had doing that job a generation ago. (Of course many people now do jobs that did not exist a generation ago.) |
| Picking the "Best" Law Office Software |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal October 4, 2003 - Vol. 74; No.27) |
| As a part of my duties, I often get to discuss law office software with lawyers. Without fail, at some point in the conversation, I am asked what is the "best" of a certain class of software. This simple question is actually extremely difficult, if not impossible, to answer. One might as well try to definitively state which automobile make is the best, which political party is the best or which brand of soft drink is the best. |
| Computer Viruses to Spyware: Things You Don't Want to Pick up Online |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal September 6, 2003 - Vol. 74; No.24) |
| August 2003 was a difficult month for personal computer users. Well, not all PC users. Linux and Macintosh users had little to fear, although I assume they also got some e-mails that were intended to cause trouble. But it was a difficult month for the majority of us who operate a computer with one version or another of Microsoft Windows. |
| Do the Math |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal August 16, 2003 - Vol. 74; No.22) |
| Calculators have gotten smaller and cheaper over the years, to the point where they can be as small as a credit card and are frequent give-away items at meetings and conventions. When advising lawyers on setting up a law practice, we always advise lawyers to purchase a desktop calculator with the capability to print on a paper tape. |
| Tools for Electronic Discovery |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal May 10, 2003 - Vol. 74; No.15) |
| Sometimes the material lawyers must read is dull. Sometimes it is very interesting. Relatively little would be described as inspiring. Judge Stephen P. Friot's article on electronic discovery in this Oklahoma Bar Journal was inspiring because it brought together all these emerging issues under one roof. It's the kind of article that you copy to have available for future reference. |
| 'Do You Accept Credit Cards?' |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal April 12, 2003 - Vol. 74; No.12) |
| Every week we receive telephone calls from lawyers concerning credit cards in the law office. Many lawyers have never accepted credit cards and are concerned that there may be some ethical or practical office problem with accepting credit cards. Other lawyers have questions about the process. |
| Of Blogs, Bloggers and Blawgs |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal March 15, 2003 - Vol. 74; No.9) |
| For many of you even reading this article is a leap of faith. Many, if not most, readers of this column may never have heard of blogs (or blawgs.) I would imagine the overwhelming majority of Oklahoma lawyers have never heard of them. |
| Making Your Practice More 'Grande' with Grande Macros |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal February 15, 2003 - Vol. 74; No.6) |
| The law office environment has changed significantly over the last few decades. The mechanics of getting documents transferred from one location to another is one major area of change. |
| 'Get it Delivered - Just as Fast as You Can' |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal January 11, 2003 - Vol. 74; No.2) |
| The law office environment has changed significantly over the last few decades. The mechanics of getting documents transferred from one location to another is one major area of change. |
| Still More Computer Tips, Tricks and Shortcuts |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal December 14, 2002 - Vol. 73; No.36) |
| We received a lot of positive feedback on last month's article on computer tips, so we decided to continue on with some more computer tips. Feel free to let me know of your favorite tips via e-mail (jimc@okbar.org), or you can post them to the OBA-NET. |
| Computer Tips, Tricks and Shortcuts |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal November 9, 2002 - Vol. 73; No.33) |
| This month we are going to focus on some "basic" computer tips and shortcuts. We know that many of our readers will already know some of these tips. |
| Indispensable People |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal October 5, 2002 - Vol. 73; No.29) |
| The unexpected death of Debi Garner has left a huge hole in many of our lives. The OBA has lost an essential member of our staff and great morale booster. Surely everyone who ever attended an OBA Solo and Small Firm Conference knew Debi. |
| Search for the Perfect Search Engine |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal August 17, 2002 - Vol. 73; No.24) |
| We lawyers tend to do a lot of research. The ability to do good research is one of the aspects of legal training that makes lawyers successful in other types of occupations. |
| The Initial Client Interview |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal July 17, 2002 - Vol. 73; No.21) |
| In many ways for lawyers the initial client interview is like a first date.1 You do not know each other that well and hope to get better acquainted. There is often a bit of tension or wariness. |
| Summer Break for Law Firms |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal June 15, 2002 - Vol. 73; No.19) |
| Well, it is June. The flowers are blooming and the temperature is rising. The end of the school year brings abrupt changes for those of us with school age children. For some with older kids, there are summer jobs to be considered. |
| Making Your Law Office Staff Part of a Team |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal May 11, 2002 - Vol. 73; No.15) |
| During the typical weekday we probably spend more waking hours with our co-workers than with our families. We lawyers tend to think very highly of our office staff indeed. |
| Start Your Own Clipping Service |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal April 6, 2002 - Vol. 73; No.11) |
| What would you do if a good client called today and quickly needed copies of two Oklahoma Supreme Court opinions and one particular Oklahoma statute? You would be happy to supply the client this information. But there’s one complication. |
| How Hard Do You Work? |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal Feb. 9, 2002 - Vol. 73; No.6) |
| Have you ever noticed how many times lawyers greet each other with an inquiry about their work load? "Are you staying busy?" "How’s that Smith case going?" "How hard are you working?" |
| The Case for Case Management Software |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal Jan. 12, 2002 - Vol. 73; No.2) |
| Time management for lawyers is a difficult task that will haunt us throughout our careers. As we talk to people from all walks of life it seems that everyone has time management issues. |
| "I'm Sorry, But The Lawyer Cannot Be Interrupted Now" |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal Dec. 8, 2001 - Vol. 72; No.35) |
| Time management for lawyers is a difficult task that will haunt us throughout our careers. As we talk to people from all walks of life it seems that everyone has time management issues. |
| OBA-MAP Unveils New Internet Directory |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal Nov. 3, 2001 - Vol. 72; No.32) |
| If you ever listened to one of my programs or read very many of my articles, you know I believe that every practicing lawyer should be Internet-savvy, or at least have an employee on staff who is. |
| The Lawyer Thinks About Disasters |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal Oct. 6, 2001 - Vol. 72; No.29) |
| Everyone has been horrified by the attack on the World Trade Center. We've spent hours watching the television coverage, talking about it with colleagues and friends and wondering what is ahead for our country and our world. The unthinkable has happened again. |
| The Lawyer’s Business Card |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal Sep. 8, 2001 - Vol. 72; No.26) |
| This week we will cover a topic generally unrelated to law office technology. We will discuss the lawyer’s business card. |
| Weeks and Weeks of Law Practice Tips |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal August 11, 2001 - Vol. 72; No.24) |
| Oklahoma is not the only bar association to have someone on staff to advise lawyers about practice management and technology issues. Several bar associations and Canadian law societies have practice management advisors. |
| Free Consultations, Free Services and Free Lunches |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal July 14, 2001 - Vol. 72; No.21) |
| "OK, folks we’re over-stocked on these things and my manager says we gotta move them out! We’re taking any offers. Come see us." |
| Conferences, Consultants & Computers - Post - 2001 OBA Solo and Small Firm Conference Report |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal June 9, 2001 - Vol. 72; No.18) |
| Well, the fourth annual OBA Solo and Small Firm Conference is now history and we certainly hope a good time was had by all. |
| Potpourri, Statistics and a Lawyer’s Quality of Life |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal May 12, 2001 - Vol. 72; No.15) |
| This month we are going to cover several unrelated topics instead of one topic. We are a bit pressed for time in our department with final preparations for the OBA 2001 Solo and Small Firm Conference, so this month we may be a bit more brief than usual. |
| Your Best Public Relations Tool - the Telephone |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal April 7, 2001 - Vol. 72; No.11) |
| Lawyers and phones. You cannot even imagine a law office without a phone system. This month we are going to discuss telephones in the law office. |
| 2001: A Handheld Odyssey |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal February 10, 2001 - Vol. 72; No.6) |
| Many of us first thought about the year 2001 as a result of the Stanley Kubrick movie "2001: A Space Odyssey" written by Arthur C. Clarke. Another vision of the future was contained in Gene Rodenberry’s "Star Trek." |
| Untangling the Web: Rules for Engaging in Electronic Mailing Lists |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal January 13, 2001 - Vol. 72; No.2) |
| Often the most effective research tool is being able to ask another lawyer a couple of questions. You can save a lot of time by getting your research started in the right direction even if you do not get the complete answer. |
| Holiday Shopping for Your Law Firm |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal December 9, 2000 - Vol. 71; No.36) |
| As the holiday shopping season hits full swing, we thought it might be fun to go through a few hypothetical gift ideas for the lawyer or law firm. These are not necessarily items that will make the lawyer swoon if he or she finds them under the Christmas tree. |
| Being a Low Tech Lawyer in High Tech Times |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal November 4, 2000 - Vol. 71; No.32) |
| Whether you love it, hate it or just sort of tolerate it, no lawyer has been untouched by changes related to law office technology. When fax machines first appeared, it was amazing how quickly they became standard equipment in every law office. |
| Websites for Litigators |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal October 10, 2000 - Vol. 71; No.29) |
| You may note that the Bar Journal you are holding is of a hefty weight. To accommodate the massive amount of required publication, Ye Olde Law Office Management Scribe has been asked to limit his musing to one page. |
| Marketing Magic for Lawyers (Part 2) |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal September 9, 2000 - Vol. 71; No.26) |
| In our first installment, we discussed the differences between marketing and advertising, the importance of maintaining and developing good referral sources, the "Golden Rule" of Effective Marketing, first impressions and meeting new people. |
| Marketing Magic for Lawyers |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal August 5, 2000 - Vol. 71; No.23) |
| It is always interesting to discuss marketing with groups of lawyers. Some lawyers tend to get a bit queasy even discussing legal marketing. But, even in good business times, there are very few lawyers who are not interested in getting some more good business or concerned about maintaining their client base. |
| Who is Reading your Hard Drive Tonight? Security with High Speed Internet Access and a Few Words about Passwords |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal July 8, 2000 - Vol. 71; No.20) |
| It seems appropriate to continue discussing computer security issues since we covered so many of them last month. Warning: There is "teckie talk" ahead. Usually I try very hard to write in "plain English." |
| Keeping the Computer Viruses at Bay |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal June 10, 2000 - Vol. 71; No.18) |
| I came home from work just a few days ago and checked my e-mail. A Norman lawyer had sent me the Prettypark.exe virus (without knowing he had done so, of course.) |
| Saving Time and Money the E-way |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal June 10, 2000 - Vol. 71; No.17) |
| E-mail. We now assume that everyone knows what that means. For a long time the mainstream media would always use "E-mail (Electronic Mail)" just so no one would misunderstand. |
| A 'Lawyer's Dozen' of Internet Websites |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal May 6, 2000 - Vol.71; No.14 ) |
| It is getting harder to do a superior job of representing your clients without having good access to and a basic understanding of the Internet. It will get even more difficult in the future. Some day, you will not be able to do it. |
| Software Tools to Make Your Job Easier |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal April 8, 2000 - Vol. 71; No. 12) |
| There are lots of important lessons we all have to learn about life. One of those lessons is how well you can do a job if you use the right tool. |
| OBA Solo and Small Firm Conference 2000 |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal March 11, 2000 - Vol. 71; No. 9) |
| Sometimes traditions take a long time to build. With the OBA Solo and Small Firm Conference the tradition has developed quickly. |
| What Do They Talk about on OBA-NET? A Case History |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal March 11, 2000 - Vol. 71; No. 9) |
| Some lawyers ask about messages they heard are posted on OBA-NET. What is that all about? Isn’t it just a waste of time? We decided the easiest way to explain it was to publish an example of the way things work on the OBA-NET. |
| Road Trips for Lawyers |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal February 5, 2000 - Vol. 71; No. 5) |
| Some of my best memories of my college days involve "road trips." There was undeniable fun in a spur of the moment trip with a group of college friends to some unknown (or at least unplanned) destination. I managed to complete an entire photography class project on one such sojourn to Hot Springs, Ark. for a long weekend. |
| Case Closed!! Now What Do I Do with the File? |
| by Jim Calloway and Mark Robertson |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal January 8, 2000 - Vol. 71; No. 2) |
It is January 2000. We're all still here.
So our thoughts turn to seasonal activities -- New Year's resolutions, Christmas bills, negotiating icy roads or ski slopes, the Super Bowl and other indoor activities. As lawyers facing a new year - decade - century - millennium - our resolutions and thoughts also turn to better organizing our practices, our collections and our files. Now that we have won the case, completed the deal and finished signing the wills and trusts, what do we do with those documents and files? |
| Everything I Need To Know About Practicing Law I Learned From My Mom |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal November 20, 1999 - Vol. 70; No. 42) |
| Well, I have to admit that the title of this article is a bit of an overstatement. Mom really didn't teach me everything I needed to know about practicing law. She's never really been up to speed on the rules of evidence, and she's really weak on the Rule Against Perpetuities. (I am too, for that matter.) But, the rules many of us learned or should have learned, at mother's knee are actually quite useful in the practice of law. Let's examine a few of these old-fashioned rules as they apply to the interview with the potential new client. After all, interviewing the potential new client is an important aspect of law practice for almost every lawyer. |
| Solo and Small Firm Conference |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal March 27, 1999 - Vol. 70; No. 13) |
| Details about the 1999 Solo and Small Firm Conference at Shangri-La Resort in Afton, Oklahoma. |
| Attorney Advertising in Cyberspace |
| by Jim Calloway and Dan Murdock |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal July 18, 1998 - Vol. 69; No.29) |
| Most of us had not even heard about cyberspace or the Internet five or six years ago. Now discussion about the Internet seems to permeate society. A business cannot run a national advertising campaign without a web site. |
| Form Letters You and Your Clients Will Love |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal March 7, 1998 - Vol. 69; No.10) |
| Most lawyers find themselves in a constant search for new and better forms. We all understand that a good form library can save time and increase practice efficiency. Lawyers typically have outstanding form libraries for pleadings, contracts or other documents that they regularly produce. |
| "Are You Ready for a Real Disaster?" |
| by Jim Calloway |
| (originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal December 13, 1997 - Vol. 68; No.46) |
| None
of us like to think about disasters. Failing to plan for a disaster
does not make it less likely to happen. |
