By Jim Calloway 60 in 60, a fast-paced program covering a wide variety of tech advice was the opening feature of the last day of ABA TECHSHOW. OBA Practice Management Advisor Julie Bays was among the expert panel of tipsters. Julie has also been named to be ABA TECHSHOW 2025 Co-Chair. Check out the ABA…

Lawyers often have to deliver difficult messages. Whether it is informing a client of a negative outcome or responding to opposing counsel’s paltry settlement offer, lawyers must deliver plain and direct communications. Gerry Riskin of Edge International reminds us that our lawyer direct language approach is not always the best approach when doing staff evaluations. His…

By Jim Calloway Suppose you are on a long-distance road trip and decide it is time for a nice sit-down meal for a break. You exit from the interstate, and then search your phone for dining locations. You locate several that are relatively close to you and read the reviews. One has a low 2-star…

By Jim Calloway For those who want to learn more about how lawyers can appropriately use artificial intelligence in their law practices, I recommend the OBA on-demand CLE program Artificial Intelligence in a Law Practice. The on-demand webinar has great presenters. OBA Practice Management Advisor, Julie Bays is joined by Catherine Sanders Reach, Director for…

By Jim Calloway Larger law firms consider rate increases annually, even though a rate increase may not be enacted every year. Solos and small law firms may not have increased their billing rate for some time, but they are likely aware of what other lawyers in their geographical and practice areas charge. For some consumer…

By Jim Calloway Microsoft has just announced that Copilot is now available to all 365 subscribers. The Verge.com broke the story and reminded us there are three versions of Copilot: “Microsoft now has three different versions of Copilot. There’s the regular Copilot that’s available free of charge to both consumers and businesses, which is essentially…

By Jim Calloway Scanning documents in the law office is a common law office operation these days. Paper documents are often scanned so they can be digitally transmitted or filed in the digital client file. That wasn’t true when I first wrote about scanners for the January 25, 1998 Oklahoma Bar Journal calling scanners “today’s…

By Julie Bays, OBA Practice Management Advisor If you haven’t tried the side panels in these browsers, you’re missing out on some features that can make your browsing easier and smarter. Both have something unique to offer. Google Chrome has many features including a search function that also highlights the main points in articles using…

By Jim Calloway When it came to new technology, 2023 was definitely the year of Artificial Intelligence. The first time many lawyers heard of ChatGPT was a lawyer’s problematic attempt to let ChatGPT do his research and write his brief. But there are many AI services that are ready to use today. Among these are…

By Jim Calloway Microsoft 365 subscriptions include many useful tools only accessed by logging in to the Microsoft 365 online platform. This means, if your firm subscribes to Microsoft 365 business licenses that include Teams and SharePoint, you likely have the video hosting platform Stream as a part of your current subscription. Catherine Reach, Director,…

By Jim Calloway The challenge with becoming proficient at Microsoft Word is that once you learn the basics, you do not get better at using Word just from using it. Either training classes or a good amount of time invested with Help files, videos and other online resources is required to get better. Subscribing to…

By Jim Calloway The end of the calendar year is an important time for law firms. Some firms have many client projects that must be completed by year’s end. For larger law firms, it is often the time to contact business clients carrying outstanding balances on their bills. Paying deductible business expenses before year’s end…

By Jim Calloway Some lawyers use Excel. Many do not use it or use it only rarely. I have to confess that, like many lawyers, I avoided Excel if I could accomplish most of what I wanted by building a table in Word. The YouTube video, These 10 Shortcuts Will Save You HOURS in Excel,…

By Jim Calloway Many lawyers use Facebook for marketing or personal use. The Facebook “Violations Detected on Your Page” scam is proliferating this Fall. It begins with a message like the one you see below telling you your Facebook page has been suspended and if you do not respond within 24 hours, your account would…

By Jim Calloway This warning is legitimate – unlike other “urgent” warnings we see on social media platforms. It applies to those who have not used their Google accounts for two years. Google has been sending warnings both to the Gmail account and the recovery email if one was provided. Avoiding the deletion is simple…

By Jim Calloway Google is now airing TV commercials about Best Take, an AI-powered feature, on the Google Pixel 8 phone. It can be challenging to take a group shot without someone with their eyes closed or an awkward expression, particularly if children are involved. We all have learned to take several pictures and pick…

By Julie Bays As a legal professional, you should understand the importance of staying up-to-date with the latest technologies in your field. That’s why I’m excited to invite you to ABA TECHSHOW 2024 – the premier legal technology event of the year! ABA TECHSHOW will take place from February 14-17, 2024, at the Hyatt Regency…

By Jim Calloway Among those who prefer to work from home, missing time-wasting meetings is often cited as a positive. Back at the office, many mid-level managers view meetings as the way they supervise the work, so that is in conflict. Best practices for better meetings include: Always circulating an agenda in advance that includes…

By Julie Bays Building a Justice-Conscious Practice was the subject of remarks by Jessica Bednarz, the Director of Legal Services and the Profession at the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System (IAALS), at last week’s Oklahoma Access to Justice Summit. During the panel session she mentioned her work on the Pricing Toolkit….

By Jim Calloway Post-representation contact with former clients is generally permitted under the Oklahoma Rules of Professional Conduct.  But sales pitches are uncomfortable for many lawyers and likely not particularly effective. Instead, consider sharing valuable information they will appreciate and find useful. They will remember their lawyer providing free information. The US Federal Trade Commission…