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Great Solutions and Happy Clients
By Jim Calloway What does a law firm produce? “Legal services” is a completely accurate, fact-based answer. It also doesn’t communicate very much information. In fact, it is somewhat like asking a meteorologist why it is so hot today and getting back the answer “because the temperature is high.” Well, yes, but… So, should law…
The Changing Practice of Law
By Jim Calloway There are rapidly occurring changes in the practice of law. Some of these are part of general changes happening in society and the business world, others are specific to lawyers. I’m certain the reaction of some lawyers reading about law office technology in this issue of the Oklahoma Bar Journal would be…
Cyber-Attacks: Is It Really Not If You Will Be Attacked, But When?
By Jim Calloway In last month’s column “Backing Up, Like Breaking Up, Is Sometimes Hard to Do,” I discussed the challenges of having good backup procedures. Recently, there were news reports of a Providence, Rhode Island, law firm that was held hostage by ransomware blackmailers for 90 days. Just imagine 90 days without access to any file on the…
Backing Up, Like Breaking Up, Is Sometimes Hard To Do
By Jim Calloway March 31 marked the observance of World Backup Day. Now, I know you think I probably made that up, but the observance has a website and everything — www.worldbackupday.com. There is even a pledge: I solemnly swear to back up my important documents and precious memories on March 31st. And a sub-pledge: I…
The Future, The Past, Some Fundamentals and Technology Tips Galore
By Jim Calloway The future and the past will be highlighted at the 2017 OBA Solo & Small Firm Conference. The conference, which will be held June 22-24 at the Choctaw Casino Resort in Durant, devotes an entire track on Friday to Oklahoma’s Trial of the Century — the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building bombing…
Proposed Rule on Limited Scope Representation
By Jim Calloway Limited scope representation has been authorized under our Rules of Professional Conduct for some time. The Oklahoma Rules of Professional Conduct provide for this in Rule 1.2. Scope of Representation and Allocation of Authority Between Client and Lawyer. Subsection (c) provides: (c) A lawyer may limit the scope of the representation if…
Automation in Today’s Law Firm
By Jim Calloway One post-Christmas evening at home, we were taking care of several things. I finished loading the dishwasher, but set it to run in the middle of the night so we wouldn’t have to listen to it operate. My wife was using the laptop to schedule bill payments for the month. My Sonos…
Client Confidentiality, Personal Privacy and Digital Security
By Jim Calloway We have just emerged from a presidential election that led to more members of the general public becoming aware that email accounts can be hacked and the disclosure of stolen emails can be embarrassing and has profound consequences. Technology professionals and those who follow tech news have been aware of these facts…
The Basics of a Lawyer’s Smartphone
By Jim Calloway At the OBA Annual Meeting, during a discussion about smartphones, an attendee pulled out an old-style flip phone and smiled at us. This happens a lot, although not nearly with the frequency it did several years ago. Sometimes the lawyer is a bit sheepish about still having an old flip phone and…
The Benefits and Risks Associated with Relevant Technology
By Jim Calloway The technology and best practices used by lawyers to serve their clients and manage their practices has been a frequently discussed topic over recent years. For Oklahoma lawyers, there is a new reason to increase the attention paid to technology now. By order dated Sept. 19, 2016, the Oklahoma Supreme Court amended…