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Output Management: The Nirvana Strategy
| 18 April 2012
In working with law firms for the past 20 years, I have seen the revolution. There was a time when single-purpose copy machines were just plugged into an outlet and that was the end of the story. But those days have long passed. Today, there is a vast array of multi-functional devices (MFDs) that copy, scan, fax, print, act as a portal into your document management system, and are the conduit for your cost recovery system. In conjunction with the growth of features available on these MFDs, there has been an explosion in the placement of standalone printers--both local and networked--in the legal environment.
To SQL or Not To SQL: The Question for Litigation Support Databases
| 10 April 2012
The available database solutions for the litigation support market have radically evolved in the last decade. Many newer solutions use relational database technologies, specifically SQL (Structured Query Language). This discussion provides some insight into database solutions for litigation support and whether SQL should be the only choice. While there are many variations of SQL, for brevity, this is limited to Microsoft SQL Server. I am and have been a proponent of SQL Server for a variety of solutions, but as with any technology solution, it is only the right solution if it is chosen for the right reason and environment.
How law departments can leverage analytics to become a strategic corporate asset
| 05 April 2012
General Counsels and their staffs are under intense pressure to keep external and internal legal costs under control, while assuming a more business-oriented role and increased participation in strategic business decisions. This is a task that is easier said than done as legal departments need to embrace these responsibilities.
However, technology and the metrics it provides are literally changing the way savvy law departments do business. It’s no longer enough to reduce overhead or outside counsel spend, now is the time to improve legal services both internally and externally, lower the overall cost of these services, and become strategic partners of the business.
| 08 March 2012
I first saw a demo of WorkSite Communication Server 8.5SP2 when it was introduced a year or so ago. Since then its had some missed deadlines but finally was released in GA a couple of weeks ago. Partly the reason for its delay however was because of the many architectural changes in the software. The underlying code has been completely overhauled and the operation of WCS 8.5SP2 has been changed in a number of ways.
WCS 8.5SP2 has a number of key features all rolled up into one release:
- Greater integration with Exchange 2010 CAS
- Load Balancing across multiple WorkSite Communication Servers
- Mailbox Sync/Mailbox Agent
- Numerous bug fixes
2012 eDiscovery, Info Governance & Data Analytics Forecast from Analyst Firm eDJ Group
| 24 January 2012
2012 is a critical year for the eDiscovery market. Companies have matured and now demand that eDiscovery processes be more predictable, efficient, and less costly. It is not uncommon to see companies connecting eDiscovery with broader information governance (IG) initiatives. Meanwhile, available solutions have evolved. No longer will a simple EDD processing application suffice; companies expect more full-service ECA applications and eDiscovery platforms.
Reflections and Predictions by Solicitors Own Software's Managing Director
| 02 December 2011
David McNamara, managing director of Solicitors Own Software offers his reflections on 2011 and his predictions for 2012
REFLECTIONS
Software supplier consolidation has proved more beneficial than expected for independent providers
During the past year, many of the new software contracts awarded by law firms can clearly be attributed to the impact the consolidation of software suppliers is continuing to have on the profession. For a good many firms, this has meant their incumbent software, under new ownership, is no longer being developed and therefore they have been falling further and further behind in terms of the software functionality needed to drive their businesses forward.
Legal spend: The right metrics with the right technology platform
| 21 November 2011
While there’s no doubt that technology dashboards provide valuable insight into a law department’s business processes, it is ultimately the metrics gleaned from analyzing the data that directs a company’s general counsel toward the current desires of his CEO and his CFO. As corporate law departments continue to emerge as a business center that contributes to corporate growth, their mantra is to improve services while controlling costs and minimizing risks. And, there’s more to the equation than just controlling legal spend.
| 15 November 2011
Quite a few Autonomy customers have implemented 8.5SP1x WorkSite Communication Server (WCS) to take advantage of the enhanced server-side filing features brought in by the new Email Management (EMM) client. Although the legacy “send & file” functionality existed before 8.5, it was a bit clunky & basic. Using the filing toolbar and other neat features bought the fee-earner even closer to matter collaboration and email volumes in WorkSite have increased.
Twitter for Business Development in Law Firms
| 07 September 2011
Whenever I think about new technologies for business development in law firms, I'm reminded of the reaction I got when showing an email broadcast tool to the Head of Marketing for a large firm in San Francisco in early 2002: "Email? Our clients don't want information from us by email!".
Until fairly recently, I would almost certainly have got a similar reaction had I suggested using Twitter for Business Development. But firms of all sizes are realising that Twitter and other social media tools are much more than a passing fad and really can provide some unique benefits for comparatively little resource.
Creating a Legal Value Score: Why the Industry Needs to Look Beyond Hourly Rates
| 30 August 2011
Earlier this month, The Wall Street Journal published an article that grabbed the attention of many attorneys: “Pricing Tactic Spooks Lawyers”. The article discussed how some large companies, including Toyota Motor Corp. and GlaxoSmithKline, have been using reverse auctions (also known as competitive bidding) to pit law firms against one another for their business. The goal of these reverse auctions is to reduce costs, especially for high-volume workloads.
At the surface, reverse auctions appear to be a good idea for corporations. The competition it creates forces law firms to lower their rates in order to win work. But, as is frequently the case with legal billing, what we see at the surface isn’t the whole story.
| 19 August 2011
This monster transaction is all about a single word: growth. HP is buying Autonomy so that it may capitalize on growth, especially at a time when HP shareholders, partners and customers, and the analysts covering HP, are becoming increasingly critical of the company’s stagnation. (To be fair to HP, the global economy continues to suffer from its own case of the growth blues...but we digress.)
First, we need to put this transaction in perspective: this is a big deal for all concerned, but none more than HP and its leaders. HP is paying almost twelve times trailing revenue for a technology company that is itself an amalgamation of many acquisitions, from Verity back in 2005 to Neurodynamics, Zantaz, Interwoven, CA’s information governance unit and earlier in 2011 Iron Mountain’s Digital division.
Capturing billable time on mobile devices helps lawyers regain lost revenue
| 17 August 2011
Tips on selecting the best application
Today’s lawyers are constantly on the go, working from home and the office and everywhere in between. This flexibility means greater productivity and better levels of client service but it also poses a challenge in capturing all possible billable time. In fact, it’s estimated that three to four billable hours per timekeeper go unrecorded and unbilled every month. This adds up to billions of dollars industry wide every year.
