Weeding out the Best of the Best in Office Apps

The Apple App Store has literally hundreds of thousands of applications in its library. With so many to choose from, how do you know which apps are relevant to your work? You certainly do not want to pay and download one, only to have it be a big FAIL.

Here are five iPhone apps recommended by Entrepreneur Magazine that could be quite useful for busy firm attorneys and corporate counsel.

1. ProOnGo Expense

This expense-tracking app is particularly useful for small firm lawyers, or solo attorneys.

Users can manage their expenses on the iPhone using the app's options and features, or export the data to QuickBooks, an Excel spreadsheet, a CSV file, or in XML format. Since CSV data is also ASCII text data--with the fields separated by commas--you can export an expense report to any text-based application on any platform. You can use predefined expenses or add your own; choose from expense, mileage, or time; then just add the data requested by the other fields, such as vendor, category, date, description, and then watch the running total. Touchscreen buttons provide options to sort, export, save, and restore backups.

The Receipt Reader service, which takes a scanned or photographed receipt, deciphers the text on that document, and sends it back to your iPhone.

Free (optional ProOnGo Receipt Reader has subscription fees based on number of scanned receipts).

2. Quickoffice Connect Mobile Suite 

The primary advantage of this app is the capability to view, create, open, and edit Microsoft Office files on your iPhone.

$9.99.

3. Bump for iPhone

Don't let the funny name fool you. This app can be quite useful. It is an excellent time saver for lawyers who deal with lots of people, in person, on a daily basis. 

Setup is easy; just follow the application's prompts. When you meet another "Bumper," both users must open the app on both devices; bump hands while holding the phones, abd then confirm the exchange. The application checks for duplicates, and it compares contact lists for shared entries.

Free.

4. Workday 

Workday allows management to review, approve, and sign off on employees' expense reports, time sheets, and vacation requests. It also provides a quick method for HR and purchasing departments to secure approval for new hires, terminations, requisitions, purchase orders, and other such documents. Plus, it's a breeze for remote workers to secure approval on any document.

Be aware, however, that although Workday for iPhone is free, the core application, Workday Solutions, is not. This program requires a subscription to Workday.

5. SurePayroll Mobile Payroll

This is an ideal app for small firms that contract out payroll to another payroll management service.

SurePayroll provides a long list of features, including calculating wages and deductions, managing payroll taxes, issuing checks or direct deposit funds to your employees, providing 24/7 online access to files, sending alerts, and providing labor law information. The service also includes tight security protocols, employee self-service options, HR tools and support, time clock options, and accounting software integration with programs such as QuickBooks, Peachtree, and MYOB.

Price is based on payroll frequency and number of employees.

All of these apps are available now at the Apple iPhone Store.

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iPads Helps Lawyers and Clients Stay Connected

Litigators in Arizona Provide 20 iPads to Clients 

On the heels of a recent in-depth in-house technology survey, it is appropriate to highlight the technological strides two lawyers have made in Arizona.

While some attorneys may debate the usefulness of iPads for business and preparing for legal matters, these two litigators in Arizona are proving that iPads really are helpful.

Here's what they've done.

The attorneys, Marc Lamber and James Goodnow at Fennemore Craig, provided iPads to 20 clients in their biggest cases. The devices acted as hotlines, helping the clients keep track of what's happening and keeping the 180-attorney firm informed. The iPads also helped the attorneys build high-tech presentations that they used to help settle cases before they end up in court, the lawyers say.

Melissa Frankel, 40, of Phoenix was surprised when she got an iPad shortly after she hired Lamber and Goodnow.

"It was nothing that I ever expected," said Frankel, who was injured in a collision last year. Frankel uses the iPad to access a dedicated e-mail account that is used only for case documents. She has also used the lightweight device to snap photos of the accident scene. She has taken a video of her injuries and she has had Skype video conferences with the lawyers. That means that she makes fewer trips to the lawyers' downtown Phoenix office and she can reach her legal team wherever there is a Wi-Fi connection, without a laptop.

The iPad "is brilliant," Frankel said. "It is the best way, the easiest way to communicate with them."

With the help of Google Voice, the devices also make it easy for clients to reach their legal team. By calling a single toll-free number, they can ring the desk and cell phone of every member of the team until someone answers.

"We pride ourselves on being available 24 hours a day, day or night," says Lamber.

Some experts estimate that perhaps one in 10 lawyers use an iPad or tablet PC extensively in their practices.

Could the days of pulling carts and boxes full of binders into court be disappearing? Perhaps the future is to have all of that available on a tablet PC.

News source: Arizona Republic, iPads Bring New Levels of Connections to Lawyers, Clients

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BlackBerry or iPhone? Laptop or iPad?

Today's technology has certainly thrown us for a loop - but it has also increased our productivity and made our lives just plain easier.  In-house legal departments are especially appreciative of their technology. In fact, Corporate Counsel 's 2011 Survey of In-House Technology shows a substantial (and expected) rise in mobile technology use and a shift, of sorts, in the relationship between company lawyers and outside counsel.

First, mobile technology. What's hot and what's not?

The must-have BlackBerry of five years ago is now almost a distant memory. In-house lawyers and their counterparts are more dazzled by newer options - like iPhones and Android-based devices. And, they're using these multi-capable devices - a lot.

• 90% of department lawyers says they use mobile broadband Internet services on the road.
• Nearly 65% of in-house lawyers use mobile devices in lieu of laptops while traveling.

There is a downside to this rise in mobile technology use: Downtime, or lack thereof.

• At 40% of law departments, attorneys are expected to answer every message they receive, regardless of the time or reason. That's up from 29 percent in 2009.

Second, the changing relationship between legal departments and firms. These departments are now letting firms know that certain technologies and providers need to be used. For instance:

• Nearly a third of survey respondents say they have asked outside firms to address specific tech concerns in their RFPs.
• 18% say they've stopped using an outside firm because of technology-related issues.

These are just some of the highlights from Corporate Counsel's survey. Alan Cohen offers even more insight in his article: In-House Tech Survey: Weapons of Mass Communication. It's worth the read - and your time.

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Web Applications Designed to BOOST Productivity

Web applications may seem like a big bore in this fast-paced world of slick mobile and tablet apps. But, you know what? There are still many of us who conduct the majority of our work at a desk, and much of it in a Web browser.

That said, don't be underestimated by the power of humble Web apps. They are still the hallmark of daily workplace productivity. In fact, here are four FREE online tools that are designed to tackle cumbersome work tasks.

1. Convert files and documents with Zamzar.

There are few things more frustrating than receiving an important file that you can't open. Zamzar is an online tool that can convert a wide range of file formats. Simply upload the file, choose the output format, enter an e-mail address, and you'll get a new version delivered to your inbox.

Converting text documents may not seem like an incalculable feat, but Zamzar can translate many audio and video formats as well.

2. Ge.tt file sharing in the cloud.

E-mail attachments can be cumbersome, especially with larger files. If you're looking for a dead-simple way to share in the cloud, give Ge.tt a go.

Two clicks will upload your images, docs, zip files, etc. and generate a tidy link that you can ping over to your coworkers. They can view certain files in their browser or download whatever they need from the package.

Ge.tt storage is temporary (unless you create an account), so use it for quick transfers, not cloud archiving.

3. CopyPasteCharacter

Love this!

If you work on any legal documents throughout the day, you may have a need to add certain symbols to the text that are not immediately available on your keyboard.

You could go into the special characters map in your word processor, or better yet, you could open a browser tab with CopyPasteCharacter.com and snag your symbols with one click.

4. Create flow with LucidChart.

LucidChart is a drag-and-drop way to create impressive flowcharts and diagrams right in your browser. Pop your shapes onto the graph, pull down some arrows, add descriptions, colors and titles, and you've got a professional diagram you'd be proud to show clients.

A free LucidChart account allows two people to collaborate on a document, 25 MB of online storage, and a maximum of 60 objects per document. Inexpensive paid options offer more collaborative and storage features.

Do you have a few bookmarks that you can't get through the work day without? Send in your comments!

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What can a lawyer do with a consumption device like the iPad?

The answer: Just about anything.

Ever since Steve Jobs proclaimed that we are living in the "post-PC era," all eyes have been on tablet computers. And, lawyers themselves have been wondering what a tablet can offer them.

Tom Mighell recently built the business case for buying an iPad. And, from a lawyer's perspective, he makes sense. There are some top-rate applications lawyers can use to build and manage their practices.

Among them: Microsoft's OneNote app for iPad.

OneNote expertly manages the barrage of information that passes by attorneys on any given day. It is a spectacular notetaking program that allows immense flexibility in how information is captured and organized.

You can take notes (typed or handwritten), incorporate Internet search results, websites, as well as references to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and PDF documents. It interfaces seamlessly with Outlook. It has amazing handwriting recognition. In addition, you can assign different categories to portions of your notes.

One favorite feature includes the ability to tap on a question mark icon every time a note is taken on something that needs a follow up. The program then allows you, with one or two clicks, to run a report that excerpts each note to which a question mark was assigned.

Perhaps the only downside of using a tablet computer and operating the OneNote app is actually typing. It's awkward to say the least and there is a strong learning curve. Still, once it's mastered the benefits may far outweigh the time it takes to get comfortable with the screen.

OneNote also has a synchronization feature. All the notes you take on your iPad can be easily synched with your PC and iPhone.

With apps like OneNote, Steve Jobs may very well be right.

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Practical Apps that Make Lawyers' Days a Little Easier

Everyone has their own favorite iPhone apps - and some, quite frankly, are more helpful than others. But what about for lawyers and law school students? Which applications are the most helpful to them?

Here are the five best iPhone apps for up-and-coming lawyers who want to improve their time management and study practices.

1. BarMax.

It is the one of the most expensive iPhone apps out there, but some say it's worth every penny.

BarMax is an application to help law students preparing for the bar exam. It includes thousands of pages of material as well as hundreds of hours of audio lectures. It’s all the information you could ever want for the two-month course. And again, it can be done all on your iPhone. And, if you do want some more tangible paperwork for certain sections, BarMax will send you that electronically as well.

2. Law in a Flash: Torts.

600 flash cards will help you efficiently review for course exams and/or the Multistate Bar Exam. The cards are organized to mirror the way most Torts casebooks address topics.

3. Kaplan MBE Flashcards.

Handling a big multi-state investigation or exam? This app and mobile reference will help.  It covers illegal, constitutional law, evidence, criminal law and procedure, contracts and real estate.

4. Black's Law Dictionary.

Again, a little high in the price department - but extremely valuable if you're constantly on the go. It's an excellent legal source for lawyers, students, or anyone.

5. LawStack.

Free iPhone app that provides the federal rules of civil procedure, criminal procedure, evidence, appellate procedure, and bankruptcy procedure, plus the text of the U.S. Constitution.

Of course, all of these iPhone apps are available for download at the Apple App Store.

Which apps are your favorites? Send in your comments!

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Lanyrd Gives You Access to Content at Conferences

Big legal conferences have come and gone and you may have missed the boat on one or all of them. But, as it turns out, you really could have attended – virtually.

There are a number of web services and sites that give you access to most of the content at conferences, whether you're physically there or not. But one service that is quite phenomenal is Lanyrd.

Lanryd describes itself as a "social conference directory." It features a conference coverage aggregator, pulling together notes, posts, slideshows, audio and more.

For instance, the SXSW 2011 page for Lanryd has 80+ slide decks, dozens of write-ups and video – and more. While it’s not a comprehensive list of content for SXSW, Lanyrd is a great place to go to look at some of the panels you missed out on.

What’s even more interesting about Lanyrd is its social function. Simply sign-in using your Twitter account, and you have access to all of the conferences your contacts are tracking and/or attending. If one of those conferences piques your curiosity, you can track it as well.

So the next time your busy schedule won't allow you to leave town to attend a conference, head over to Lanyrd. Chances are you'll be able to see everything you missed right there on your computer.

And, it's free!

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Law Firms Enter the iPhone App Arena

There are exactly 319,372 iPhone applications available for download at the Apple App Store. Is your firm's app one of them?

As business goes, and much of the world in general, it seems everyone has an application these days, or least has one in development. But a law firm, you ask?

You bet. In fact, they're a "must have" for many firms. Just two taps and a potential client can call you, e-mail you, visit your Website, or simply find out more about your firm.

Tom O'Leary at the Attorney Marketing Blog recently profiled some successful iPhone Apps for Law Firms including - Law Offices of Aaron J. Stewart.

Is cost a concern?

Sure - especially for small firms and solo attorneys. BUT, firms can partner with companies like Biznessapps, which doesn’t charge a setup fee, and gives law firms control over the creation, editing and management of their very own iPhone app. And, once the custom-made application is submitted to the Apple App Store, Bizness Apps teams can regularly update the app and make improvements for just $39/month.

For the value and ease of contact apps give law firms, you just can't beat it.

Everyone lives mobile now - so it's probably time that most law firms do too.

O'Leary said it best at the end of his blog post, writing:

"How many potential clients will be using mobile devices – exclusively – to search for law firms or legal related information in 5 years?  The number will be staggering."

Think about it.

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Will Facemail be a Fiasco for Inhouse Counsel?

We all know that Google isn't just a little ol' search engine; it's a powerhouse! And now, thanks to Google Scholar, the site is giving inhouse counsel, large and small firm attorneys some dynamic legal research tools.

When Google Scholar was first introduced in 2009, legal blogs took note. Lawyers, it seemed, were excited about the prospect of Google joining the academic research fray - until they actually used the service. Google Scholar proved to be a disappointment to many as it was quite apparent that it just didn't live up to other services like Westlaw and Lexis.

That may change.

Last week Google Scholar announced (via WisBlawg) that it has enhanced its "Advanced Search" capability to allow users to select a specific federal jurisdiction or state for their search. Users simply select the specific federal court or other jurisdictions they wish to search by checking the appropriate box. The more refined and timely Google Scholar becomes, the more lawyers can actually consider using it in their practice over other fee-based options.

Keep in mind - again - that Scholar is a free service. It will generally return fewer results than subscription services. However, there are a few shining advantages, like:

• Many articles are available full-text.
• Google Scholar can connect you to library resources.
• It covers a wide range of academic and legal content areas and is continually being updated.
• It ranks and lists results according to how relevant they are to the search query.

The downside?

Google Scholar is prone to spam. It  is also not able to shepardize case law, as Westlaw and Lexis can.

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Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has unveiled, what he calls, a "modern messaging system" that will be so big, it will replace e-mail altogether.

It's called Facemail - and it will have three components: seamless messaging, a social inbox, and conversation history. All you have to do is decide how you want to talk to your friends - via SMS text, chat, or messages - and Facemail will give you the platform. Facemail will even cluster messages by sender instead of by the traditional e-mail concept of using a subject line.

But here's the rub.

Facebook says it will preserve these messages - text, chat, messages - forever. And, THAT could be very problematic for employers and inhouse counsel which have their own retention policies in place.

"It's definitely a problem in that it means these e-mails will be outside the boundaries of their retention policy," said Rudy Rouhana, an attorney and director of product marketing at Daegis, a provider of eDiscovery services. "So, if they typically delete e-mail every 90 days, 2 years, etc., they will be unable to enforce that on e-mails created in this system," he said.

Furthermore, for years companies have looked at Facebook as being just a social networking site. In fact, social networking blocks are in place throughout many company offices. But now, with Facebook's new capabilities - like Facemail -  the site is much more than a social connector, it's an IM and e-mail provider too. Companies are looking at the site in a whole different light - and that's a tough pill to swallow. For instance,  companies that already have policies in place for handling outside e-mail and chat providers now have to ask their inhouse counsel to develop new policies that categorize Facebook with the rest of those services.

Be it as it may, no one is suggesting that companies should begin replacing their e-mail systems with Facebook anytime soon.

E-mail isn't dead - yet. But look out! Inhouse counsel could have big jobs on their hands when the corporate communication culture finally does make that shift to Facebook.

Adapted from article Is Facebook Going to Drive General Counsel Insane? by Shannon Green.

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