The Kennedy-Mighell Report

The College of Law Practice Management recently held its 2014 Futures Conference at Suffolk University Law School in Boston. This conference brings together members of the College of Law Practice Management and young innovative lawyers to discuss what the future of law practice might look like and how the attendees might provide an influential voice. Dennis and Tom participated in the program and came away with some interesting insights about the direction innovative lawyers are headed. They also have some feedback about what worked for the conference and what they might have changed. In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell talk about the 2014 Futures Conference, the future of law practice, and the role technology is likely to play in that future. The conference, they explain, featured programming as well as an innovation discussion surrounding a "Ted Talks" then "Shark Tank" concept of quickly coming up with ideas and then collaborating to develop the best of them. Mighell noted the most common ideas involved providing services to underserved demographics who don't have proper access to legal resources. He discusses the importance of narrowing and developing broad concepts and whether we should revisit old ideas in light of new technology. Kennedy wishes there had been more group time to develop ideas. He also discusses balancing programming and free time in the College of Law Practice Management's Futures Conference and another he attended this year. Overall, both enjoyed the conference, and were please to see that Suffolk Law School is teaching legal technology, process improvement, project management so new lawyers can be "practice ready". After the break, Kennedy and Mighell discuss the new iPads that were released, the benefits of each, and the excitement (or lack of excitement) surrounding tablets. Kennedy tentatively decides on the iPad Air 2 with 64 gigabytes, Applecare, a smart cover, and the Apple wireless keyboard. Tom notes the thinness of the new iPads and the decreasing enthusiasm for buying new iPads. As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most of us assume that lawyers are slow adopters of technology because that's what we hear all the time. ILTA's InsideLegal Survey and the ABA Technology Survey are annual surveys of lawyers that provide some data about the actual usage of technology by lawyers. Because these surveys are voluntary, they give a big picture of changing trends rather than specific accurate data. Does the common assumption that lawyers are technologically behind still hold true in 2014? In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell analyze the results of 2014 ILTA-InsideLegal survey, the 2014 ABA Technology Survey and recommend ways lawyers can use these surveys to benefit their practice or clients. Mighell notices that in 2014 lawyers are adopting fewer new technologies compared with an increase in mobile technology and cloud computing from the previous two years. He explains that the major purchases have been pretty standard: hardware upgrades, server upgrades, and new laptops and desktops. Although Kennedy also noticed the lag in exciting results from the surveys, he emphasizes that these surveys are voluntarily taken by lawyers interested in technology, so there might be more progress in less tech savvy demographics. He also mentions the most exciting lawyer technology trends mobile, virtualization, cloud services, wearable technologies, and discusses the shift in tablet use and security. In the second segment, Kennedy and Mighell discuss why young lawyers do not often attend legal technology conferences, how they could benefit from the conferences, and the disconnect between what young lawyers think they know about technology and what they still need to learn. Listen to the end for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With fall fast approaching, you can be sure of two things: football games and new phones! Apple and other vendors recently announced new editions of their phones, as well as some interesting new gadgets. With new options like the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, Apple Watch, iOS 8, and Apple Pay, Apple-using lawyers need to think about which products they need (or want) and how to make the best use of them. But what about those lawyers who have moved to other product vendors such as Android? Most lawyers could use an update on the newest technology to make informed autumn purchases. In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the new Apple devices, thoughts on the new features of iOS 8, and what lawyers should think about if they haven't already purchased a new phone lately. They discuss the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, embracing the "phablet," and how most people use their smartphone as more of a mobile computer than a phone. They also discuss other new products such as the Samsung Galaxy Note, the Apple Watch, the Moto 360 watch, and why lawyers might prefer Android or Apple products. With the release of iOS 8 comes new exciting features such as extensions, alternate keyboards, and widgets, but both Kennedy and Mighell had to deal with long downloading times. They wrap up the first part of this podcast by examining the future of Apple Pay, why it might succeed where Google Wallet failed, and how lawyers could utilize these changes to get ahead in their practice. After the break, the Kennedy and Mighell discuss the Apple Watch and other wearable technology in more detail. As people begin to use wearable devices to gain and save information, the amount of discoverable data will increase immensely and it will be important for lawyers to pay attention. As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Because lawyers often need to get up to speed on a topic quickly, most find that they can learn almost anything on the Internet, provided they can find the appropriate tools and resources. In the short term, lawyers often need to do quick research for a speech, webinar, or to talk to a specialist about a subject. More lasting knowledge is needed for specific case and client knowledge, starting a new position or job, or learning about new technology. With all of the online resources available, how can a lawyer quickly get started gaining a solid foundation in knowledge of a new subject? In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss how lawyers can accelerate their learning process, where to find quality learning tools online, and their favorite ideas and tips. Kennedy and Mighell both agree that it is important to consider the subject matter, how quickly it needs to be learned, and what method works best for each individual lawyer. While both prefer Wikipedia as a starting place to gain knowledge, Kennedy prefers podcasts, audiobooks, and presentation slides as sources of more detailed information. Mighell prefers blogs and online university courses, although he emphasizes that the user is responsible for quality control and management. In the end, each lawyer should consider how he/she learned best during school, and use the Internet as a resource while trying not to waste time searching for documents. After the break, Kennedy and Mighell discuss the overuse of the "reply to all" button in emails, why people prefer to respond to everyone involved, and the proper etiquette for sending emails at work. As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"All right, Mr. Demille, ready for my close-up." Video phone calls have been talked about for many years, from the time this famous line appeared in the movie Sunset Boulevard. Videoconferences are becoming widely used in law firms and other businesses; many lawyers, legal professionals, and HR departments are using them to provide the feel of a meeting room without the time and expense of traveling. Therefore, it is important for professionals to be prepared for the technical and visual components of their next video chat. In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the rise of video use in calls and online meetings, the challenges and opportunities of video, and how lawyers can prepare for their video close-up. They consider several features that would improve videoconference services such as chat, screenshare, group messaging, and multi-platform compatibility and compare Zoom.us to Google hangouts and other platforms. In addition to examining personal visual components such as lighting, dress code, and in etiquette in each video conference lawyers also need to understand the ethical implications of recording witnesses or discussing strategy. In these instances they can be left with discoverable electronic data. As their second topic, Kennedy and Mighell discuss the current state of portable computing and whether touch screens and combo laptops might be a better personal option when replacing older laptops. As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation that can be used the second this podcast ends. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While preparing for a trial, gathering documents for a transaction, or simply running errands, most lawyers face each day with an overwhelming number of things to get done. From simply remembering them all to putting the list into proper priorities, every legal professional could use some help. How can technology play a role in bringing the list of to-dos under control? What are some questions lawyers should ask when choosing a to-do task management tool? In this episode of the Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss taming the to-do list, their own approaches to using technology to help with task management, and questions every lawyer should ask when looking for a management tool to suit their needs. Kennedy shapes his list management around David Allen's "Getting Things Done," a system which allows him to see his weekly calendar as a big picture and sort priorities to avoid being overwhelmed by the enormous list of projects. Mighell says lawyers should watch for eight essential functions when looking for the right task manager: Available on Multiple Platforms Ease of Entry Recurring Tasks Multi-List Capable Assign Priority Levels GTD Functionality Notes and Attachments Ability to Share Task Lists He recommends every lawyer weigh the importance of each of these before choosing a task management tool. Both @DennisKennedy and @TomMighell stress that this is a personal choice and ask the listeners for feedback on the to-do technologies they like best. After the break, Kennedy and Mighell discuss the recent tech news story about Russian cybercriminals accumulating a hoard of more than a billion user passwords. They examine whether lawyers should be worried about this data breach, and what they should do to protect their online accounts. As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lawyers often focus on how they can use technology to improve the efficiency and quality of their legal services. However, technology has additionally started to change what people in other professions provide to their clients, even to the point of changing the meaning of "services." Professionals are now creating products that provide revenue in the form of royalties, thereby exceeding what can be made in billable hours. These include books written about new forms of technology, tax guides, answers to common questions, convenient apps, and even software. Is this a "Big Idea" that lawyers should also be considering as they think about the ways they might use technology? In this episode of the Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss how lawyers might begin "productizing" services, some ideas about how to create successful products, and the legal and ethical implications of providing this information. Kennedy explains that products such as books or apps providing tips on marketing, finance, general management, or technology are valuable to lawyers. Most often, the lawyer or firm has already done the research required, and simply needs to create a means for selling it. Kennedy recommends several ways lawyers should get started: analyze what other lawyers are doing successfully, look closely at the strengths within your firm, and learn by trying certain products even though they might fail. Mighell points out that the concept of creating products out of your firm is not a simple process, rather it requires a lot of thought and should not be gone into as a whim. After the break Kennedy and Mighell ask anyone who thinks they might be the right candidate to write a book providing information on technology for lawyers to reach out and let them know. They emphasize that many lawyers underestimate their own level of experience and offer to provide subject ideas. Tweet @DennisKennedy and @TomMighell or click the link below to download a proposal form. As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

According to a variety of surveys, the sales of tablets now exceed the sales of laptops and desktop PCs. In a few short years, iPads have made huge inroads into the legal market and are often part of a lawyer's standard toolkit. In addition to using an iPad for texting, editing documents, consulting a calendar, and email, lawyers are using apps specifically designed for trial presentations and practice organization. In the third edition of his popular book, iPad in One Hour for Lawyers, Tom Mighell teaches lawyers how to use their iPad effectively in their practice. In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy interviews Mighell about his latest insights on the iPad, recommendations for lawyers and other legal professionals, and what might be next in the world of iPads. Mighell explains why lawyers might choose different tablets such as Android, Windows Surface, or the iPad and benefits of each one. It is important that lawyers pay attention to the main issues and changes with the latest iPad hardware such as new features in iOS 7 accessibility, Notification Pane, Control Panel, AirDrop, and using Siri to improve productivity. Kennedy and Mighell also discuss the reason they implement some "easy tips" that they read or hear about and why so many are ignored or forgotten quickly. As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you often do fresh searches on the same topics even though you've previously found good information? "Curation" is the word used to describe the process of collecting, organizing, and using good information you've found when you need it. Some people also think of this approach as personal knowledge management. This means having an archive of reasonably up-to-date and interesting information from various sources that can be accessed and used for a legal article, podcast, blog post, or social media presence. Knowledge management is a form of information organization that has caught on widely in larger law firms, but has not had as much traction with lawyers in smaller practices or solos. These small-practice lawyers can use tools like Evernote to create a platform for their own personal knowledge management. In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss curation and personal knowledge management including tools and techniques, ways to improve success, common difficulties, and their own personal experiences. They describe the three important aspects involved in sustaining a successful knowledge management system: collecting the information in one place, organizing it for later access, and using the collected information for legal clients or marketing when it might apply. While Kennedy and Mighell prefer Evernote as an organizational tool, there are many other options including Excel Spreadsheets, bookmarks, Instapaper, Pocket, Readability, or using PDF files. Their suggestions for curation and long-term knowledge management involve finding the right tool, designing systems around personal habits, and mentally focusing on long-term success. In the second part of the podcast, Kennedy and Mighell review the announcements made at the 2014 Google I/O conference including smart watches, Android TV, a "kill switch" for smartphones and many others. They also comment on a couple of hot topic items that were avoided in the conference's keynote speech. As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many people, including lawyers, are using an organizational tool called Evernote and are singing its praises. They are enthusiastic about its capacity to capture all types of information in many formats, to organize information into useful notebooks, and to enable access to that information across multiple platforms. In a time when almost everything is done online, Evernote is a user-friendly web service that can help lawyers stay organized, freeing up time for marketing and taking on new clients. In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell talk about their own use of Evernote and how Evernote might work well for you in a legal practice. They examine photo recognition, scanning business cards and connecting to LinkedIn, collecting and organizing information for case research, and many more ways in which Evernote can make an attorney's life more efficient. They also discuss downsides to using the tool; there are ethical dilemmas that incur when retaining sensitive client information in a cloud-based tool. Kennedy and Mighell also briefly reflect on how printing physical copies has changed and how lawyers will think of hard copies in the future. Stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second this podcast ends. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices