The Kennedy-Mighell Report

The word on the street is that associates and young partners are very unhappy with the state of technology in their law firms. The results of a new survey of associate satisfaction tells us just how unhappy associates might be. Or might not be. In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell dive into the results of the 2010 American Lawyer Associates Survey, what the answers reveal about how associates view technology and technology spending at their firms, and the ramifications for firms delaying technology upgrades. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In real estate and on the Internet today, the key is location, location, location. Facebook Places, Google Latitude and Foursquare have opened our eyes to the potential benefits and concerns of geolocation services and features. Why are we voluntarily and publicly disclosing so much personal location information today? In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the growing role of geolocation services, how you might participate in and benefit from them, and how to make good choices about opting in and opting out of this brave new world. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis' co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The conventional wisdom has long been that your website, or perhaps your blog, should be at the core of your web presence. Today, your Internet presence is likely to consist of LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and other social media accounts, and a variety of other places people can find you. Is this expansion of "presence" changing the common wisdom and bringing us to what's been called the "Siteless Web"? In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the changing Internet environment, whether a website really matters anymore, and how to manage your multi-faceted presence on the Internet. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lawyers have started to dabble in listening to and creating podcasts. Most of the emphasis we see is on how to create podcasts. However, listening regularly to podcasts can bring you a treasure trove of timely and practical information, especially if you don't have time to read everything in your "to read" stack. In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell offer some great tips and techniques for improving your use of podcasts, making the most of your listening time, and generally opening the doors to an underused information resource. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Do more with less" is a mantra of the day. One of the great promises of the day is that technology will organize and optimize us, as computers take over the work we don't need to do and make our lives easier. The reality feels more like a jammed email inbox, a mountain of to-do lists and technology we often fight with. In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell and special guest Allison Shields, discuss the importance of improving personal productivity and the role technology, when done well, can play in optimizing your work, enhancing your productivity and simplifying your life. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's what you do with the technology after you get it that really matters. A hot area these days in legal technology is the use of technology for project management, especially in e-discovery. But e-discovery is not the only place we're seeing project management discussions. In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell take a look at the impact project management concerns will play in technology choices, the evolution of legal project management skills and practices, and the increasing role project management is already playing in the practice of law. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The demand for pre-orders for the new iPhone 4 knocked out the AT&T order site on the first day. It seems like someone announces a new Android phone every few days. HP recently bought Palm. And the love affair between lawyers and BlackBerries seems to be cooling off . . . maybe. There's never been a more confusing time to be looking for a smartphone. In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell survey the current smartphone landscape, try to make sense of where we are and where we are going, and offer some guidance, tips and opinions on the ever-changing world of smartphones. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Law firms tend to struggle with setting technology strategies. They get as far as forming technology committees, yet often give them little or no direction. Are there some simple ways to set your underlying technology strategy and keep your firm on course? In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss a simple approach to technology strategy based on familiar investment principles, the importance of diversification and an easy visual approach to help make things happen. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many lawyers now find that they have much newer, and better, computers, cell phones and software at home than they have at work. And some companies are looking to cut costs by requiring their employees to purchase their own equipment. Are these trends changing the way both lawyers and their firms handle technology in the workplace? In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the implications of this new kind of "digital divide" and the changes we are already starting to see. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A number of sites, including Google Apps, Zoho, Microsoft, and others, offer a set of standard "office suite" programs – word processing, spreadsheets, presentations – in an online format. We've seen some solos and small firms experiment with using Google Apps. Now, we've learned that a 200+ employee law firm has launched a major Google Apps implementation. Are we at the beginning of a new trend? In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss this new initiative, the potential impact for the legal profession and whether an online office suite might play a role in your future. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices