#you can even learn at home like i pay $10 a month for icloud now ao i can record concerts i go to and relive them

[shatteredfears-arch]

tumb/lrs so broken that some posts it wont let me use legacy and others it wont let me use beta so i have to hop between them for random shiz and then legacy keeps getting glitched out to double replies for some reason and then it doesnt actually tell you what editor the mobile app has. like is it legacy? is it beta? is it its own thing bc for a company w less than 200 employees they put too much work on their backs that they cant finish and i hope they stop breathe take a minute and reflect on how maybe changing things suddenly without testing them w audiences first and LISTENING to their reactions is a bad idea? will their most recent only good idea be the double checkmarks bc thats a good way to earn money to keep this website alive bc they cant anymore if theyre not funded purely bc they saw the opportunity to diss a fuckhead and took it doubled it and made it hilarious and stalkable? will the employees ever have rest considering they clearly dont have an actual CS department anymore? we just dont know

#i dont think they can have a cs department rn tbh i think their devs run it too lol #actually i think its 100 employees now #thats why theyre pushing their merch and ad free and stuff brw theyre trying to earn money to keep the website active #and probably didnt think fundraising like a3o would work given… how we are lol #i think personally the checkmarks were their wisest move for earning the money to survive tho bc thats just fckn hilarious AND THEY STACK #they should focus on that lore than changing the editors and not making them coexistable bc im tired of habing to change editors halfway #through a reply bc it broke #but with how much data tumblr has to save. people dont realize how much money that costs #like theres a reason hollow art hasnt come back #and a reason why a lot of fansites go under. storage is fucking expensive as shit #you can even learn at home like i pay $10 a month for icloud now ao i can record concerts i go to and relive them #external harddrives are anywhere from $40-$400 depending on the size and capacity #google cloud? dropbox? cost money #keeping a website active whenit houses data. ESPECIALLY photo data #is not cheap. thats why so many go under so quickly if they dojt find a way to earn money or get advertisers theyre pretty much fucked #and idk if ppl noticed but a LOT of tumblrs advertisements are… for themselves #so theyre not paying themselves advertisement lol i think hp mystery and pogo are the only non tumblr adds ive seen in MONTHS #out. #anyways i do feel for the employees but i do think they should be honest #look at how archive and wiki just post a thing on top saying ‘hey youre here all the time and we’ll go under if we dont earn some money #can you maybe spare a few dollars for us thanks’ and ppl might be more inclined to do it #its not actively telling people that i think is the problem bc them ppl think ts a capitalist agenda when its bc hosting this much content #is unbelievably expensive. all the gifsets we post they have to pay to host #and the price of housing that much data.. its a lot #i gotta get ready for work soon but im also v v nauseus

[taleshalance4]

How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan

Was Lao Tzu thinking of law offices in the 21st century when he wrote, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” in the 6th century B.C.? 

Without question. There’s a reason the e-book, The Paperless Law Office, is the most popular one my team has ever produced: Lawyers understand the criticality of ditching physical files, but a lot of times they get hung up how to start what seems like a herculean task.

For those struggling with going paperless, let 2019 be different. If you follow this month-by-month advice and take it step-by-step, by the end of the year you’ll be set up for success going forward.

January: Commit to Starting Slowly and Chipping Away

Do you want to go paperless? Commit to it, and realize that after this 12-month plan is over, your office will operate with a lot less stress and waste. According to legal technology speaker Bryan Sims on a recent episode of the 10-Minute Law Firm Podcast, going paperless is the single most important thing you can do to run a more efficient law practice.

So this month make a commitment: You will chip away at going paperless step by step. You will approach the project with grit and determination, never getting knocked off track by setbacks.

You will overcome resistant employees, removing them from their roles if need be, because you deserve a more profitable and stress-free enterprise.

February: Determine Your Process

We’re taking things nice and slow, so before we rush headlong into purchasing bunch of expensive technology, we must first sketch out a process.

Specifically, you need to define how you will handle two situations: first, how you will handle internally created documents and second, how to handle externally created documents. For more information and to get some ideas, watch this recording of a webinar we did with Sims last year.

Once you define this process, create a checklist that your staff must follow. Discipline is key here: everyone must follow the same steps or chaos will ensue.

March: Establish Naming and Filing Conventions

As part of your process review, you and your team might get hung up how to name something and where to put it. This may or may not come as a shock, but these sorts of discussions can become quite passionate.

For this reason, I recommend defining your overall folder structure and file naming conventions separately from your overall paperless workflow. It will build momentum and make things simpler.

For suggestions, or better yet a or a complete playbook on how to name your files and structure folders, a guide created by paperless lawyer Andrew Kucera can help you.

April: Get Desktop Scanners

It’s time to make the plunge and buy hardware. And the best move is to get desktop scanners and put them on everyone’s desks. It doesn’t make sense to have one central garbage can in your office, does it? So it doesn’t make sense to have one central scanning resource either.

You are a document professional, so get the best document tools. Do not get multi-function devices, such as printer/copier/scanner/fax machines. These devices compromise functionality since they support so many tasks.

I share the opinion of many legal tech experts that the best solution for desktop scanners is the Fujitsu ScanSnap ix500. For approximately $400 (at the time this article was written) these machines come with PDF creation software, process 25 double-sided pages per minute, and perform all sorts of wonderful tasks.

May: Choose Online File Storage Provide

I recommend choosing an online storage provider that syncs automatically with your desktop or laptop and am a big fan of Google Drive. I already use Gmail, Google Calendar, other G Suite tools, and Google Drive plays really well with them.

I recommend smaller law firms look at specialized document storage tool like Dropbox, Box, iCloud, or OneDrive. Larger organizations might want to stick to NetDocuments, Box, or Google Drive.

Now stop and smell the roses! Summer is coming, and at this point, you’re pretty paperless: you’re scanning documents, have processes defined, have consistent file and folder conventions, and you’re backing your documents up securely. Nice work!

June: Automate Your Billing and Collections

One of the biggest forms of waste in a law firm is sending out paperless bills and waiting for checks. This onerous process requires many people-hours, is a slow way to collect revenue, and is out of step with how many modern clients want to pay.

Furthermore, you end up collecting a much higher percentage of your invoices with electronic billing, which more than compensates for credit card fees.

Instead of printing, folding, stuffing, stamping, addressing, and sending invoices, with paperless billing you click a button and invoices are emailed out to clients. They can then pay online with debit or credit cards and you have your money the next day.

To learn how to embrace paperless billing, this e-book can get you started.

July: Automate Simple Documents with Document Assembly!

Consider the humble engagement letter: imagine if you could collect information about a new client during your intake process and then instantly generate a document.

Document assembly allows you to click a button and create a document from fields you’ve saved in a database. It scares attorneys, especially ones who are not very technically-savvy, but the reality is it’s not too tough to do and the benefits are amazing.

July is usually one of the slower months for law firms, so use it to expand your knowledge and add this critical skill to your toolset.

There are many ways to start – you are probably already using Microsoft Word, so learning about Mail Merge fields will help you get started. This is how Rocket Matter’s and other practice management software document assembly tools work.

There are also more powerful tools such as HotDocs, which are better suited for more complicated document production.

August: Use Summer Slowdown to Scan Backlog

You have a decision to make: do you want to scan all of your documents or just your active cases? Personally, I’m lazy. I prefer to scan only the active stuff I’m working on.

That said, there is a lot to catch up on even if you’re only scanning your active files. It’s best to approach this task little by little, and start doing it gradually throughout the year. But when August hits and business slows, take advantage of the downtime to really make a dent in your scanning backlog.

September: Embrace Mobile Paperless Tools

If you haven’t done so already, start taking advantage of the tools you can use on the digital Swiss Army Knives we carry with us at all times: smartphones and tablets.

Smartphones allow for scanning-on-the go functionality. The cameras in the latest models are incredible, and perfect for getting a document quickly into your system.

iAnnotate makes it possible for you to write on PDFs using a tablet—this is just one of many PDF tools you can find for markup. And the online document storage tools you implemented in May pay dividends: no matter where you are (as long as you have a data plan or internet connection), you can pull up your files.

October: Automate Pleadings and More Complex Documents

It’s time to take the next step with our document assembly project that we started in July. Hopefully, at this point, you’ve dipped your toes in the waters of doc automation with your engagement letter and are happily and efficiently onboarding clients.

Now it’s time to really ratchet up your efficiencies! Make a list of the top 10 documents your law firm creates on a regular basis and convert those into document templates.

Spend some time learning what Microsoft Word can do with mail merge fields, such as if-then-else logic, prompting for questions, and special formatting. You will be amazed. You can switch pronouns based on gender, swap paragraphs out based on conditions, and significantly reduce the errors as well as time in document production.

November: Realize it’s Okay to Still Use Some Paper

Not everything need be digitized. Even the most paperless of law firms still use paper. Paper is still great for note-taking. For me, no stylus and tablet can reproduce the beautiful tactile experience of writing with my favorite pen. And handwritten notes are still special, even more so in our noisy, social media-infected world.

December: Reflect on Success, Plan Improvements for 2020

Congratulations! You did it! It took twelve months, but you took it nice and slow, and now you don’t have to spend 15 minutes looking for files. You can view them from anywhere you are. You can work from home more. You have more time on your hands because creating documents takes a single click. And you’re collecting more money than ever because of your conversion to electronic payments.

Our work is not done here. Now that you’ve got the fundamentals down, it’s time to scout for more inefficiencies in your processes. What can you do better? How can you run an even better firm for 2020?

The post How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan appeared first on Law Technology Today.

from http://bit.ly/2sOvfmE from https://eliaandponto1.tumblr.com/post/182471426257

[eliaandponto1]

How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan

Was Lao Tzu thinking of law offices in the 21st century when he wrote, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” in the 6th century B.C.? 

Without question. There’s a reason the e-book, The Paperless Law Office, is the most popular one my team has ever produced: Lawyers understand the criticality of ditching physical files, but a lot of times they get hung up how to start what seems like a herculean task.

For those struggling with going paperless, let 2019 be different. If you follow this month-by-month advice and take it step-by-step, by the end of the year you’ll be set up for success going forward.

January: Commit to Starting Slowly and Chipping Away

Do you want to go paperless? Commit to it, and realize that after this 12-month plan is over, your office will operate with a lot less stress and waste. According to legal technology speaker Bryan Sims on a recent episode of the 10-Minute Law Firm Podcast, going paperless is the single most important thing you can do to run a more efficient law practice.

So this month make a commitment: You will chip away at going paperless step by step. You will approach the project with grit and determination, never getting knocked off track by setbacks.

You will overcome resistant employees, removing them from their roles if need be, because you deserve a more profitable and stress-free enterprise.

February: Determine Your Process

We’re taking things nice and slow, so before we rush headlong into purchasing bunch of expensive technology, we must first sketch out a process.

Specifically, you need to define how you will handle two situations: first, how you will handle internally created documents and second, how to handle externally created documents. For more information and to get some ideas, watch this recording of a webinar we did with Sims last year.

Once you define this process, create a checklist that your staff must follow. Discipline is key here: everyone must follow the same steps or chaos will ensue.

March: Establish Naming and Filing Conventions

As part of your process review, you and your team might get hung up how to name something and where to put it. This may or may not come as a shock, but these sorts of discussions can become quite passionate.

For this reason, I recommend defining your overall folder structure and file naming conventions separately from your overall paperless workflow. It will build momentum and make things simpler.

For suggestions, or better yet a or a complete playbook on how to name your files and structure folders, a guide created by paperless lawyer Andrew Kucera can help you.

April: Get Desktop Scanners

It’s time to make the plunge and buy hardware. And the best move is to get desktop scanners and put them on everyone’s desks. It doesn’t make sense to have one central garbage can in your office, does it? So it doesn’t make sense to have one central scanning resource either.

You are a document professional, so get the best document tools. Do not get multi-function devices, such as printer/copier/scanner/fax machines. These devices compromise functionality since they support so many tasks.

I share the opinion of many legal tech experts that the best solution for desktop scanners is the Fujitsu ScanSnap ix500. For approximately $400 (at the time this article was written) these machines come with PDF creation software, process 25 double-sided pages per minute, and perform all sorts of wonderful tasks.

May: Choose Online File Storage Provide

I recommend choosing an online storage provider that syncs automatically with your desktop or laptop and am a big fan of Google Drive. I already use Gmail, Google Calendar, other G Suite tools, and Google Drive plays really well with them.

I recommend smaller law firms look at specialized document storage tool like Dropbox, Box, iCloud, or OneDrive. Larger organizations might want to stick to NetDocuments, Box, or Google Drive.

Now stop and smell the roses! Summer is coming, and at this point, you’re pretty paperless: you’re scanning documents, have processes defined, have consistent file and folder conventions, and you’re backing your documents up securely. Nice work!

June: Automate Your Billing and Collections

One of the biggest forms of waste in a law firm is sending out paperless bills and waiting for checks. This onerous process requires many people-hours, is a slow way to collect revenue, and is out of step with how many modern clients want to pay.

Furthermore, you end up collecting a much higher percentage of your invoices with electronic billing, which more than compensates for credit card fees.

Instead of printing, folding, stuffing, stamping, addressing, and sending invoices, with paperless billing you click a button and invoices are emailed out to clients. They can then pay online with debit or credit cards and you have your money the next day.

To learn how to embrace paperless billing, this e-book can get you started.

July: Automate Simple Documents with Document Assembly!

Consider the humble engagement letter: imagine if you could collect information about a new client during your intake process and then instantly generate a document.

Document assembly allows you to click a button and create a document from fields you’ve saved in a database. It scares attorneys, especially ones who are not very technically-savvy, but the reality is it’s not too tough to do and the benefits are amazing.

July is usually one of the slower months for law firms, so use it to expand your knowledge and add this critical skill to your toolset.

There are many ways to start – you are probably already using Microsoft Word, so learning about Mail Merge fields will help you get started. This is how Rocket Matter’s and other practice management software document assembly tools work.

There are also more powerful tools such as HotDocs, which are better suited for more complicated document production.

August: Use Summer Slowdown to Scan Backlog

You have a decision to make: do you want to scan all of your documents or just your active cases? Personally, I’m lazy. I prefer to scan only the active stuff I’m working on.

That said, there is a lot to catch up on even if you’re only scanning your active files. It’s best to approach this task little by little, and start doing it gradually throughout the year. But when August hits and business slows, take advantage of the downtime to really make a dent in your scanning backlog.

September: Embrace Mobile Paperless Tools

If you haven’t done so already, start taking advantage of the tools you can use on the digital Swiss Army Knives we carry with us at all times: smartphones and tablets.

Smartphones allow for scanning-on-the go functionality. The cameras in the latest models are incredible, and perfect for getting a document quickly into your system.

iAnnotate makes it possible for you to write on PDFs using a tablet—this is just one of many PDF tools you can find for markup. And the online document storage tools you implemented in May pay dividends: no matter where you are (as long as you have a data plan or internet connection), you can pull up your files.

October: Automate Pleadings and More Complex Documents

It’s time to take the next step with our document assembly project that we started in July. Hopefully, at this point, you’ve dipped your toes in the waters of doc automation with your engagement letter and are happily and efficiently onboarding clients.

Now it’s time to really ratchet up your efficiencies! Make a list of the top 10 documents your law firm creates on a regular basis and convert those into document templates.

Spend some time learning what Microsoft Word can do with mail merge fields, such as if-then-else logic, prompting for questions, and special formatting. You will be amazed. You can switch pronouns based on gender, swap paragraphs out based on conditions, and significantly reduce the errors as well as time in document production.

November: Realize it’s Okay to Still Use Some Paper

Not everything need be digitized. Even the most paperless of law firms still use paper. Paper is still great for note-taking. For me, no stylus and tablet can reproduce the beautiful tactile experience of writing with my favorite pen. And handwritten notes are still special, even more so in our noisy, social media-infected world.

December: Reflect on Success, Plan Improvements for 2020

Congratulations! You did it! It took twelve months, but you took it nice and slow, and now you don’t have to spend 15 minutes looking for files. You can view them from anywhere you are. You can work from home more. You have more time on your hands because creating documents takes a single click. And you’re collecting more money than ever because of your conversion to electronic payments.

Our work is not done here. Now that you’ve got the fundamentals down, it’s time to scout for more inefficiencies in your processes. What can you do better? How can you run an even better firm for 2020?

The post How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan appeared first on Law Technology Today.

from http://bit.ly/2sOvfmE

[itshell1-blog]

Google One is the value-driven online storage locker I want iCloud to be

Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference is right around the corner, and we all have our lists of things we’re hoping to see: better Siri, a modular Mac, cheaper HomePod, Face ID on the iPad Pro. But there’s one product in desperate need of an update that would instantly generate an extended applause break from the keynote crowd.

No, I’m not talking about the Mac mini. I’m talking about iCloud.

iCloud has been a bone of contention for Apple users ever since its debut at WWDC 2011. A replacement for the MobileMe paid service—which replaced .Mac, which replaced iTools—iCloud was supposed to be the free online storage we all wanted. Like the services of yore, it included backup, email, and online storage starting at 5GB and going up to a terabyte or more for a monthly fee.

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If you pay for Google Drive, Google One is the new home for your files.

That was fine back in 2011. But while Apple has added things like iTunes Match, Photo Library, and Keychain to iCloud to build it into a fuller-featured service, it still lags in comparison to the online storage offered by Google and Dropbox. And now Google is beefing up its own paid storage plans in an effort to put even more distance between it and iCloud. And it’s getting harder and harder to defend iCloud.

iCloud everywhere

Anyone who already pays for a Google Drive account will be automatically upgraded to Google One, bringing a smattering of additional features for the same (or less) money. That includes “one-tap access to experts” and “access to extras from other Google products, like credits on Google Play or deals on select hotels found in Google Search.” And Google promises more benefits over time. Google has also added family sharing to match Apple’s own Family Sharing feature. That means for just $3 a month, five family members can get 40GB of storage a piece. And if they want even more space, two terabytes costs $10 a month on either service. In fact, the two services are remarkably similar when it comes to monthly cost:

iCloud

50GB: $0.99

200GB: $2.99

2TB: $9.99

Google One

100GB: $1.99

200GB: $2.99

2TB: $9.99

But pricing and freebies aren’t the main appeal of Google One. It remains to be seen what Google will add to the service in the way of freebies, but as it stands, Google One is everything iCloud isn’t, namely an extension of your phone, PC, or Chromebook. It’s a way to access all of your files wherever you are. It doesn’t matter what device you’re using or even what platform—all of your files, photos, and video are accessible wherever you go. Even on a Mac, it offers a great way to keep your files and photos synced at all times.

iCloud does a fine job with photo syncing, but it could do so much more.

Google One isn’t just a simple rebranding of Google Drive, it represents a philosophy of convenience that used to be ingrained in Apple’s products too. iCloud Drive is available on Windows, but where’s the Android app?  Apple’s iOS backups are far better than they are on Android, but on the Mac, iCloud backups are little more than syncing of your services. I understand that 5GB is far too little space for a full PC backup, but why not offer iCloud Mac backups as an option for paid accounts?

With its new One plans, Google is sending a message to its users that there is no better place to store your files. That’s not the case with iCloud. Power users maybe able to use it to its full extent, but from its lame free tier to its value-poor subscription plans, Apple offers little incentive for the average user to upgrade for any other reason than to stop receiving out-of-space alerts.

[bestnewsmag-blog]

New Post has been published on Bestnewsmag

New Post has been published on https://bestnewsmag.com/ios-11-rumored-to-feature-new-automator-app/

iOS 11 Rumored to Feature New ‘Automator’ App

Apple can be working on an emblem-new, Siri-more advantageous automation app, with a purpose to be deeply-included into the approaching releases of iOS 11 and MacOS 10.13, in step with a brand new rumor that surfaced but became suddenly deleted from Reddit this morning.

The rumor comes courtesy of consumer cyan that, who simply days ago leaked a flurry of iOS 11’s maximum incredibly-predicted capabilities, if you want to reportedly include assist for FaceTime group calling, iPhone to iPhone FaceTime Audio calling by way of default, and what clan that claimed might be a wise AI-based Low Energy Mode for iOS eleven devices — designed to learn from one’s utilization patterns over time which will determine how best to hold their battery life.

Even in spite of the perceived sketchiness of the rumor’s posting and subsequent elimination, it’s handiest make sense that Apple pursues its personal automation app for iPhone and Mac. Returned in March we suggested that the corporation had acquired the uber-famous iOS automation app, Workflow. And whilst the intentions for doing so had been now not found out on the time of the acquisition, it changed into broadly speculated that Apple would take the effective Workflow platform, beautify and refine it with its very own magical contact, and then in some way put in force it into upcoming important software program releases for iPhone and Mac.

And so, if this rumor turns out to be proper, it might appear that’s precisely what Apple is doing here. in line with cyan that, Apple is stated to be operating on a re-predicted Automator app, with the intention to operate seamlessly across iOS eleven and MacOS 10.thirteen devices, correctly changing the currently present Automator app for Mac, at the same time as bundling interesting new features into the Workflow platform.

“The app could be based on Workflow, which Apple these days received. Automator can have deeper OS/iCloud integration with advanced Siri aid,” cyan that wrote, while adding “Automator may be unveiled at WWDC and deliver with iOS eleven and MacOS 10.thirteen [this fall].”

Interestingly, cyan that went directly to allege that Apple’s reengineered Automator app will now not only replace the present Automator app hooked up through default on Mac, but Automator on iOS eleven will also replace the enterprise’s proprietary Home app too, which was released along iOS 10 final 12 months.

Given the nature of this rumor, it’s understandably hard to decide its validity — and so we can simply wait until Apple’s Worldwide Developers Convention (WWDC) kicks off subsequent month to find out for certain. At WWDC, Apple’s new Automator app will supposedly be unveiled alongside brand-new software program titles, throughout the board, and probably a slew of recent hardware, inclusive of next-generation iPads and a standalone, Siri-enabled Echo competitor that Apple has been “setting the finishing touches on.

Using an Autoresponder or Reply Email Automator – (Which is Best for Me?)

Autoresponders have made our existence a lot simpler as site owners and enterprise owners, they reply to emails for us sent to a specific electronic mail address to get or give a selected response, like sending customers to a download page, a thank you for subscribing to our e-newsletter page or a series of preloaded emails for an eCourse we’ve got developed.

If like me, you have got ever tried to shop time and setup an autoresponder to answer your clients daily questions, you, no doubt discovered it clumsy and tough to perform. Do not forget a couple of e-mail address for your touch web page, and then you definitely were the handiest guessing as to the questions that they’ll ask.

Then we setup FAQ pages to attempt to cool the frequent questions, but we still did not restore all the questions that were being asked. Not to mention a potential patron sending an actual query to the e-mail that they concept turned into proper but lamentably it turned into incorrect, and the solution they were given was just now not anticipated or failed to make feel. Imagine how they felt? Do you think they became a purchaser? I doubt it.

As commercial enterprise or internet site owners, we need a smooth to function system to permit us to reply the equal or comparable questions again and again to various customers and prospective clients. These queries may cover questions about value, freight, size, while they could expect a product shipping, or many different comparable, however, different questions all sent to the equal e-mail deal with or shape that we placed on our website to assist with customer service.

Now as we most effective have one e-mail address on our website online an autoresponder is out of the question, as they do not vary the solution to in shape. Believe a machine to permit you to organize your reply, so they may be smooth to find and able to be customized to in shape every client and will save you hours of time, each week.

Understanding Feature-Function-Benefit Presentation

  Feature-function-benefit selling shows are effective due to the fact they work. For the purpose of brevity, I will refer to it as “FFB” in this text. A professional sales education application will encompass this crucial approach in some shape or some other. You can see it started by using a barely specific name, inclusive of Function-need-advantage or some other closely worded name but irrespective of the name, it’s miles the same technique.

Here is a simple manner to make FFB an essential a part of every income attempt and advantage from it. Permits begin via defining each of the phrases.

Characteristic

This is the “what’s it” part of FFB. every product or service has precise features that separate it from the opposition. If the Characteristic is common to other merchandise the way it is provided will help separate you out of your competitor.

feature

What does it do? In the course of your presentation, this a part of FFB offers your customer the possibility to see the way it works. It is going without saying that talented product information is a must.

gain

Why need to your patron have it? Here is wherein you remedy a problem, fill a want and reinforce why your services or products is the proper one.

Permit’s do an easy exercising that places FFB into motion.

Suppose you promote automobiles. In ultra-modern international, most of them have anti-lock brakes as either popular or optionally available gadget. Now, you are showing your customer the vehicle. You could both say:

“This automobile has anti-lock brakes” or You could use FFB for your benefit and say:

“This automobile is ready with anti-lock brakes.(The Feature) In the event of an emergency braking scenario, you absolutely depress the brake pedal to the floor. (The feature) The Anti-lock brake gadget is designed to bring you to a whole and instantly forestall without allowing the wheels to skid. This prevents loss of manage and avoids sliding off the dual carriageway or into oncoming site visitors. (The benefit)

Right here is wherein many salespeople forget about a critical step. Always give up your FFB presentation with a tie-down or proof announcement. Inside the above example it would sound like this:

“I assume you will agree that is a critical protection Feature.”

Think about the products or services you sell. As an exercise to emerge as at ease with FFB write down a few key capabilities and practice presenting them the usage of this method. It’s going to pay huge dividends.

Apple’s iPhone 7 – Latest News, Leaks, and Rumors Etc

Apple’s new iPhone 7 will be released this year in September and we all are expecting this device to be utterly different from their iPhone 6s inside and out. It is likely that the iPhone 7 will feature a brand new and improved Jony Ive design. Plus, everyone is looking forward it to be the thinnest and satin Apple device so far with good looks and some brand new features with it.

Recently last month, Apple unveiled their iPhone sales which had decreased and they lost £140 million in the market value of Apple’s shares. This clearly means that Apple will have to work hard in order to convince their existing iPhone users so that they upgrade to their upcoming iPhone 7 this September and also compete with Android devices like the Samsung Galaxy S7 which is also releasing this year.

Let’s just start and analyze the latest news and rumors about Apple’s soon to be released iPhone 7.

Latest news and rumors claim that Apple might use a dual camera setup for their new iPhone 7 Plus, but it could be that the dual camera display could be the same size as a Plus included with the new dual camera. It is expected to be called the iPhone 7 Pro and could be featured as a supercharged phablet and Apple might also release three different versions of the iPhone 7.rns out very

  Having Automator three Feature iPhone models appears to be beyond belief, but so did the Apple’s larger Plus version device which tuwell Rumored.

[taleshalance4]

How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan

Was Lao Tzu thinking of law offices in the 21st century when he wrote, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” in the 6th century B.C.? 

Without question. There’s a reason the e-book, The Paperless Law Office, is the most popular one my team has ever produced: Lawyers understand the criticality of ditching physical files, but a lot of times they get hung up how to start what seems like a herculean task.

For those struggling with going paperless, let 2019 be different. If you follow this month-by-month advice and take it step-by-step, by the end of the year you’ll be set up for success going forward.

January: Commit to Starting Slowly and Chipping Away

Do you want to go paperless? Commit to it, and realize that after this 12-month plan is over, your office will operate with a lot less stress and waste. According to legal technology speaker Bryan Sims on a recent episode of the 10-Minute Law Firm Podcast, going paperless is the single most important thing you can do to run a more efficient law practice.

So this month make a commitment: You will chip away at going paperless step by step. You will approach the project with grit and determination, never getting knocked off track by setbacks.

You will overcome resistant employees, removing them from their roles if need be, because you deserve a more profitable and stress-free enterprise.

February: Determine Your Process

We’re taking things nice and slow, so before we rush headlong into purchasing bunch of expensive technology, we must first sketch out a process.

Specifically, you need to define how you will handle two situations: first, how you will handle internally created documents and second, how to handle externally created documents. For more information and to get some ideas, watch this recording of a webinar we did with Sims last year.

Once you define this process, create a checklist that your staff must follow. Discipline is key here: everyone must follow the same steps or chaos will ensue.

March: Establish Naming and Filing Conventions

As part of your process review, you and your team might get hung up how to name something and where to put it. This may or may not come as a shock, but these sorts of discussions can become quite passionate.

For this reason, I recommend defining your overall folder structure and file naming conventions separately from your overall paperless workflow. It will build momentum and make things simpler.

For suggestions, or better yet a or a complete playbook on how to name your files and structure folders, a guide created by paperless lawyer Andrew Kucera can help you.

April: Get Desktop Scanners

It’s time to make the plunge and buy hardware. And the best move is to get desktop scanners and put them on everyone’s desks. It doesn’t make sense to have one central garbage can in your office, does it? So it doesn’t make sense to have one central scanning resource either.

You are a document professional, so get the best document tools. Do not get multi-function devices, such as printer/copier/scanner/fax machines. These devices compromise functionality since they support so many tasks.

I share the opinion of many legal tech experts that the best solution for desktop scanners is the Fujitsu ScanSnap ix500. For approximately $400 (at the time this article was written) these machines come with PDF creation software, process 25 double-sided pages per minute, and perform all sorts of wonderful tasks.

May: Choose Online File Storage Provide

I recommend choosing an online storage provider that syncs automatically with your desktop or laptop and am a big fan of Google Drive. I already use Gmail, Google Calendar, other G Suite tools, and Google Drive plays really well with them.

I recommend smaller law firms look at specialized document storage tool like Dropbox, Box, iCloud, or OneDrive. Larger organizations might want to stick to NetDocuments, Box, or Google Drive.

Now stop and smell the roses! Summer is coming, and at this point, you’re pretty paperless: you’re scanning documents, have processes defined, have consistent file and folder conventions, and you’re backing your documents up securely. Nice work!

June: Automate Your Billing and Collections

One of the biggest forms of waste in a law firm is sending out paperless bills and waiting for checks. This onerous process requires many people-hours, is a slow way to collect revenue, and is out of step with how many modern clients want to pay.

Furthermore, you end up collecting a much higher percentage of your invoices with electronic billing, which more than compensates for credit card fees.

Instead of printing, folding, stuffing, stamping, addressing, and sending invoices, with paperless billing you click a button and invoices are emailed out to clients. They can then pay online with debit or credit cards and you have your money the next day.

To learn how to embrace paperless billing, this e-book can get you started.

July: Automate Simple Documents with Document Assembly!

Consider the humble engagement letter: imagine if you could collect information about a new client during your intake process and then instantly generate a document.

Document assembly allows you to click a button and create a document from fields you’ve saved in a database. It scares attorneys, especially ones who are not very technically-savvy, but the reality is it’s not too tough to do and the benefits are amazing.

July is usually one of the slower months for law firms, so use it to expand your knowledge and add this critical skill to your toolset.

There are many ways to start – you are probably already using Microsoft Word, so learning about Mail Merge fields will help you get started. This is how Rocket Matter’s and other practice management software document assembly tools work.

There are also more powerful tools such as HotDocs, which are better suited for more complicated document production.

August: Use Summer Slowdown to Scan Backlog

You have a decision to make: do you want to scan all of your documents or just your active cases? Personally, I’m lazy. I prefer to scan only the active stuff I’m working on.

That said, there is a lot to catch up on even if you’re only scanning your active files. It’s best to approach this task little by little, and start doing it gradually throughout the year. But when August hits and business slows, take advantage of the downtime to really make a dent in your scanning backlog.

September: Embrace Mobile Paperless Tools

If you haven’t done so already, start taking advantage of the tools you can use on the digital Swiss Army Knives we carry with us at all times: smartphones and tablets.

Smartphones allow for scanning-on-the go functionality. The cameras in the latest models are incredible, and perfect for getting a document quickly into your system.

iAnnotate makes it possible for you to write on PDFs using a tablet—this is just one of many PDF tools you can find for markup. And the online document storage tools you implemented in May pay dividends: no matter where you are (as long as you have a data plan or internet connection), you can pull up your files.

October: Automate Pleadings and More Complex Documents

It’s time to take the next step with our document assembly project that we started in July. Hopefully, at this point, you’ve dipped your toes in the waters of doc automation with your engagement letter and are happily and efficiently onboarding clients.

Now it’s time to really ratchet up your efficiencies! Make a list of the top 10 documents your law firm creates on a regular basis and convert those into document templates.

Spend some time learning what Microsoft Word can do with mail merge fields, such as if-then-else logic, prompting for questions, and special formatting. You will be amazed. You can switch pronouns based on gender, swap paragraphs out based on conditions, and significantly reduce the errors as well as time in document production.

November: Realize it’s Okay to Still Use Some Paper

Not everything need be digitized. Even the most paperless of law firms still use paper. Paper is still great for note-taking. For me, no stylus and tablet can reproduce the beautiful tactile experience of writing with my favorite pen. And handwritten notes are still special, even more so in our noisy, social media-infected world.

December: Reflect on Success, Plan Improvements for 2020

Congratulations! You did it! It took twelve months, but you took it nice and slow, and now you don’t have to spend 15 minutes looking for files. You can view them from anywhere you are. You can work from home more. You have more time on your hands because creating documents takes a single click. And you’re collecting more money than ever because of your conversion to electronic payments.

Our work is not done here. Now that you’ve got the fundamentals down, it’s time to scout for more inefficiencies in your processes. What can you do better? How can you run an even better firm for 2020?

The post How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan appeared first on Law Technology Today.

from http://bit.ly/2sOvfmE from https://eliaandponto1.tumblr.com/post/182429039677

[eliaandponto1]

How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan

Was Lao Tzu thinking of law offices in the 21st century when he wrote, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” in the 6th century B.C.? 

Without question. There’s a reason the e-book, The Paperless Law Office, is the most popular one my team has ever produced: Lawyers understand the criticality of ditching physical files, but a lot of times they get hung up how to start what seems like a herculean task.

For those struggling with going paperless, let 2019 be different. If you follow this month-by-month advice and take it step-by-step, by the end of the year you’ll be set up for success going forward.

January: Commit to Starting Slowly and Chipping Away

Do you want to go paperless? Commit to it, and realize that after this 12-month plan is over, your office will operate with a lot less stress and waste. According to legal technology speaker Bryan Sims on a recent episode of the 10-Minute Law Firm Podcast, going paperless is the single most important thing you can do to run a more efficient law practice.

So this month make a commitment: You will chip away at going paperless step by step. You will approach the project with grit and determination, never getting knocked off track by setbacks.

You will overcome resistant employees, removing them from their roles if need be, because you deserve a more profitable and stress-free enterprise.

February: Determine Your Process

We’re taking things nice and slow, so before we rush headlong into purchasing bunch of expensive technology, we must first sketch out a process.

Specifically, you need to define how you will handle two situations: first, how you will handle internally created documents and second, how to handle externally created documents. For more information and to get some ideas, watch this recording of a webinar we did with Sims last year.

Once you define this process, create a checklist that your staff must follow. Discipline is key here: everyone must follow the same steps or chaos will ensue.

March: Establish Naming and Filing Conventions

As part of your process review, you and your team might get hung up how to name something and where to put it. This may or may not come as a shock, but these sorts of discussions can become quite passionate.

For this reason, I recommend defining your overall folder structure and file naming conventions separately from your overall paperless workflow. It will build momentum and make things simpler.

For suggestions, or better yet a or a complete playbook on how to name your files and structure folders, a guide created by paperless lawyer Andrew Kucera can help you.

April: Get Desktop Scanners

It’s time to make the plunge and buy hardware. And the best move is to get desktop scanners and put them on everyone’s desks. It doesn’t make sense to have one central garbage can in your office, does it? So it doesn’t make sense to have one central scanning resource either.

You are a document professional, so get the best document tools. Do not get multi-function devices, such as printer/copier/scanner/fax machines. These devices compromise functionality since they support so many tasks.

I share the opinion of many legal tech experts that the best solution for desktop scanners is the Fujitsu ScanSnap ix500. For approximately $400 (at the time this article was written) these machines come with PDF creation software, process 25 double-sided pages per minute, and perform all sorts of wonderful tasks.

May: Choose Online File Storage Provide

I recommend choosing an online storage provider that syncs automatically with your desktop or laptop and am a big fan of Google Drive. I already use Gmail, Google Calendar, other G Suite tools, and Google Drive plays really well with them.

I recommend smaller law firms look at specialized document storage tool like Dropbox, Box, iCloud, or OneDrive. Larger organizations might want to stick to NetDocuments, Box, or Google Drive.

Now stop and smell the roses! Summer is coming, and at this point, you’re pretty paperless: you’re scanning documents, have processes defined, have consistent file and folder conventions, and you’re backing your documents up securely. Nice work!

June: Automate Your Billing and Collections

One of the biggest forms of waste in a law firm is sending out paperless bills and waiting for checks. This onerous process requires many people-hours, is a slow way to collect revenue, and is out of step with how many modern clients want to pay.

Furthermore, you end up collecting a much higher percentage of your invoices with electronic billing, which more than compensates for credit card fees.

Instead of printing, folding, stuffing, stamping, addressing, and sending invoices, with paperless billing you click a button and invoices are emailed out to clients. They can then pay online with debit or credit cards and you have your money the next day.

To learn how to embrace paperless billing, this e-book can get you started.

July: Automate Simple Documents with Document Assembly!

Consider the humble engagement letter: imagine if you could collect information about a new client during your intake process and then instantly generate a document.

Document assembly allows you to click a button and create a document from fields you’ve saved in a database. It scares attorneys, especially ones who are not very technically-savvy, but the reality is it’s not too tough to do and the benefits are amazing.

July is usually one of the slower months for law firms, so use it to expand your knowledge and add this critical skill to your toolset.

There are many ways to start – you are probably already using Microsoft Word, so learning about Mail Merge fields will help you get started. This is how Rocket Matter’s and other practice management software document assembly tools work.

There are also more powerful tools such as HotDocs, which are better suited for more complicated document production.

August: Use Summer Slowdown to Scan Backlog

You have a decision to make: do you want to scan all of your documents or just your active cases? Personally, I’m lazy. I prefer to scan only the active stuff I’m working on.

That said, there is a lot to catch up on even if you’re only scanning your active files. It’s best to approach this task little by little, and start doing it gradually throughout the year. But when August hits and business slows, take advantage of the downtime to really make a dent in your scanning backlog.

September: Embrace Mobile Paperless Tools

If you haven’t done so already, start taking advantage of the tools you can use on the digital Swiss Army Knives we carry with us at all times: smartphones and tablets.

Smartphones allow for scanning-on-the go functionality. The cameras in the latest models are incredible, and perfect for getting a document quickly into your system.

iAnnotate makes it possible for you to write on PDFs using a tablet—this is just one of many PDF tools you can find for markup. And the online document storage tools you implemented in May pay dividends: no matter where you are (as long as you have a data plan or internet connection), you can pull up your files.

October: Automate Pleadings and More Complex Documents

It’s time to take the next step with our document assembly project that we started in July. Hopefully, at this point, you’ve dipped your toes in the waters of doc automation with your engagement letter and are happily and efficiently onboarding clients.

Now it’s time to really ratchet up your efficiencies! Make a list of the top 10 documents your law firm creates on a regular basis and convert those into document templates.

Spend some time learning what Microsoft Word can do with mail merge fields, such as if-then-else logic, prompting for questions, and special formatting. You will be amazed. You can switch pronouns based on gender, swap paragraphs out based on conditions, and significantly reduce the errors as well as time in document production.

November: Realize it’s Okay to Still Use Some Paper

Not everything need be digitized. Even the most paperless of law firms still use paper. Paper is still great for note-taking. For me, no stylus and tablet can reproduce the beautiful tactile experience of writing with my favorite pen. And handwritten notes are still special, even more so in our noisy, social media-infected world.

December: Reflect on Success, Plan Improvements for 2020

Congratulations! You did it! It took twelve months, but you took it nice and slow, and now you don’t have to spend 15 minutes looking for files. You can view them from anywhere you are. You can work from home more. You have more time on your hands because creating documents takes a single click. And you’re collecting more money than ever because of your conversion to electronic payments.

Our work is not done here. Now that you’ve got the fundamentals down, it’s time to scout for more inefficiencies in your processes. What can you do better? How can you run an even better firm for 2020?

The post How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan appeared first on Law Technology Today.

from http://bit.ly/2sOvfmE

[taleshalance4]

How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan

Was Lao Tzu thinking of law offices in the 21st century when he wrote, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” in the 6th century B.C.? 

Without question. There’s a reason the e-book, The Paperless Law Office, is the most popular one my team has ever produced: Lawyers understand the criticality of ditching physical files, but a lot of times they get hung up how to start what seems like a herculean task.

For those struggling with going paperless, let 2019 be different. If you follow this month-by-month advice and take it step-by-step, by the end of the year you’ll be set up for success going forward.

January: Commit to Starting Slowly and Chipping Away

Do you want to go paperless? Commit to it, and realize that after this 12-month plan is over, your office will operate with a lot less stress and waste. According to legal technology speaker Bryan Sims on a recent episode of the 10-Minute Law Firm Podcast, going paperless is the single most important thing you can do to run a more efficient law practice.

So this month make a commitment: You will chip away at going paperless step by step. You will approach the project with grit and determination, never getting knocked off track by setbacks.

You will overcome resistant employees, removing them from their roles if need be, because you deserve a more profitable and stress-free enterprise.

February: Determine Your Process

We’re taking things nice and slow, so before we rush headlong into purchasing bunch of expensive technology, we must first sketch out a process.

Specifically, you need to define how you will handle two situations: first, how you will handle internally created documents and second, how to handle externally created documents. For more information and to get some ideas, watch this recording of a webinar we did with Sims last year.

Once you define this process, create a checklist that your staff must follow. Discipline is key here: everyone must follow the same steps or chaos will ensue.

March: Establish Naming and Filing Conventions

As part of your process review, you and your team might get hung up how to name something and where to put it. This may or may not come as a shock, but these sorts of discussions can become quite passionate.

For this reason, I recommend defining your overall folder structure and file naming conventions separately from your overall paperless workflow. It will build momentum and make things simpler.

For suggestions, or better yet a or a complete playbook on how to name your files and structure folders, a guide created by paperless lawyer Andrew Kucera can help you.

April: Get Desktop Scanners

It’s time to make the plunge and buy hardware. And the best move is to get desktop scanners and put them on everyone’s desks. It doesn’t make sense to have one central garbage can in your office, does it? So it doesn’t make sense to have one central scanning resource either.

You are a document professional, so get the best document tools. Do not get multi-function devices, such as printer/copier/scanner/fax machines. These devices compromise functionality since they support so many tasks.

I share the opinion of many legal tech experts that the best solution for desktop scanners is the Fujitsu ScanSnap ix500. For approximately $400 (at the time this article was written) these machines come with PDF creation software, process 25 double-sided pages per minute, and perform all sorts of wonderful tasks.

May: Choose Online File Storage Provide

I recommend choosing an online storage provider that syncs automatically with your desktop or laptop and am a big fan of Google Drive. I already use Gmail, Google Calendar, other G Suite tools, and Google Drive plays really well with them.

I recommend smaller law firms look at specialized document storage tool like Dropbox, Box, iCloud, or OneDrive. Larger organizations might want to stick to NetDocuments, Box, or Google Drive.

Now stop and smell the roses! Summer is coming, and at this point, you’re pretty paperless: you’re scanning documents, have processes defined, have consistent file and folder conventions, and you’re backing your documents up securely. Nice work!

June: Automate Your Billing and Collections

One of the biggest forms of waste in a law firm is sending out paperless bills and waiting for checks. This onerous process requires many people-hours, is a slow way to collect revenue, and is out of step with how many modern clients want to pay.

Furthermore, you end up collecting a much higher percentage of your invoices with electronic billing, which more than compensates for credit card fees.

Instead of printing, folding, stuffing, stamping, addressing, and sending invoices, with paperless billing you click a button and invoices are emailed out to clients. They can then pay online with debit or credit cards and you have your money the next day.

To learn how to embrace paperless billing, this e-book can get you started.

July: Automate Simple Documents with Document Assembly!

Consider the humble engagement letter: imagine if you could collect information about a new client during your intake process and then instantly generate a document.

Document assembly allows you to click a button and create a document from fields you’ve saved in a database. It scares attorneys, especially ones who are not very technically-savvy, but the reality is it’s not too tough to do and the benefits are amazing.

July is usually one of the slower months for law firms, so use it to expand your knowledge and add this critical skill to your toolset.

There are many ways to start – you are probably already using Microsoft Word, so learning about Mail Merge fields will help you get started. This is how Rocket Matter’s and other practice management software document assembly tools work.

There are also more powerful tools such as HotDocs, which are better suited for more complicated document production.

August: Use Summer Slowdown to Scan Backlog

You have a decision to make: do you want to scan all of your documents or just your active cases? Personally, I’m lazy. I prefer to scan only the active stuff I’m working on.

That said, there is a lot to catch up on even if you’re only scanning your active files. It’s best to approach this task little by little, and start doing it gradually throughout the year. But when August hits and business slows, take advantage of the downtime to really make a dent in your scanning backlog.

September: Embrace Mobile Paperless Tools

If you haven’t done so already, start taking advantage of the tools you can use on the digital Swiss Army Knives we carry with us at all times: smartphones and tablets.

Smartphones allow for scanning-on-the go functionality. The cameras in the latest models are incredible, and perfect for getting a document quickly into your system.

iAnnotate makes it possible for you to write on PDFs using a tablet—this is just one of many PDF tools you can find for markup. And the online document storage tools you implemented in May pay dividends: no matter where you are (as long as you have a data plan or internet connection), you can pull up your files.

October: Automate Pleadings and More Complex Documents

It’s time to take the next step with our document assembly project that we started in July. Hopefully, at this point, you’ve dipped your toes in the waters of doc automation with your engagement letter and are happily and efficiently onboarding clients.

Now it’s time to really ratchet up your efficiencies! Make a list of the top 10 documents your law firm creates on a regular basis and convert those into document templates.

Spend some time learning what Microsoft Word can do with mail merge fields, such as if-then-else logic, prompting for questions, and special formatting. You will be amazed. You can switch pronouns based on gender, swap paragraphs out based on conditions, and significantly reduce the errors as well as time in document production.

November: Realize it’s Okay to Still Use Some Paper

Not everything need be digitized. Even the most paperless of law firms still use paper. Paper is still great for note-taking. For me, no stylus and tablet can reproduce the beautiful tactile experience of writing with my favorite pen. And handwritten notes are still special, even more so in our noisy, social media-infected world.

December: Reflect on Success, Plan Improvements for 2020

Congratulations! You did it! It took twelve months, but you took it nice and slow, and now you don’t have to spend 15 minutes looking for files. You can view them from anywhere you are. You can work from home more. You have more time on your hands because creating documents takes a single click. And you’re collecting more money than ever because of your conversion to electronic payments.

Our work is not done here. Now that you’ve got the fundamentals down, it’s time to scout for more inefficiencies in your processes. What can you do better? How can you run an even better firm for 2020?

The post How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan appeared first on Law Technology Today.

from http://bit.ly/2sOvfmE from https://eliaandponto1.tumblr.com/post/182402886112

[eliaandponto1]

How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan

Was Lao Tzu thinking of law offices in the 21st century when he wrote, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” in the 6th century B.C.? 

Without question. There’s a reason the e-book, The Paperless Law Office, is the most popular one my team has ever produced: Lawyers understand the criticality of ditching physical files, but a lot of times they get hung up how to start what seems like a herculean task.

For those struggling with going paperless, let 2019 be different. If you follow this month-by-month advice and take it step-by-step, by the end of the year you’ll be set up for success going forward.

January: Commit to Starting Slowly and Chipping Away

Do you want to go paperless? Commit to it, and realize that after this 12-month plan is over, your office will operate with a lot less stress and waste. According to legal technology speaker Bryan Sims on a recent episode of the 10-Minute Law Firm Podcast, going paperless is the single most important thing you can do to run a more efficient law practice.

So this month make a commitment: You will chip away at going paperless step by step. You will approach the project with grit and determination, never getting knocked off track by setbacks.

You will overcome resistant employees, removing them from their roles if need be, because you deserve a more profitable and stress-free enterprise.

February: Determine Your Process

We’re taking things nice and slow, so before we rush headlong into purchasing bunch of expensive technology, we must first sketch out a process.

Specifically, you need to define how you will handle two situations: first, how you will handle internally created documents and second, how to handle externally created documents. For more information and to get some ideas, watch this recording of a webinar we did with Sims last year.

Once you define this process, create a checklist that your staff must follow. Discipline is key here: everyone must follow the same steps or chaos will ensue.

March: Establish Naming and Filing Conventions

As part of your process review, you and your team might get hung up how to name something and where to put it. This may or may not come as a shock, but these sorts of discussions can become quite passionate.

For this reason, I recommend defining your overall folder structure and file naming conventions separately from your overall paperless workflow. It will build momentum and make things simpler.

For suggestions, or better yet a or a complete playbook on how to name your files and structure folders, a guide created by paperless lawyer Andrew Kucera can help you.

April: Get Desktop Scanners

It’s time to make the plunge and buy hardware. And the best move is to get desktop scanners and put them on everyone’s desks. It doesn’t make sense to have one central garbage can in your office, does it? So it doesn’t make sense to have one central scanning resource either.

You are a document professional, so get the best document tools. Do not get multi-function devices, such as printer/copier/scanner/fax machines. These devices compromise functionality since they support so many tasks.

I share the opinion of many legal tech experts that the best solution for desktop scanners is the Fujitsu ScanSnap ix500. For approximately $400 (at the time this article was written) these machines come with PDF creation software, process 25 double-sided pages per minute, and perform all sorts of wonderful tasks.

May: Choose Online File Storage Provide

I recommend choosing an online storage provider that syncs automatically with your desktop or laptop and am a big fan of Google Drive. I already use Gmail, Google Calendar, other G Suite tools, and Google Drive plays really well with them.

I recommend smaller law firms look at specialized document storage tool like Dropbox, Box, iCloud, or OneDrive. Larger organizations might want to stick to NetDocuments, Box, or Google Drive.

Now stop and smell the roses! Summer is coming, and at this point, you’re pretty paperless: you’re scanning documents, have processes defined, have consistent file and folder conventions, and you’re backing your documents up securely. Nice work!

June: Automate Your Billing and Collections

One of the biggest forms of waste in a law firm is sending out paperless bills and waiting for checks. This onerous process requires many people-hours, is a slow way to collect revenue, and is out of step with how many modern clients want to pay.

Furthermore, you end up collecting a much higher percentage of your invoices with electronic billing, which more than compensates for credit card fees.

Instead of printing, folding, stuffing, stamping, addressing, and sending invoices, with paperless billing you click a button and invoices are emailed out to clients. They can then pay online with debit or credit cards and you have your money the next day.

To learn how to embrace paperless billing, this e-book can get you started.

July: Automate Simple Documents with Document Assembly!

Consider the humble engagement letter: imagine if you could collect information about a new client during your intake process and then instantly generate a document.

Document assembly allows you to click a button and create a document from fields you’ve saved in a database. It scares attorneys, especially ones who are not very technically-savvy, but the reality is it’s not too tough to do and the benefits are amazing.

July is usually one of the slower months for law firms, so use it to expand your knowledge and add this critical skill to your toolset.

There are many ways to start – you are probably already using Microsoft Word, so learning about Mail Merge fields will help you get started. This is how Rocket Matter’s and other practice management software document assembly tools work.

There are also more powerful tools such as HotDocs, which are better suited for more complicated document production.

August: Use Summer Slowdown to Scan Backlog

You have a decision to make: do you want to scan all of your documents or just your active cases? Personally, I’m lazy. I prefer to scan only the active stuff I’m working on.

That said, there is a lot to catch up on even if you’re only scanning your active files. It’s best to approach this task little by little, and start doing it gradually throughout the year. But when August hits and business slows, take advantage of the downtime to really make a dent in your scanning backlog.

September: Embrace Mobile Paperless Tools

If you haven’t done so already, start taking advantage of the tools you can use on the digital Swiss Army Knives we carry with us at all times: smartphones and tablets.

Smartphones allow for scanning-on-the go functionality. The cameras in the latest models are incredible, and perfect for getting a document quickly into your system.

iAnnotate makes it possible for you to write on PDFs using a tablet—this is just one of many PDF tools you can find for markup. And the online document storage tools you implemented in May pay dividends: no matter where you are (as long as you have a data plan or internet connection), you can pull up your files.

October: Automate Pleadings and More Complex Documents

It’s time to take the next step with our document assembly project that we started in July. Hopefully, at this point, you’ve dipped your toes in the waters of doc automation with your engagement letter and are happily and efficiently onboarding clients.

Now it’s time to really ratchet up your efficiencies! Make a list of the top 10 documents your law firm creates on a regular basis and convert those into document templates.

Spend some time learning what Microsoft Word can do with mail merge fields, such as if-then-else logic, prompting for questions, and special formatting. You will be amazed. You can switch pronouns based on gender, swap paragraphs out based on conditions, and significantly reduce the errors as well as time in document production.

November: Realize it’s Okay to Still Use Some Paper

Not everything need be digitized. Even the most paperless of law firms still use paper. Paper is still great for note-taking. For me, no stylus and tablet can reproduce the beautiful tactile experience of writing with my favorite pen. And handwritten notes are still special, even more so in our noisy, social media-infected world.

December: Reflect on Success, Plan Improvements for 2020

Congratulations! You did it! It took twelve months, but you took it nice and slow, and now you don’t have to spend 15 minutes looking for files. You can view them from anywhere you are. You can work from home more. You have more time on your hands because creating documents takes a single click. And you’re collecting more money than ever because of your conversion to electronic payments.

Our work is not done here. Now that you’ve got the fundamentals down, it’s time to scout for more inefficiencies in your processes. What can you do better? How can you run an even better firm for 2020?

The post How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan appeared first on Law Technology Today.

from http://bit.ly/2sOvfmE

[taleshalance4]

How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan

Was Lao Tzu thinking of law offices in the 21st century when he wrote, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” in the 6th century B.C.? 

Without question. There’s a reason the e-book, The Paperless Law Office, is the most popular one my team has ever produced: Lawyers understand the criticality of ditching physical files, but a lot of times they get hung up how to start what seems like a herculean task.

For those struggling with going paperless, let 2019 be different. If you follow this month-by-month advice and take it step-by-step, by the end of the year you’ll be set up for success going forward.

January: Commit to Starting Slowly and Chipping Away

Do you want to go paperless? Commit to it, and realize that after this 12-month plan is over, your office will operate with a lot less stress and waste. According to legal technology speaker Bryan Sims on a recent episode of the 10-Minute Law Firm Podcast, going paperless is the single most important thing you can do to run a more efficient law practice.

So this month make a commitment: You will chip away at going paperless step by step. You will approach the project with grit and determination, never getting knocked off track by setbacks.

You will overcome resistant employees, removing them from their roles if need be, because you deserve a more profitable and stress-free enterprise.

February: Determine Your Process

We’re taking things nice and slow, so before we rush headlong into purchasing bunch of expensive technology, we must first sketch out a process.

Specifically, you need to define how you will handle two situations: first, how you will handle internally created documents and second, how to handle externally created documents. For more information and to get some ideas, watch this recording of a webinar we did with Sims last year.

Once you define this process, create a checklist that your staff must follow. Discipline is key here: everyone must follow the same steps or chaos will ensue.

March: Establish Naming and Filing Conventions

As part of your process review, you and your team might get hung up how to name something and where to put it. This may or may not come as a shock, but these sorts of discussions can become quite passionate.

For this reason, I recommend defining your overall folder structure and file naming conventions separately from your overall paperless workflow. It will build momentum and make things simpler.

For suggestions, or better yet a or a complete playbook on how to name your files and structure folders, a guide created by paperless lawyer Andrew Kucera can help you.

April: Get Desktop Scanners

It’s time to make the plunge and buy hardware. And the best move is to get desktop scanners and put them on everyone’s desks. It doesn’t make sense to have one central garbage can in your office, does it? So it doesn’t make sense to have one central scanning resource either.

You are a document professional, so get the best document tools. Do not get multi-function devices, such as printer/copier/scanner/fax machines. These devices compromise functionality since they support so many tasks.

I share the opinion of many legal tech experts that the best solution for desktop scanners is the Fujitsu ScanSnap ix500. For approximately $400 (at the time this article was written) these machines come with PDF creation software, process 25 double-sided pages per minute, and perform all sorts of wonderful tasks.

May: Choose Online File Storage Provide

I recommend choosing an online storage provider that syncs automatically with your desktop or laptop and am a big fan of Google Drive. I already use Gmail, Google Calendar, other G Suite tools, and Google Drive plays really well with them.

I recommend smaller law firms look at specialized document storage tool like Dropbox, Box, iCloud, or OneDrive. Larger organizations might want to stick to NetDocuments, Box, or Google Drive.

Now stop and smell the roses! Summer is coming, and at this point, you’re pretty paperless: you’re scanning documents, have processes defined, have consistent file and folder conventions, and you’re backing your documents up securely. Nice work!

June: Automate Your Billing and Collections

One of the biggest forms of waste in a law firm is sending out paperless bills and waiting for checks. This onerous process requires many people-hours, is a slow way to collect revenue, and is out of step with how many modern clients want to pay.

Furthermore, you end up collecting a much higher percentage of your invoices with electronic billing, which more than compensates for credit card fees.

Instead of printing, folding, stuffing, stamping, addressing, and sending invoices, with paperless billing you click a button and invoices are emailed out to clients. They can then pay online with debit or credit cards and you have your money the next day.

To learn how to embrace paperless billing, this e-book can get you started.

July: Automate Simple Documents with Document Assembly!

Consider the humble engagement letter: imagine if you could collect information about a new client during your intake process and then instantly generate a document.

Document assembly allows you to click a button and create a document from fields you’ve saved in a database. It scares attorneys, especially ones who are not very technically-savvy, but the reality is it’s not too tough to do and the benefits are amazing.

July is usually one of the slower months for law firms, so use it to expand your knowledge and add this critical skill to your toolset.

There are many ways to start – you are probably already using Microsoft Word, so learning about Mail Merge fields will help you get started. This is how Rocket Matter’s and other practice management software document assembly tools work.

There are also more powerful tools such as HotDocs, which are better suited for more complicated document production.

August: Use Summer Slowdown to Scan Backlog

You have a decision to make: do you want to scan all of your documents or just your active cases? Personally, I’m lazy. I prefer to scan only the active stuff I’m working on.

That said, there is a lot to catch up on even if you’re only scanning your active files. It’s best to approach this task little by little, and start doing it gradually throughout the year. But when August hits and business slows, take advantage of the downtime to really make a dent in your scanning backlog.

September: Embrace Mobile Paperless Tools

If you haven’t done so already, start taking advantage of the tools you can use on the digital Swiss Army Knives we carry with us at all times: smartphones and tablets.

Smartphones allow for scanning-on-the go functionality. The cameras in the latest models are incredible, and perfect for getting a document quickly into your system.

iAnnotate makes it possible for you to write on PDFs using a tablet—this is just one of many PDF tools you can find for markup. And the online document storage tools you implemented in May pay dividends: no matter where you are (as long as you have a data plan or internet connection), you can pull up your files.

October: Automate Pleadings and More Complex Documents

It’s time to take the next step with our document assembly project that we started in July. Hopefully, at this point, you’ve dipped your toes in the waters of doc automation with your engagement letter and are happily and efficiently onboarding clients.

Now it’s time to really ratchet up your efficiencies! Make a list of the top 10 documents your law firm creates on a regular basis and convert those into document templates.

Spend some time learning what Microsoft Word can do with mail merge fields, such as if-then-else logic, prompting for questions, and special formatting. You will be amazed. You can switch pronouns based on gender, swap paragraphs out based on conditions, and significantly reduce the errors as well as time in document production.

November: Realize it’s Okay to Still Use Some Paper

Not everything need be digitized. Even the most paperless of law firms still use paper. Paper is still great for note-taking. For me, no stylus and tablet can reproduce the beautiful tactile experience of writing with my favorite pen. And handwritten notes are still special, even more so in our noisy, social media-infected world.

December: Reflect on Success, Plan Improvements for 2020

Congratulations! You did it! It took twelve months, but you took it nice and slow, and now you don’t have to spend 15 minutes looking for files. You can view them from anywhere you are. You can work from home more. You have more time on your hands because creating documents takes a single click. And you’re collecting more money than ever because of your conversion to electronic payments.

Our work is not done here. Now that you’ve got the fundamentals down, it’s time to scout for more inefficiencies in your processes. What can you do better? How can you run an even better firm for 2020?

The post How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan appeared first on Law Technology Today.

from http://bit.ly/2CMTuWT from https://eliaandponto1.tumblr.com/post/182395230137

[eliaandponto1]

How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan

Was Lao Tzu thinking of law offices in the 21st century when he wrote, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” in the 6th century B.C.? 

Without question. There’s a reason the e-book, The Paperless Law Office, is the most popular one my team has ever produced: Lawyers understand the criticality of ditching physical files, but a lot of times they get hung up how to start what seems like a herculean task.

For those struggling with going paperless, let 2019 be different. If you follow this month-by-month advice and take it step-by-step, by the end of the year you’ll be set up for success going forward.

January: Commit to Starting Slowly and Chipping Away

Do you want to go paperless? Commit to it, and realize that after this 12-month plan is over, your office will operate with a lot less stress and waste. According to legal technology speaker Bryan Sims on a recent episode of the 10-Minute Law Firm Podcast, going paperless is the single most important thing you can do to run a more efficient law practice.

So this month make a commitment: You will chip away at going paperless step by step. You will approach the project with grit and determination, never getting knocked off track by setbacks.

You will overcome resistant employees, removing them from their roles if need be, because you deserve a more profitable and stress-free enterprise.

February: Determine Your Process

We’re taking things nice and slow, so before we rush headlong into purchasing bunch of expensive technology, we must first sketch out a process.

Specifically, you need to define how you will handle two situations: first, how you will handle internally created documents and second, how to handle externally created documents. For more information and to get some ideas, watch this recording of a webinar we did with Sims last year.

Once you define this process, create a checklist that your staff must follow. Discipline is key here: everyone must follow the same steps or chaos will ensue.

March: Establish Naming and Filing Conventions

As part of your process review, you and your team might get hung up how to name something and where to put it. This may or may not come as a shock, but these sorts of discussions can become quite passionate.

For this reason, I recommend defining your overall folder structure and file naming conventions separately from your overall paperless workflow. It will build momentum and make things simpler.

For suggestions, or better yet a or a complete playbook on how to name your files and structure folders, a guide created by paperless lawyer Andrew Kucera can help you.

April: Get Desktop Scanners

It’s time to make the plunge and buy hardware. And the best move is to get desktop scanners and put them on everyone’s desks. It doesn’t make sense to have one central garbage can in your office, does it? So it doesn’t make sense to have one central scanning resource either.

You are a document professional, so get the best document tools. Do not get multi-function devices, such as printer/copier/scanner/fax machines. These devices compromise functionality since they support so many tasks.

I share the opinion of many legal tech experts that the best solution for desktop scanners is the Fujitsu ScanSnap ix500. For approximately $400 (at the time this article was written) these machines come with PDF creation software, process 25 double-sided pages per minute, and perform all sorts of wonderful tasks.

May: Choose Online File Storage Provide

I recommend choosing an online storage provider that syncs automatically with your desktop or laptop and am a big fan of Google Drive. I already use Gmail, Google Calendar, other G Suite tools, and Google Drive plays really well with them.

I recommend smaller law firms look at specialized document storage tool like Dropbox, Box, iCloud, or OneDrive. Larger organizations might want to stick to NetDocuments, Box, or Google Drive.

Now stop and smell the roses! Summer is coming, and at this point, you’re pretty paperless: you’re scanning documents, have processes defined, have consistent file and folder conventions, and you’re backing your documents up securely. Nice work!

June: Automate Your Billing and Collections

One of the biggest forms of waste in a law firm is sending out paperless bills and waiting for checks. This onerous process requires many people-hours, is a slow way to collect revenue, and is out of step with how many modern clients want to pay.

Furthermore, you end up collecting a much higher percentage of your invoices with electronic billing, which more than compensates for credit card fees.

Instead of printing, folding, stuffing, stamping, addressing, and sending invoices, with paperless billing you click a button and invoices are emailed out to clients. They can then pay online with debit or credit cards and you have your money the next day.

To learn how to embrace paperless billing, this e-book can get you started.

July: Automate Simple Documents with Document Assembly!

Consider the humble engagement letter: imagine if you could collect information about a new client during your intake process and then instantly generate a document.

Document assembly allows you to click a button and create a document from fields you’ve saved in a database. It scares attorneys, especially ones who are not very technically-savvy, but the reality is it’s not too tough to do and the benefits are amazing.

July is usually one of the slower months for law firms, so use it to expand your knowledge and add this critical skill to your toolset.

There are many ways to start – you are probably already using Microsoft Word, so learning about Mail Merge fields will help you get started. This is how Rocket Matter’s and other practice management software document assembly tools work.

There are also more powerful tools such as HotDocs, which are better suited for more complicated document production.

August: Use Summer Slowdown to Scan Backlog

You have a decision to make: do you want to scan all of your documents or just your active cases? Personally, I’m lazy. I prefer to scan only the active stuff I’m working on.

That said, there is a lot to catch up on even if you’re only scanning your active files. It’s best to approach this task little by little, and start doing it gradually throughout the year. But when August hits and business slows, take advantage of the downtime to really make a dent in your scanning backlog.

September: Embrace Mobile Paperless Tools

If you haven’t done so already, start taking advantage of the tools you can use on the digital Swiss Army Knives we carry with us at all times: smartphones and tablets.

Smartphones allow for scanning-on-the go functionality. The cameras in the latest models are incredible, and perfect for getting a document quickly into your system.

iAnnotate makes it possible for you to write on PDFs using a tablet—this is just one of many PDF tools you can find for markup. And the online document storage tools you implemented in May pay dividends: no matter where you are (as long as you have a data plan or internet connection), you can pull up your files.

October: Automate Pleadings and More Complex Documents

It’s time to take the next step with our document assembly project that we started in July. Hopefully, at this point, you’ve dipped your toes in the waters of doc automation with your engagement letter and are happily and efficiently onboarding clients.

Now it’s time to really ratchet up your efficiencies! Make a list of the top 10 documents your law firm creates on a regular basis and convert those into document templates.

Spend some time learning what Microsoft Word can do with mail merge fields, such as if-then-else logic, prompting for questions, and special formatting. You will be amazed. You can switch pronouns based on gender, swap paragraphs out based on conditions, and significantly reduce the errors as well as time in document production.

November: Realize it’s Okay to Still Use Some Paper

Not everything need be digitized. Even the most paperless of law firms still use paper. Paper is still great for note-taking. For me, no stylus and tablet can reproduce the beautiful tactile experience of writing with my favorite pen. And handwritten notes are still special, even more so in our noisy, social media-infected world.

December: Reflect on Success, Plan Improvements for 2020

Congratulations! You did it! It took twelve months, but you took it nice and slow, and now you don’t have to spend 15 minutes looking for files. You can view them from anywhere you are. You can work from home more. You have more time on your hands because creating documents takes a single click. And you’re collecting more money than ever because of your conversion to electronic payments.

Our work is not done here. Now that you’ve got the fundamentals down, it’s time to scout for more inefficiencies in your processes. What can you do better? How can you run an even better firm for 2020?

The post How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan appeared first on Law Technology Today.

from http://bit.ly/2CMTuWT

[taleshalance4]

How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan

Was Lao Tzu thinking of law offices in the 21st century when he wrote, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” in the 6th century B.C.? 

Without question. There’s a reason the e-book, The Paperless Law Office, is the most popular one my team has ever produced: Lawyers understand the criticality of ditching physical files, but a lot of times they get hung up how to start what seems like a herculean task.

For those struggling with going paperless, let 2019 be different. If you follow this month-by-month advice and take it step-by-step, by the end of the year you’ll be set up for success going forward.

January: Commit to Starting Slowly and Chipping Away

Do you want to go paperless? Commit to it, and realize that after this 12-month plan is over, your office will operate with a lot less stress and waste. According to legal technology speaker Bryan Sims on a recent episode of the 10-Minute Law Firm Podcast, going paperless is the single most important thing you can do to run a more efficient law practice.

So this month make a commitment: You will chip away at going paperless step by step. You will approach the project with grit and determination, never getting knocked off track by setbacks.

You will overcome resistant employees, removing them from their roles if need be, because you deserve a more profitable and stress-free enterprise.

February: Determine Your Process

We’re taking things nice and slow, so before we rush headlong into purchasing bunch of expensive technology, we must first sketch out a process.

Specifically, you need to define how you will handle two situations: first, how you will handle internally created documents and second, how to handle externally created documents. For more information and to get some ideas, watch this recording of a webinar we did with Sims last year.

Once you define this process, create a checklist that your staff must follow. Discipline is key here: everyone must follow the same steps or chaos will ensue.

March: Establish Naming and Filing Conventions

As part of your process review, you and your team might get hung up how to name something and where to put it. This may or may not come as a shock, but these sorts of discussions can become quite passionate.

For this reason, I recommend defining your overall folder structure and file naming conventions separately from your overall paperless workflow. It will build momentum and make things simpler.

For suggestions, or better yet a or a complete playbook on how to name your files and structure folders, a guide created by paperless lawyer Andrew Kucera can help you.

April: Get Desktop Scanners

It’s time to make the plunge and buy hardware. And the best move is to get desktop scanners and put them on everyone’s desks. It doesn’t make sense to have one central garbage can in your office, does it? So it doesn’t make sense to have one central scanning resource either.

You are a document professional, so get the best document tools. Do not get multi-function devices, such as printer/copier/scanner/fax machines. These devices compromise functionality since they support so many tasks.

I share the opinion of many legal tech experts that the best solution for desktop scanners is the Fujitsu ScanSnap ix500. For approximately $400 (at the time this article was written) these machines come with PDF creation software, process 25 double-sided pages per minute, and perform all sorts of wonderful tasks.

May: Choose Online File Storage Provide

I recommend choosing an online storage provider that syncs automatically with your desktop or laptop and am a big fan of Google Drive. I already use Gmail, Google Calendar, other G Suite tools, and Google Drive plays really well with them.

I recommend smaller law firms look at specialized document storage tool like Dropbox, Box, iCloud, or OneDrive. Larger organizations might want to stick to NetDocuments, Box, or Google Drive.

Now stop and smell the roses! Summer is coming, and at this point, you’re pretty paperless: you’re scanning documents, have processes defined, have consistent file and folder conventions, and you’re backing your documents up securely. Nice work!

June: Automate Your Billing and Collections

One of the biggest forms of waste in a law firm is sending out paperless bills and waiting for checks. This onerous process requires many people-hours, is a slow way to collect revenue, and is out of step with how many modern clients want to pay.

Furthermore, you end up collecting a much higher percentage of your invoices with electronic billing, which more than compensates for credit card fees.

Instead of printing, folding, stuffing, stamping, addressing, and sending invoices, with paperless billing you click a button and invoices are emailed out to clients. They can then pay online with debit or credit cards and you have your money the next day.

To learn how to embrace paperless billing, this e-book can get you started.

July: Automate Simple Documents with Document Assembly!

Consider the humble engagement letter: imagine if you could collect information about a new client during your intake process and then instantly generate a document.

Document assembly allows you to click a button and create a document from fields you’ve saved in a database. It scares attorneys, especially ones who are not very technically-savvy, but the reality is it’s not too tough to do and the benefits are amazing.

July is usually one of the slower months for law firms, so use it to expand your knowledge and add this critical skill to your toolset.

There are many ways to start – you are probably already using Microsoft Word, so learning about Mail Merge fields will help you get started. This is how Rocket Matter’s and other practice management software document assembly tools work.

There are also more powerful tools such as HotDocs, which are better suited for more complicated document production.

August: Use Summer Slowdown to Scan Backlog

You have a decision to make: do you want to scan all of your documents or just your active cases? Personally, I’m lazy. I prefer to scan only the active stuff I’m working on.

That said, there is a lot to catch up on even if you’re only scanning your active files. It’s best to approach this task little by little, and start doing it gradually throughout the year. But when August hits and business slows, take advantage of the downtime to really make a dent in your scanning backlog.

September: Embrace Mobile Paperless Tools

If you haven’t done so already, start taking advantage of the tools you can use on the digital Swiss Army Knives we carry with us at all times: smartphones and tablets.

Smartphones allow for scanning-on-the go functionality. The cameras in the latest models are incredible, and perfect for getting a document quickly into your system.

iAnnotate makes it possible for you to write on PDFs using a tablet—this is just one of many PDF tools you can find for markup. And the online document storage tools you implemented in May pay dividends: no matter where you are (as long as you have a data plan or internet connection), you can pull up your files.

October: Automate Pleadings and More Complex Documents

It’s time to take the next step with our document assembly project that we started in July. Hopefully, at this point, you’ve dipped your toes in the waters of doc automation with your engagement letter and are happily and efficiently onboarding clients.

Now it’s time to really ratchet up your efficiencies! Make a list of the top 10 documents your law firm creates on a regular basis and convert those into document templates.

Spend some time learning what Microsoft Word can do with mail merge fields, such as if-then-else logic, prompting for questions, and special formatting. You will be amazed. You can switch pronouns based on gender, swap paragraphs out based on conditions, and significantly reduce the errors as well as time in document production.

November: Realize it’s Okay to Still Use Some Paper

Not everything need be digitized. Even the most paperless of law firms still use paper. Paper is still great for note-taking. For me, no stylus and tablet can reproduce the beautiful tactile experience of writing with my favorite pen. And handwritten notes are still special, even more so in our noisy, social media-infected world.

December: Reflect on Success, Plan Improvements for 2020

Congratulations! You did it! It took twelve months, but you took it nice and slow, and now you don’t have to spend 15 minutes looking for files. You can view them from anywhere you are. You can work from home more. You have more time on your hands because creating documents takes a single click. And you’re collecting more money than ever because of your conversion to electronic payments.

Our work is not done here. Now that you’ve got the fundamentals down, it’s time to scout for more inefficiencies in your processes. What can you do better? How can you run an even better firm for 2020?

The post How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan appeared first on Law Technology Today.

from http://bit.ly/2sOvfmE from https://eliaandponto1.tumblr.com/post/182372647437

[eliaandponto1]

How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan

Was Lao Tzu thinking of law offices in the 21st century when he wrote, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” in the 6th century B.C.? 

Without question. There’s a reason the e-book, The Paperless Law Office, is the most popular one my team has ever produced: Lawyers understand the criticality of ditching physical files, but a lot of times they get hung up how to start what seems like a herculean task.

For those struggling with going paperless, let 2019 be different. If you follow this month-by-month advice and take it step-by-step, by the end of the year you’ll be set up for success going forward.

January: Commit to Starting Slowly and Chipping Away

Do you want to go paperless? Commit to it, and realize that after this 12-month plan is over, your office will operate with a lot less stress and waste. According to legal technology speaker Bryan Sims on a recent episode of the 10-Minute Law Firm Podcast, going paperless is the single most important thing you can do to run a more efficient law practice.

So this month make a commitment: You will chip away at going paperless step by step. You will approach the project with grit and determination, never getting knocked off track by setbacks.

You will overcome resistant employees, removing them from their roles if need be, because you deserve a more profitable and stress-free enterprise.

February: Determine Your Process

We’re taking things nice and slow, so before we rush headlong into purchasing bunch of expensive technology, we must first sketch out a process.

Specifically, you need to define how you will handle two situations: first, how you will handle internally created documents and second, how to handle externally created documents. For more information and to get some ideas, watch this recording of a webinar we did with Sims last year.

Once you define this process, create a checklist that your staff must follow. Discipline is key here: everyone must follow the same steps or chaos will ensue.

March: Establish Naming and Filing Conventions

As part of your process review, you and your team might get hung up how to name something and where to put it. This may or may not come as a shock, but these sorts of discussions can become quite passionate.

For this reason, I recommend defining your overall folder structure and file naming conventions separately from your overall paperless workflow. It will build momentum and make things simpler.

For suggestions, or better yet a or a complete playbook on how to name your files and structure folders, a guide created by paperless lawyer Andrew Kucera can help you.

April: Get Desktop Scanners

It’s time to make the plunge and buy hardware. And the best move is to get desktop scanners and put them on everyone’s desks. It doesn’t make sense to have one central garbage can in your office, does it? So it doesn’t make sense to have one central scanning resource either.

You are a document professional, so get the best document tools. Do not get multi-function devices, such as printer/copier/scanner/fax machines. These devices compromise functionality since they support so many tasks.

I share the opinion of many legal tech experts that the best solution for desktop scanners is the Fujitsu ScanSnap ix500. For approximately $400 (at the time this article was written) these machines come with PDF creation software, process 25 double-sided pages per minute, and perform all sorts of wonderful tasks.

May: Choose Online File Storage Provide

I recommend choosing an online storage provider that syncs automatically with your desktop or laptop and am a big fan of Google Drive. I already use Gmail, Google Calendar, other G Suite tools, and Google Drive plays really well with them.

I recommend smaller law firms look at specialized document storage tool like Dropbox, Box, iCloud, or OneDrive. Larger organizations might want to stick to NetDocuments, Box, or Google Drive.

Now stop and smell the roses! Summer is coming, and at this point, you’re pretty paperless: you’re scanning documents, have processes defined, have consistent file and folder conventions, and you’re backing your documents up securely. Nice work!

June: Automate Your Billing and Collections

One of the biggest forms of waste in a law firm is sending out paperless bills and waiting for checks. This onerous process requires many people-hours, is a slow way to collect revenue, and is out of step with how many modern clients want to pay.

Furthermore, you end up collecting a much higher percentage of your invoices with electronic billing, which more than compensates for credit card fees.

Instead of printing, folding, stuffing, stamping, addressing, and sending invoices, with paperless billing you click a button and invoices are emailed out to clients. They can then pay online with debit or credit cards and you have your money the next day.

To learn how to embrace paperless billing, this e-book can get you started.

July: Automate Simple Documents with Document Assembly!

Consider the humble engagement letter: imagine if you could collect information about a new client during your intake process and then instantly generate a document.

Document assembly allows you to click a button and create a document from fields you’ve saved in a database. It scares attorneys, especially ones who are not very technically-savvy, but the reality is it’s not too tough to do and the benefits are amazing.

July is usually one of the slower months for law firms, so use it to expand your knowledge and add this critical skill to your toolset.

There are many ways to start – you are probably already using Microsoft Word, so learning about Mail Merge fields will help you get started. This is how Rocket Matter’s and other practice management software document assembly tools work.

There are also more powerful tools such as HotDocs, which are better suited for more complicated document production.

August: Use Summer Slowdown to Scan Backlog

You have a decision to make: do you want to scan all of your documents or just your active cases? Personally, I’m lazy. I prefer to scan only the active stuff I’m working on.

That said, there is a lot to catch up on even if you’re only scanning your active files. It’s best to approach this task little by little, and start doing it gradually throughout the year. But when August hits and business slows, take advantage of the downtime to really make a dent in your scanning backlog.

September: Embrace Mobile Paperless Tools

If you haven’t done so already, start taking advantage of the tools you can use on the digital Swiss Army Knives we carry with us at all times: smartphones and tablets.

Smartphones allow for scanning-on-the go functionality. The cameras in the latest models are incredible, and perfect for getting a document quickly into your system.

iAnnotate makes it possible for you to write on PDFs using a tablet—this is just one of many PDF tools you can find for markup. And the online document storage tools you implemented in May pay dividends: no matter where you are (as long as you have a data plan or internet connection), you can pull up your files.

October: Automate Pleadings and More Complex Documents

It’s time to take the next step with our document assembly project that we started in July. Hopefully, at this point, you’ve dipped your toes in the waters of doc automation with your engagement letter and are happily and efficiently onboarding clients.

Now it’s time to really ratchet up your efficiencies! Make a list of the top 10 documents your law firm creates on a regular basis and convert those into document templates.

Spend some time learning what Microsoft Word can do with mail merge fields, such as if-then-else logic, prompting for questions, and special formatting. You will be amazed. You can switch pronouns based on gender, swap paragraphs out based on conditions, and significantly reduce the errors as well as time in document production.

November: Realize it’s Okay to Still Use Some Paper

Not everything need be digitized. Even the most paperless of law firms still use paper. Paper is still great for note-taking. For me, no stylus and tablet can reproduce the beautiful tactile experience of writing with my favorite pen. And handwritten notes are still special, even more so in our noisy, social media-infected world.

December: Reflect on Success, Plan Improvements for 2020

Congratulations! You did it! It took twelve months, but you took it nice and slow, and now you don’t have to spend 15 minutes looking for files. You can view them from anywhere you are. You can work from home more. You have more time on your hands because creating documents takes a single click. And you’re collecting more money than ever because of your conversion to electronic payments.

Our work is not done here. Now that you’ve got the fundamentals down, it’s time to scout for more inefficiencies in your processes. What can you do better? How can you run an even better firm for 2020?

The post How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan appeared first on Law Technology Today.

from http://bit.ly/2sOvfmE

[taleshalance4]

How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan

Was Lao Tzu thinking of law offices in the 21st century when he wrote, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” in the 6th century B.C.? 

Without question. There’s a reason the e-book, The Paperless Law Office, is the most popular one my team has ever produced: Lawyers understand the criticality of ditching physical files, but a lot of times they get hung up how to start what seems like a herculean task.

For those struggling with going paperless, let 2019 be different. If you follow this month-by-month advice and take it step-by-step, by the end of the year you’ll be set up for success going forward.

January: Commit to Starting Slowly and Chipping Away

Do you want to go paperless? Commit to it, and realize that after this 12-month plan is over, your office will operate with a lot less stress and waste. According to legal technology speaker Bryan Sims on a recent episode of the 10-Minute Law Firm Podcast, going paperless is the single most important thing you can do to run a more efficient law practice.

So this month make a commitment: You will chip away at going paperless step by step. You will approach the project with grit and determination, never getting knocked off track by setbacks.

You will overcome resistant employees, removing them from their roles if need be, because you deserve a more profitable and stress-free enterprise.

February: Determine Your Process

We’re taking things nice and slow, so before we rush headlong into purchasing bunch of expensive technology, we must first sketch out a process.

Specifically, you need to define how you will handle two situations: first, how you will handle internally created documents and second, how to handle externally created documents. For more information and to get some ideas, watch this recording of a webinar we did with Sims last year.

Once you define this process, create a checklist that your staff must follow. Discipline is key here: everyone must follow the same steps or chaos will ensue.

March: Establish Naming and Filing Conventions

As part of your process review, you and your team might get hung up how to name something and where to put it. This may or may not come as a shock, but these sorts of discussions can become quite passionate.

For this reason, I recommend defining your overall folder structure and file naming conventions separately from your overall paperless workflow. It will build momentum and make things simpler.

For suggestions, or better yet a or a complete playbook on how to name your files and structure folders, a guide created by paperless lawyer Andrew Kucera can help you.

April: Get Desktop Scanners

It’s time to make the plunge and buy hardware. And the best move is to get desktop scanners and put them on everyone’s desks. It doesn’t make sense to have one central garbage can in your office, does it? So it doesn’t make sense to have one central scanning resource either.

You are a document professional, so get the best document tools. Do not get multi-function devices, such as printer/copier/scanner/fax machines. These devices compromise functionality since they support so many tasks.

I share the opinion of many legal tech experts that the best solution for desktop scanners is the Fujitsu ScanSnap ix500. For approximately $400 (at the time this article was written) these machines come with PDF creation software, process 25 double-sided pages per minute, and perform all sorts of wonderful tasks.

May: Choose Online File Storage Provide

I recommend choosing an online storage provider that syncs automatically with your desktop or laptop and am a big fan of Google Drive. I already use Gmail, Google Calendar, other G Suite tools, and Google Drive plays really well with them.

I recommend smaller law firms look at specialized document storage tool like Dropbox, Box, iCloud, or OneDrive. Larger organizations might want to stick to NetDocuments, Box, or Google Drive.

Now stop and smell the roses! Summer is coming, and at this point, you’re pretty paperless: you’re scanning documents, have processes defined, have consistent file and folder conventions, and you’re backing your documents up securely. Nice work!

June: Automate Your Billing and Collections

One of the biggest forms of waste in a law firm is sending out paperless bills and waiting for checks. This onerous process requires many people-hours, is a slow way to collect revenue, and is out of step with how many modern clients want to pay.

Furthermore, you end up collecting a much higher percentage of your invoices with electronic billing, which more than compensates for credit card fees.

Instead of printing, folding, stuffing, stamping, addressing, and sending invoices, with paperless billing you click a button and invoices are emailed out to clients. They can then pay online with debit or credit cards and you have your money the next day.

To learn how to embrace paperless billing, this e-book can get you started.

July: Automate Simple Documents with Document Assembly!

Consider the humble engagement letter: imagine if you could collect information about a new client during your intake process and then instantly generate a document.

Document assembly allows you to click a button and create a document from fields you’ve saved in a database. It scares attorneys, especially ones who are not very technically-savvy, but the reality is it’s not too tough to do and the benefits are amazing.

July is usually one of the slower months for law firms, so use it to expand your knowledge and add this critical skill to your toolset.

There are many ways to start – you are probably already using Microsoft Word, so learning about Mail Merge fields will help you get started. This is how Rocket Matter’s and other practice management software document assembly tools work.

There are also more powerful tools such as HotDocs, which are better suited for more complicated document production.

August: Use Summer Slowdown to Scan Backlog

You have a decision to make: do you want to scan all of your documents or just your active cases? Personally, I’m lazy. I prefer to scan only the active stuff I’m working on.

That said, there is a lot to catch up on even if you’re only scanning your active files. It’s best to approach this task little by little, and start doing it gradually throughout the year. But when August hits and business slows, take advantage of the downtime to really make a dent in your scanning backlog.

September: Embrace Mobile Paperless Tools

If you haven’t done so already, start taking advantage of the tools you can use on the digital Swiss Army Knives we carry with us at all times: smartphones and tablets.

Smartphones allow for scanning-on-the go functionality. The cameras in the latest models are incredible, and perfect for getting a document quickly into your system.

iAnnotate makes it possible for you to write on PDFs using a tablet—this is just one of many PDF tools you can find for markup. And the online document storage tools you implemented in May pay dividends: no matter where you are (as long as you have a data plan or internet connection), you can pull up your files.

October: Automate Pleadings and More Complex Documents

It’s time to take the next step with our document assembly project that we started in July. Hopefully, at this point, you’ve dipped your toes in the waters of doc automation with your engagement letter and are happily and efficiently onboarding clients.

Now it’s time to really ratchet up your efficiencies! Make a list of the top 10 documents your law firm creates on a regular basis and convert those into document templates.

Spend some time learning what Microsoft Word can do with mail merge fields, such as if-then-else logic, prompting for questions, and special formatting. You will be amazed. You can switch pronouns based on gender, swap paragraphs out based on conditions, and significantly reduce the errors as well as time in document production.

November: Realize it’s Okay to Still Use Some Paper

Not everything need be digitized. Even the most paperless of law firms still use paper. Paper is still great for note-taking. For me, no stylus and tablet can reproduce the beautiful tactile experience of writing with my favorite pen. And handwritten notes are still special, even more so in our noisy, social media-infected world.

December: Reflect on Success, Plan Improvements for 2020

Congratulations! You did it! It took twelve months, but you took it nice and slow, and now you don’t have to spend 15 minutes looking for files. You can view them from anywhere you are. You can work from home more. You have more time on your hands because creating documents takes a single click. And you’re collecting more money than ever because of your conversion to electronic payments.

Our work is not done here. Now that you’ve got the fundamentals down, it’s time to scout for more inefficiencies in your processes. What can you do better? How can you run an even better firm for 2020?

The post How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan appeared first on Law Technology Today.

from http://bit.ly/2sOvfmE from https://eliaandponto1.tumblr.com/post/182335479567

[eliaandponto1]

How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan

Was Lao Tzu thinking of law offices in the 21st century when he wrote, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” in the 6th century B.C.? 

Without question. There’s a reason the e-book, The Paperless Law Office, is the most popular one my team has ever produced: Lawyers understand the criticality of ditching physical files, but a lot of times they get hung up how to start what seems like a herculean task.

For those struggling with going paperless, let 2019 be different. If you follow this month-by-month advice and take it step-by-step, by the end of the year you’ll be set up for success going forward.

January: Commit to Starting Slowly and Chipping Away

Do you want to go paperless? Commit to it, and realize that after this 12-month plan is over, your office will operate with a lot less stress and waste. According to legal technology speaker Bryan Sims on a recent episode of the 10-Minute Law Firm Podcast, going paperless is the single most important thing you can do to run a more efficient law practice.

So this month make a commitment: You will chip away at going paperless step by step. You will approach the project with grit and determination, never getting knocked off track by setbacks.

You will overcome resistant employees, removing them from their roles if need be, because you deserve a more profitable and stress-free enterprise.

February: Determine Your Process

We’re taking things nice and slow, so before we rush headlong into purchasing bunch of expensive technology, we must first sketch out a process.

Specifically, you need to define how you will handle two situations: first, how you will handle internally created documents and second, how to handle externally created documents. For more information and to get some ideas, watch this recording of a webinar we did with Sims last year.

Once you define this process, create a checklist that your staff must follow. Discipline is key here: everyone must follow the same steps or chaos will ensue.

March: Establish Naming and Filing Conventions

As part of your process review, you and your team might get hung up how to name something and where to put it. This may or may not come as a shock, but these sorts of discussions can become quite passionate.

For this reason, I recommend defining your overall folder structure and file naming conventions separately from your overall paperless workflow. It will build momentum and make things simpler.

For suggestions, or better yet a or a complete playbook on how to name your files and structure folders, a guide created by paperless lawyer Andrew Kucera can help you.

April: Get Desktop Scanners

It’s time to make the plunge and buy hardware. And the best move is to get desktop scanners and put them on everyone’s desks. It doesn’t make sense to have one central garbage can in your office, does it? So it doesn’t make sense to have one central scanning resource either.

You are a document professional, so get the best document tools. Do not get multi-function devices, such as printer/copier/scanner/fax machines. These devices compromise functionality since they support so many tasks.

I share the opinion of many legal tech experts that the best solution for desktop scanners is the Fujitsu ScanSnap ix500. For approximately $400 (at the time this article was written) these machines come with PDF creation software, process 25 double-sided pages per minute, and perform all sorts of wonderful tasks.

May: Choose Online File Storage Provide

I recommend choosing an online storage provider that syncs automatically with your desktop or laptop and am a big fan of Google Drive. I already use Gmail, Google Calendar, other G Suite tools, and Google Drive plays really well with them.

I recommend smaller law firms look at specialized document storage tool like Dropbox, Box, iCloud, or OneDrive. Larger organizations might want to stick to NetDocuments, Box, or Google Drive.

Now stop and smell the roses! Summer is coming, and at this point, you’re pretty paperless: you’re scanning documents, have processes defined, have consistent file and folder conventions, and you’re backing your documents up securely. Nice work!

June: Automate Your Billing and Collections

One of the biggest forms of waste in a law firm is sending out paperless bills and waiting for checks. This onerous process requires many people-hours, is a slow way to collect revenue, and is out of step with how many modern clients want to pay.

Furthermore, you end up collecting a much higher percentage of your invoices with electronic billing, which more than compensates for credit card fees.

Instead of printing, folding, stuffing, stamping, addressing, and sending invoices, with paperless billing you click a button and invoices are emailed out to clients. They can then pay online with debit or credit cards and you have your money the next day.

To learn how to embrace paperless billing, this e-book can get you started.

July: Automate Simple Documents with Document Assembly!

Consider the humble engagement letter: imagine if you could collect information about a new client during your intake process and then instantly generate a document.

Document assembly allows you to click a button and create a document from fields you’ve saved in a database. It scares attorneys, especially ones who are not very technically-savvy, but the reality is it’s not too tough to do and the benefits are amazing.

July is usually one of the slower months for law firms, so use it to expand your knowledge and add this critical skill to your toolset.

There are many ways to start – you are probably already using Microsoft Word, so learning about Mail Merge fields will help you get started. This is how Rocket Matter’s and other practice management software document assembly tools work.

There are also more powerful tools such as HotDocs, which are better suited for more complicated document production.

August: Use Summer Slowdown to Scan Backlog

You have a decision to make: do you want to scan all of your documents or just your active cases? Personally, I’m lazy. I prefer to scan only the active stuff I’m working on.

That said, there is a lot to catch up on even if you’re only scanning your active files. It’s best to approach this task little by little, and start doing it gradually throughout the year. But when August hits and business slows, take advantage of the downtime to really make a dent in your scanning backlog.

September: Embrace Mobile Paperless Tools

If you haven’t done so already, start taking advantage of the tools you can use on the digital Swiss Army Knives we carry with us at all times: smartphones and tablets.

Smartphones allow for scanning-on-the go functionality. The cameras in the latest models are incredible, and perfect for getting a document quickly into your system.

iAnnotate makes it possible for you to write on PDFs using a tablet—this is just one of many PDF tools you can find for markup. And the online document storage tools you implemented in May pay dividends: no matter where you are (as long as you have a data plan or internet connection), you can pull up your files.

October: Automate Pleadings and More Complex Documents

It’s time to take the next step with our document assembly project that we started in July. Hopefully, at this point, you’ve dipped your toes in the waters of doc automation with your engagement letter and are happily and efficiently onboarding clients.

Now it’s time to really ratchet up your efficiencies! Make a list of the top 10 documents your law firm creates on a regular basis and convert those into document templates.

Spend some time learning what Microsoft Word can do with mail merge fields, such as if-then-else logic, prompting for questions, and special formatting. You will be amazed. You can switch pronouns based on gender, swap paragraphs out based on conditions, and significantly reduce the errors as well as time in document production.

November: Realize it’s Okay to Still Use Some Paper

Not everything need be digitized. Even the most paperless of law firms still use paper. Paper is still great for note-taking. For me, no stylus and tablet can reproduce the beautiful tactile experience of writing with my favorite pen. And handwritten notes are still special, even more so in our noisy, social media-infected world.

December: Reflect on Success, Plan Improvements for 2020

Congratulations! You did it! It took twelve months, but you took it nice and slow, and now you don’t have to spend 15 minutes looking for files. You can view them from anywhere you are. You can work from home more. You have more time on your hands because creating documents takes a single click. And you’re collecting more money than ever because of your conversion to electronic payments.

Our work is not done here. Now that you’ve got the fundamentals down, it’s time to scout for more inefficiencies in your processes. What can you do better? How can you run an even better firm for 2020?

The post How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan appeared first on Law Technology Today.

from http://bit.ly/2sOvfmE

[taleshalance4]

How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan

Was Lao Tzu thinking of law offices in the 21st century when he wrote, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” in the 6th century B.C.? 

Without question. There’s a reason the e-book, The Paperless Law Office, is the most popular one my team has ever produced: Lawyers understand the criticality of ditching physical files, but a lot of times they get hung up how to start what seems like a herculean task.

For those struggling with going paperless, let 2019 be different. If you follow this month-by-month advice and take it step-by-step, by the end of the year you’ll be set up for success going forward.

January: Commit to Starting Slowly and Chipping Away

Do you want to go paperless? Commit to it, and realize that after this 12-month plan is over, your office will operate with a lot less stress and waste. According to legal technology speaker Bryan Sims on a recent episode of the 10-Minute Law Firm Podcast, going paperless is the single most important thing you can do to run a more efficient law practice.

So this month make a commitment: You will chip away at going paperless step by step. You will approach the project with grit and determination, never getting knocked off track by setbacks.

You will overcome resistant employees, removing them from their roles if need be, because you deserve a more profitable and stress-free enterprise.

February: Determine Your Process

We’re taking things nice and slow, so before we rush headlong into purchasing bunch of expensive technology, we must first sketch out a process.

Specifically, you need to define how you will handle two situations: first, how you will handle internally created documents and second, how to handle externally created documents. For more information and to get some ideas, watch this recording of a webinar we did with Sims last year.

Once you define this process, create a checklist that your staff must follow. Discipline is key here: everyone must follow the same steps or chaos will ensue.

March: Establish Naming and Filing Conventions

As part of your process review, you and your team might get hung up how to name something and where to put it. This may or may not come as a shock, but these sorts of discussions can become quite passionate.

For this reason, I recommend defining your overall folder structure and file naming conventions separately from your overall paperless workflow. It will build momentum and make things simpler.

For suggestions, or better yet a or a complete playbook on how to name your files and structure folders, a guide created by paperless lawyer Andrew Kucera can help you.

April: Get Desktop Scanners

It’s time to make the plunge and buy hardware. And the best move is to get desktop scanners and put them on everyone’s desks. It doesn’t make sense to have one central garbage can in your office, does it? So it doesn’t make sense to have one central scanning resource either.

You are a document professional, so get the best document tools. Do not get multi-function devices, such as printer/copier/scanner/fax machines. These devices compromise functionality since they support so many tasks.

I share the opinion of many legal tech experts that the best solution for desktop scanners is the Fujitsu ScanSnap ix500. For approximately $400 (at the time this article was written) these machines come with PDF creation software, process 25 double-sided pages per minute, and perform all sorts of wonderful tasks.

May: Choose Online File Storage Provide

I recommend choosing an online storage provider that syncs automatically with your desktop or laptop and am a big fan of Google Drive. I already use Gmail, Google Calendar, other G Suite tools, and Google Drive plays really well with them.

I recommend smaller law firms look at specialized document storage tool like Dropbox, Box, iCloud, or OneDrive. Larger organizations might want to stick to NetDocuments, Box, or Google Drive.

Now stop and smell the roses! Summer is coming, and at this point, you’re pretty paperless: you’re scanning documents, have processes defined, have consistent file and folder conventions, and you’re backing your documents up securely. Nice work!

June: Automate Your Billing and Collections

One of the biggest forms of waste in a law firm is sending out paperless bills and waiting for checks. This onerous process requires many people-hours, is a slow way to collect revenue, and is out of step with how many modern clients want to pay.

Furthermore, you end up collecting a much higher percentage of your invoices with electronic billing, which more than compensates for credit card fees.

Instead of printing, folding, stuffing, stamping, addressing, and sending invoices, with paperless billing you click a button and invoices are emailed out to clients. They can then pay online with debit or credit cards and you have your money the next day.

To learn how to embrace paperless billing, this e-book can get you started.

July: Automate Simple Documents with Document Assembly!

Consider the humble engagement letter: imagine if you could collect information about a new client during your intake process and then instantly generate a document.

Document assembly allows you to click a button and create a document from fields you’ve saved in a database. It scares attorneys, especially ones who are not very technically-savvy, but the reality is it’s not too tough to do and the benefits are amazing.

July is usually one of the slower months for law firms, so use it to expand your knowledge and add this critical skill to your toolset.

There are many ways to start – you are probably already using Microsoft Word, so learning about Mail Merge fields will help you get started. This is how Rocket Matter’s and other practice management software document assembly tools work.

There are also more powerful tools such as HotDocs, which are better suited for more complicated document production.

August: Use Summer Slowdown to Scan Backlog

You have a decision to make: do you want to scan all of your documents or just your active cases? Personally, I’m lazy. I prefer to scan only the active stuff I’m working on.

That said, there is a lot to catch up on even if you’re only scanning your active files. It’s best to approach this task little by little, and start doing it gradually throughout the year. But when August hits and business slows, take advantage of the downtime to really make a dent in your scanning backlog.

September: Embrace Mobile Paperless Tools

If you haven’t done so already, start taking advantage of the tools you can use on the digital Swiss Army Knives we carry with us at all times: smartphones and tablets.

Smartphones allow for scanning-on-the go functionality. The cameras in the latest models are incredible, and perfect for getting a document quickly into your system.

iAnnotate makes it possible for you to write on PDFs using a tablet—this is just one of many PDF tools you can find for markup. And the online document storage tools you implemented in May pay dividends: no matter where you are (as long as you have a data plan or internet connection), you can pull up your files.

October: Automate Pleadings and More Complex Documents

It’s time to take the next step with our document assembly project that we started in July. Hopefully, at this point, you’ve dipped your toes in the waters of doc automation with your engagement letter and are happily and efficiently onboarding clients.

Now it’s time to really ratchet up your efficiencies! Make a list of the top 10 documents your law firm creates on a regular basis and convert those into document templates.

Spend some time learning what Microsoft Word can do with mail merge fields, such as if-then-else logic, prompting for questions, and special formatting. You will be amazed. You can switch pronouns based on gender, swap paragraphs out based on conditions, and significantly reduce the errors as well as time in document production.

November: Realize it’s Okay to Still Use Some Paper

Not everything need be digitized. Even the most paperless of law firms still use paper. Paper is still great for note-taking. For me, no stylus and tablet can reproduce the beautiful tactile experience of writing with my favorite pen. And handwritten notes are still special, even more so in our noisy, social media-infected world.

December: Reflect on Success, Plan Improvements for 2020

Congratulations! You did it! It took twelve months, but you took it nice and slow, and now you don’t have to spend 15 minutes looking for files. You can view them from anywhere you are. You can work from home more. You have more time on your hands because creating documents takes a single click. And you’re collecting more money than ever because of your conversion to electronic payments.

Our work is not done here. Now that you’ve got the fundamentals down, it’s time to scout for more inefficiencies in your processes. What can you do better? How can you run an even better firm for 2020?

The post How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan appeared first on Law Technology Today.

from http://bit.ly/2sOvfmE from https://eliaandponto1.tumblr.com/post/182324598562