Law Office Technology Overview By Joe Kashi

Effective automation is a cornerstone of any successful law practice but requires good planning and user group input. Effective automation is a cornerstone of any successful law practice but requires good planning and user group input. Dont just throw a lot of bleeding edge technology, expensive hardware and staff time at what is really a law practice management and planning issue. Dont just throw a lot of bleeding edge technology, expensive hardware and staff time at what is really a law practice management and planning issue.

Purchase only the hardware and software that you will be able to install and begin using within the next two months or so. Purchase only the hardware and software that you will be able to install and begin using within the next two months or so. Purchasing binges are inefficient. Purchasing binges are inefficient. Buy mainstream technology and avoid dead-end and bleeding edge technology Buy mainstream technology and avoid dead-end and bleeding edge technology

Store all imaged documents and electronic file on a network file server Store all imaged documents and electronic file on a network file server Be sure that you have the hardware to completely back up your network file server every evening, and be sure that you actually do it. Be sure that you have the hardware to completely back up your network file server every evening, and be sure that you actually do it. Decide what document imaging file format youll use. Avoid highly proprietary formats. Decide what document imaging file format youll use. Avoid highly proprietary formats.

Adobe Acrobats PDF format includes an archival version, the de facto standard. Adobe Acrobats PDF format includes an archival version, the de facto standard. Buy fast but still cost-effective computers, particularly for image preparation. Intel Core 2 Duo, AMD Phenom, Athlon 64 x2 Buy fast but still cost-effective computers, particularly for image preparation. Intel Core 2 Duo, AMD Phenom, Athlon 64 x2 Hard disk performance is crucial - Hitachi SATA and Western Digital Raptor drives fastest. Use Diskeeper to defragment. Hard disk performance is crucial - Hitachi SATA and Western Digital Raptor drives fastest. Use Diskeeper to defragment.

Youll need fast color laser printers if you plan to use a digital filing system. I now prefer Konica Minolta 5440, Youll need fast color laser printers if you plan to use a digital filing system. I now prefer Konica Minolta 5440, Ideally, youll be using many more color photos for all purposes, including attachments to complaints and pleadings Ideally, youll be using many more color photos for all purposes, including attachments to complaints and pleadings Combining a scanner, Adobe Acrobat, and laser printer also works well as a copier in your office. Combining a scanner, Adobe Acrobat, and laser printer also works well as a copier in your office.

Digital Dictation – Dragon Legal Digital Dictation – Dragon Legal Office Suites – Microsoft Office is basically the only game in town Office Suites – Microsoft Office is basically the only game in town Litigation Support: CaseMap, TimeMap, NoteMap, TextMap Litigation Support: CaseMap, TimeMap, NoteMap, TextMap Case Management: Pro Law, Time Matters, Amicus Case Management: Pro Law, Time Matters, Amicus

By working with the full purchased version of Acrobat 8 Professional (about $300 to $450 per copy street price), youll be able to index and bookmark your PDF litigation files By working with the full purchased version of Acrobat 8 Professional (about $300 to $450 per copy street price), youll be able to index and bookmark your PDF litigation files The full version of Acrobat includes PDF writing software which acts as a selectable general printer available to all application programs. The full version of Acrobat includes PDF writing software which acts as a selectable general printer available to all application programs.

The most efficient scanners for handling document imaging are USB 2.0 high speed sheet-fed scanners The most efficient scanners for handling document imaging are USB 2.0 high speed sheet-fed scanners Preferred workgroup scanners: Canon DR-2580, Xerox 252/262/272 Preferred workgroup scanners: Canon DR-2580, Xerox 252/262/272 Fujitsu ScanSnap on each desk. Good software, low cost, includes Acrobat Standard, which is inexpensive to upgrade Fujitsu ScanSnap on each desk. Good software, low cost, includes Acrobat Standard, which is inexpensive to upgrade

Newly introduced scanners are much better and more efficient than scanners introduced two or three years ago. Newly introduced scanners are much better and more efficient than scanners introduced two or three years ago. Faster high-production SCSI scanners by Canon, Fujitsu and others scan up to forty to fifty sheets per minute but cost several thousand dollars and are not a good value for the small or medium law office. Faster high-production SCSI scanners by Canon, Fujitsu and others scan up to forty to fifty sheets per minute but cost several thousand dollars and are not a good value for the small or medium law office.

Many digital photocopiers can be upgraded to include direct-to-network scanning, but at a high incremental cost and are not a good value. Many digital photocopiers can be upgraded to include direct-to-network scanning, but at a high incremental cost and are not a good value. A good multi-function device such as HPs Laserjet 3380mfp combines basic scanning, faxing, laser printing and copying capabilities but is quite unsuitable for regular scanning use. A good multi-function device such as HPs Laserjet 3380mfp combines basic scanning, faxing, laser printing and copying capabilities but is quite unsuitable for regular scanning use.

A compact portable scanner is handy for occasional use but tends to badly skew documents. Carrying a light regular scanner such as the Fujitsu ScanSnap S500 is much more effective. A compact portable scanner is handy for occasional use but tends to badly skew documents. Carrying a light regular scanner such as the Fujitsu ScanSnap S500 is much more effective. Youll need also need a high quality flat-bed scanner. I like the Epson 4490 Youll need also need a high quality flat-bed scanner. I like the Epson 4490