Cutting the Cord: Legal Practice Without a Server

Source: Whitepapers

As Published in TechnoFeature™ by TechnoLawyer in 2010 — In this sequel to the first Cutting the Cord article, Seth recounts how moving to the Cloud went for Basha Systems.

How to Choose the Right Tools for Any Client Communication

Source: Whitepapers

By Wells H. Anderson and Seth G. Rowland

As Published in the GPSolo Magazine’s May/June 2014 Issue — Almost six years before the entire legal world was forced into tele-work by COVID-19, Seth Rowland teamed up with Wells Anderson, his colleague of 20+ years, to explore the upsides and downsides of different kinds of remote communication methods.

A Tale of Two Firms: Adventures In the Cloud

Source: Whitepapers

As Published in Probate & Property Magazine’s Jan-Feb 2014 issue — As Cloud Offerings become ever more diverse, law firms become more uncertain on how to decide when to move into the Cloud and how to do it.  In this 2014 article from ABA Probate and Property, Seth Rowland tells the tale of two firms who took the plunge into the cloud. He details the processes he went through with these firms to determine which were the best Cloud options for them and how to create a Cloud transition process that would guarantee acceptance by their staff.  Although the article is 6 years old, the advice is still fresh and relevant.

Moving Past Roadblocks to Automation: The Magical World of Document Assembly

Source: Whitepapers

As Published In Probate and Property Magazine‘s May-June 2019 issue — Welcome to Diagon Alley! In this article, Seth weaves the story of a young associate named “Harry P” into a review of all the major document assembly products on the market.

Legal Apps for the Lawyer on the Go

Source: Whitepapers

As Published in the May-June 2018 issue of GP Solo – This time, Seth brings in a younger perspective to discuss apps that could be useful to lawyers on smartphones. Seth and his college-aged son and colleague, Sam, have a discussion on how apps can help lawyers and paralegals do everything from answering email to accessing the office remotely to even on-the-go case law research.

Bundled For Success – The 21st Century Binder

Source: Whitepapers

As Published In Probate & Property Magazine’s May-June 2020 Issue – Seasoned lawyers know that project binders are a time-consuming, but important part of closing a case or transaction. In this article, Seth Rowland reviews and compares three bundling software products, used to streamline the creation of digital project binders: PDFDocs BinderBundledocs, and NetDocuments’ SetBuilder.

The Cure for Global Warming

Source: Whitepapers

Global warming is a myth! Why else would we be sitting here in the tundra just a few miles outside New York City? Why else would we be facing yet another “snow day” away from the office? All kidding aside, whether you believe that “global warming” is the cause of the unseasonable snowy weather or that the snow disproves the warming trend, the reality is that we have had to spend more days “out of the office” this winter than in previous years. These “business interruptions” would have been less severe if you had moved some or all of your business to “The Cloud”.

The Four Options for Mobile PM

Source: Whitepapers

Working on vacation may sound like a terrible idea, but like anything it’s all relative. It beats canceling a vacation. Here’s the problem. You can’t manage your practice by calendar and email alone. You need access to your entire
practice management system. In this issue of TechnoFeature, lawyer and practice management expert Seth Rowland runs through the four current options for accessing your practice management system on the go. For each option, he discusses several products, including their pros and cons.

Should You Cut the Cord and Move To The Cloud

Source: Whitepapers

A file server can cost upwards of $22,000 plus another $7,000 per year to maintain.  Should you instead keep that money in your bank account?  But can your law firm conduct  business without a server? In this TechnoFeature, legal technology consultant Seth Rowland explains how you can cut the cord by using “the cloud” — online applications for backups, practice management, and document management. But everything has a downside, which Seth also explores. What’s his verdict on moving the cloud? Read the article to find out.

XpressDox Document Assembly

Source: Whitepapers

Document assembly conjures up thoughts of expensive software that often becomes shelfware once lawyers realize that they cannot figure it out without professional help. Document assembly consultant Seth Rowland has helped many firms that decided to invest in professional help. But in this TechnoFeature article, Seth reviews XpressDox, a new document assembly program that sells for $150 and promises ease of use regardless of your skill level.  Who better to test this claim than Seth? Read his review to see what this expert thinks of this new expert system.

White Paper – The Death of Travel

Source: Whitepapers

Writen in 2008 — In “The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century,” Thomas L. Friedman, argues that advances in technology and telecommunications have created a level playing field between competitors that has transformed the way business (and law) is conducted. In this article, Mr. Rowland looks at how “affordable” communications and web-based collaboration tools can now enable solopractitioners and small law practices to service clients on a global basis. In the “Death of Travel,” Mr. Rowland explains how “physical presence” is optional. Through technology, ad hoc teams of lawyers and specialists can be brought together on a moment’s notice with zero marginal cost to work together in virtual workspaces.

Review – HoudiniESQ

Source: Whitepapers

And now for something “completely different” in law firm practice management — HoudiniESQ, a new practice management system  developed from LOGICBit. You can host HoudiniESQ on a Windows, Mac, or Linux server, and use it in any Web browser. Sounds good, but
how well does it work? In this TechnoFeature, practice management and document assembly specialist Seth Rowland, Esq. takes  HoudiniESQ for a spin and presents his findings.

Review – AdvologixPM

Source: Whitepapers

Have you ever wanted to cut the cord and take your practice everywhere you go? Have you ever thought about all the money you spend on hardware and software? Practice management consultant Seth Rowland began hearing these questions from his clients a year ago. Ever since, he has searched for the best Web-based practice management system. In this TechnoFeature article, Seth reviews AdvologixPM, which is built on Salesforce.com’s Force.com platform. What does Seth think? Read his review to find out.

Cutting the Cord – Practical Tips

Source: Whitepapers

Geography can often get in the way of your firm’s plans for world domination. But thanks to technology, you can overcome such hurdles. In this article, technology consultant and practice management expert Seth Rowland discusses several innovative law firms, ranging from a solo practitioner to a mega-firm, that have embraced some aspects of virtual law practice. He explains the technology they use to “cut the cord” and expand beyond the “four walls” of their physical office.