The Mac Lawyer : The Mac Lawyer : Ben Stevens : Using Macs In The Practice Of Law

Did you know that you can download a free pdf version of the Federal Rules of Evidence 2010 from the Federal Evidence Review website? This pdf gives you a number of benefits including:

• Fully searchable text using the Acrobat Reader Search tool;
• Hyperlink (jump links) on the Index page to take you directly to a specific rule;
• Links to online versions of the FRE; and
• Link to the FRE Advisory Committee Notes online.

You can download your free copy by clicking here.  Of course, if you save the link you should be able to get updates as they are made to the document. 

Source:  "Get your FREE PDF of the Federal Rules of Evidence 2010" by Nerino Petro, published at his Compujurist blog.

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One question that I am frequently asked is "What's the best word processing program for the Mac?"  Niki Black published an article last week giving her thoughts about Scrivener, which is described on its website as a "word processor and project management tool created specifically for writers of long texts." 

Niki wrote that she finds Scrivener to be an invaluable tool that helps make the process of writing and organizing the information she collects so much simpler and streamlined, and she explained how this might benefit attorneys.  For instance, each portion of a legal document could be treated as a “chapter,” which is simply a folder within the document that can have the supportive documentation (exhibits, cases, etc.) alongside and able to be opened with a click. The associated files could be text files, image files, websites, audio files, or even video files, and they can be linked, or associated, with different sections to be referenced more than once.

Of course, as my readers already know, I am a big fan of Pages (which I use in my practice) and I dislike Word (because I try to avoid all things Microsoft).  However, it sounds as though Scrivener could be useful in certain types of cases – particularly if an iPad compatible version becomes available.  If you're still undecided about which word processing program is best for you, you may want to check out Scrivener.

Source:  "Using Scrivener for Legal Writing" by Niki Black, published at Lawyerist.com.

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A superb new blog, Tablet Legal, was launched just under a month ago, and Josh Barrett has already published several excellent articles about iPads and the attorneys who will use them.  For instance, consider the following topics:

• iPad as Personal Assistant for Lawyers: Siri
• iPad: Easy Enough for a Lawyer to Use
• iPad = Flexibility for Lawyers
• iPad and Storytelling for Lawyers
• iPad Missing Features? A Lawyer’s View
• iPad Specs from a Lawyer’s Perspective

If you intend to purchase an iPad or want to consider the reasons that you should, then you owe it to yourself to subscribe to this excellent blog.  Keep up the excellent work, Josh, I'll be reading...

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Next Friday, I will be in Nashville, TN speaking at Law Tech 2010, sponsored by the Tennessee Bar Association.  Specifically, I will be presenting "Software as a Service (SaaS): Practicing Law in the Clouds", using programs such as DropBox, Evernote, Rocket Matter, etc.  I will also be participating in a Mac round table discussion with Finis Price and Steve Weaver.  If you are in the area, you can register here for this seminar.

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It seems like just yesterday that Grant Griffiths and I were discussing the fact that there should be a "better" group for attorneys to discuss how to best use Macs in their practices.  From that discussion, the Macs In Law Offices (MILO) forum was born and it was founded on February 17, 2007.  Today, a mere three years later, MILO has 2,112 members and is widely regarded as the premier online forum for attorneys who want to maximize the use of Macs in their law practices.  If you are not yet a member, you can take advantage of this free resource by clicking HERE.

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The apps listed below were included on a recent list of the ten of the best apps for busy lawyers.  You can read much more about each of these apps in the full article, but a short summary of each is listed below :

1. AppBoxPro is a multi-function currency converter, date calculator, translator (text), tip calculator, international holiday calendar, unit converter, battery life meter, and more.
2. Bento is a powerful but easy to use database for the Mac.
3. Bump is a new way to exchange contact information instead of using business cards.
4. Documents to Go Premium allows you to edit, create, and view Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files.
5. Dragon Dictation is a free, easy-to-use voice-recognition app
6. DropBox is a file sharing service that provides on-line file storage, access, and sharing from multiple computers and mobile devices.
7. Google Mobile App allows you to just speak your search terms.
8. People is essentially a national “White Pages” database at your fingertips.
9. ScanR Business Center allows you to create PDFs using your iPhone camera or using a picture on your camera roll.
10. Skype lets you make either free or very cheap calls on your iPhone using VOIP (voice over internet protocol).

Bonus:  Things is a task management app that keeps track of your projects.

Source:  "Top Ten iPhone Apps for Busy Lawyers" by Reid Trautz, published at The Busy Lawyer's Guide to Success.

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In an attempt to compete with Verizon’s new unlimited plans and perhaps to make it less enticing for users to jump to Verizon when the anticipated move to Verizon is announced, AT&T has lowered the cost of their unlimited voice and data plan to $99.99 (old price was $129.999) effective Monday, January 18. This is great news for lawyers and law firms paying for unlimited voice and data Nationwide plans.

However, as is always the case with AT&T, there is a catch. The change must be made manually either at their website at att.com/wireless or by visiting a store. There is no cost for changing your plan nor does it require a resigning of a contract. Please note however, they will NOT make this change for you automatically, so if you have the unlimited plan like I do and don’t ask to have the price changed AT&T will gladly keep charging you the extra $30.

Source: "iPhone Unlimited Plans $99.99, If You Ask For It" by Finis Price, published at TechnoEsq.com.

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The Mac Lawyer would like to wish a happy anniversary to my good friends at Rocket Matter, as it has been two years since their public launch.  My firm has been using Rocket Matter from almost the very beginning, and we believe it to be one of the premier online case management systems for attorneys.

As part of their anniversary celebration, Rocket Matter has launched Rocket Matter Professional Services, which can help minimize downtime as firms migrate from their old software to this Software as a Service (SaaS) platform.  If you want to know more about Rocket Matter, you can visit their website or visit with them in person at Virtual LegalTech, LegalTech New York, or the ABA Tech Show.

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PC users are still plagued by security threats from many sources – viruses, worms, and other malware.  Meanwhile, Mac users continue to rest easy because their computers remain safe and secure.

Macworld recently reported "we have yet to see any widespread malware for Macs; your risk of infection is essentially zero."  This information should make even the most paranoid among us more comfortable.  

You can read more about this topic in the Macworld article by clicking here.

Source:  "Mac Security: What You Can Ignore" by Rich Mogull, published at Macworld.com.

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