The Mac Lawyer

Using Macs in Law Firms | Attorney Ben Stevens

Review of The FrameShift iPad Stand

By J. Benjamin Stevens on Posted in Product Reviews

The folks at Insanely Great Products asked us to review two of their newest products, the FrameShift Pro and the FrameShift Mini-5 (recently introduced at MacWorld Expo in January) stands for the iPad and iPad mini.  

The FrameShift Mini-5

This stand is designed for both the iPhone 5 and the iPad Mini, but is also compatible with a large variety of smaller tablets and the prior iPhone versions when they are in cases.  It is made of “thick, high quality machined durable aircraft grade aluminum” (translation: it’s gonna take a lot to break this thing!). It’s currently available in two colors: Red and Grey.

Pros:

We love this little stand! While we almost exclusively used it with an iPad mini, the iPhone 5 fit nicely on it, as well.  The rubber feet (advertised as “military grade rubber”) held the stand firmly on our desktop even when typing on the iPad, yet it won’t scratch or otherwise damage your desktop. Given all the Mac products we use in any given day, the clean metal design of this stand was also an aesthetically pleasing addition to the desktop.

The stand can be positioned at almost any angle, including almost vertically, which is great for creating a center-frame picture of your face when using FaceTime or Skype while seated at your desk.  It also folds flat for traveling and storage purposes, though since receiving the stand, it hasn’t left our desk. It will securely support your iPad mini in both the portrait and landscape orientation.  Our favorite feature is that as long as your iPad cover will fold flat on the back of the iPad, it is not necessary to remove the cover to use this stand.

Cons:

The only drawback on this great new stand was the price point of $79.00, however given quality of the design and materials and the fact that each unit is custom fabricated at the time of ordering, we think the price can easily be justified.

The FrameShift Pro

The Pro is made of hand-brushed, anodized (process to increase the thickness of the natural oxide layer on the surface of metal parts) aircraft-grade aluminum.  It is advertised to be designed for “long-life and durability” and will not scratch your iPad. It’s compatible with iPad 1, 2, 3, and 4 and even offers a customizable name plate which can be engraved with customer provided artwork or text (for an additional charge).

Pros:

This stand is very impressive. It is designed to either be used on your desktop (the way we have previewed it) or mounted to a table, wall or countertop (after removing the feet).  Your iPad can be mounted “with washers” or “without washers” in place. With the washers in place, the iPad is securely held in place and requires removal of the washers to remove the iPad. Without the washers, the iPad will still be held securely but no tools are required to remove it (the iPad sits against the stand, rather than being “mounted” in the stand itself).

This is a great option to have, especially if you plan to use your iPad as a point-of-sale device or in a customer waiting area for information or video presentations. The stand will also allow for rotation to various angles, so if used for point-of-sale transactions or form completion with customers, the screen can be rotated back and forth between the user and the customer. Like it’s mini companion, the aesthetics are very pleasing and looks great on both an executive’s desk or in a lobby.

Cons:

There are two major drawbacks for this product. First, is the price. At $159.00 it is certainly at the high end of the iPad stand price spectrum, especially given the fact that more people are trending towards the iPad mini versus the full-size iPads. Second, this stand can only be used in the landscape orientation. That may not be a draw back for some, but many of the apps we use can only be used in portrait orientation so removal of the iPad from the stand would be necessary in those situations.

Conclusion:

Insanely Great Products’ name hits the nail squarely on the head with these two stands. Even though the price points may deter some casual users, if you or your business want to invest in stands which, in our assessment, will probably survive several generations of your iPad devices, these are two wonderful options worth your consideration.

The Mac Lawyer in Chicago This Week at ABA TECHSHOW

By J. Benjamin Stevens on Posted in Offline Resources, Presentations

I am in Chicago this week to present several sessions at ABA TECHSHOW 2013.  This marks the sixth year of the “Mac Track”, and I’m honored to have been asked to speak each of those years.

The Mac Track will take place all day tomorrow (April 5th) at the Hilton across from Grant Park, and I will present the following sessions:

  • Making the Switch for the Mac-Curious :: Reid Trautz (former TECHSHOW chair and publisher of Reid My Blog) and I will kick things off with the first session at 8:00 a.m.  The official session description is: “If you’ve seen a Mac, own an iPhone or iPad, or have ever been to an Apple Store, admit it… you’re a bit Mac-Curious. If you are considering making “THE SWITCH,” this is the session for you! Our Mac experts will walk PC users through the best hardware, software, and work-flow modifications to make this transition.”
  •  The Super-Awesome Mac Hour of Amazement :: Victor Medina, Mark Metzger, Larry Staton and I will then close out the day at 3:45 p.m.  This session i described as follows: “Your TECHSHOW board has scoured the universe for the best of the best; the smartest geniuses; the Masters of Mac. Marvel and be amazed as these experts demonstrate their best practices on automated form creation, gold-standard workflows, the use of document styles, and mastering PDFs! Discover how Automator and Apple Scripts turn your Mac into a thinking machine that won’t try to kill you. Bring your Mac; this’ll be a watch and do session!”
  • iOS in Action :: I will also be presenting this session, which is part of the iOS Track, on Saturday (April 6th) at 9:45 a.m. with Jeff Richardson, publisher of iPhone, J.D.  This session is described as follows: “Are you really getting all you can out of your iPad and iPhone? In this session you’ll learn how to put your iOS devices to work for you in your law practice. We’ll cover tips on billing and managing your time; drafting and working with case documents, transactions, and files; and attending or hosting meetings on your iDevice. Our experts will demonstrate how the iOS ecosystem provides the best apps for lawyers. We will also discuss how iCloud keeps data synced across all your devices.”

There are so many great reasons to attend TECHSHOW, including the other oustanding sessions, Taste of TECHSHOW dinners, and the EXPO hall.  If you are in the area, please make plans to attend.  If you see me there, please take a minute to introduce yourself, as I always enjoy meeting my readers.

Rocket X1 Is The Game-Changing Internet Marketing Service for Lawyers

By J. Benjamin Stevens on Posted in Office Management, Online Resources, Product Reviews, Technology

Marketing your law firm is an essential part of being successful in today’s fast-paced, information-based world.  Unfortunately, far too many lawyers are really really really bad at marketing – and that’s far from a secret. Therefore, rarely a day goes by that some company doesn’t contact our firm with an offer to “help” our efforts in that regard, and rarely does such an inquiry take longer that 0.02 seconds to end up in the trash.

Take note: Today is the day that everything changed in the world of internet marketing for lawyers.  Bold statement? Yes, but I’m confident that it’s a true one. You see, today marks the launch of Rocket X1, a new comprehensive Internet marketing agency and software platform designed specifically for attorneys.

While I believe that Rocket X1 is in a class all by itself, there are several key characteristics that distinguish it from any would be competitors.

  • First, it takes a unified approach to the marketing process, combining a comprehensive portfolio of services, such as website construction, social media & newsletter strategy, search engine optimization, and content marketing. In the past, this typically required firms to work with multiple different companies, resulting in higher costs and less synchronicity.
  • Next, Rocket X1 assigns an expert account manager to work with each participating firm. The manager gets to know the firm and its unique needs and then can develop a customized plan for each firm. Better yet, the folks at X1 understand that lawyers are busy and detest marketing, so their program includes checklists, deadlines, analytics, and milestones to keep the firm on track and to continually measure progress.
  • Finally, it has a proven track record of success. But wait, how can a company that is launching today already have a proven track record? No, that’s not a trick question. Rocket X1 a new service from the folks at Rocket Matter, which over the last five years has built itself into the leading web-based legal case management program using the above-referenced techniques. They have used their successful marketing experience to create a proven, proprietary process that delivers fast, measurable results.

Rocket X1 looks nothing short of phenomenal. If you don’t believe me, go to their website and watch the short informational video. I saw it a few weeks ago, and I was blown away because I have never seen anything like it. If you are in Chicago this week, stop by Rocket Matter’s booth at ABA TECHSHOW and see it for yourself.

Review of The ARTcloth

By J. Benjamin Stevens on Posted in Product Reviews

What is an “ARTcloth”? 

This nifty product is an antibacterial, microfiber cleaning cloth that is designed for cleaning tablets, smart phones, eReaders, laptops, TVs, digital cameras or even your eyeglasses (reg. price $9.95). According to the LYNKtec website, it is crafted from a deluxe, dual-textured microfiber with a soft side for cleaning and a silky side for buffing. We received a few sample ARTcloths to review, and we enjoyed putting them through their paces over the past few weeks.  Here’s everything you need to know:

Pros:

The cloth works just as advertised, in fact, maybe better than advertised. Using the soft side requires almost no effort to achieve a perfectly clear screen (we used ours mainly on our iPad minis and iPhones).  The cloth is sized at approximately 5×7 which means it fits nicely over the iPad mini screen if you use a case or can be easily folded for carrying in your pocket, briefcase, or purse.

It is advertised as being antibacterial in order to protect against the spread of germs and bacteria — given the amount of time we spend on my electronic devices, this is a nice plus. The cloth is also machine washable in cold water and can be tumble-dried on a low setting for easy cleaning.

Probably our favorite thing is the array of choices available in the ARTcloth. Whether you’re into classic masterpieces like Starry Night or The Great Wave or historic moments like the Apollo 11 moon landing, there’s an ARTcloth design just for you.  My personal favorite is the Vitruvian Man pictured above.

Cons:

While the cloth is perfectly sized for tablet and even laptop users, if you are only purchasing for use with a smart phone or even your eyeglasses, the cloth may be a little too large, especially since it doesn’t come with its own pouch to slip into a purse or pocket.

Also, as with other antibacterial products, we are left wondering if that protection is lost after the first washing of the cloth. The packaging doesn’t offer any detail on this, however the website states the following:

The combination of high quality microfiber and the right knitting process allow the microfiber cloths to pick up 99.9% of bacteria, dirt and germs off surfaces. Microfiber consists of backwards triangular shapes that attract and trap the dirt, dust and bacteria, making for a safe and effective cleaning process.

Conclusion:

It’s rare (at least for us) to find products that are both stylish (or at least really cool looking) and work as promised. The ARTcloth is one of those products. It’s functional, eye-catching, and at such a great price, affordable enough to have one for the office, one for the car and one for home.

Do You Have A Social Media Will?

By J. Benjamin Stevens on Posted in How Do I ... ?, Miscellaneous, Online Resources, Technology

Social media is everywhere. Each of us will die one day. We would be well served to prepare for the convergence of those two realities.  The following article from my friend, Tim Baran, does an excellent job addressing this topic, and he’s graciously agreed for me to republish it here.  I hope that you not only read it, but also consider Tim’s suggestions. 

Social Media WillA couple of my Facebook friends died last year. I went to the memorial services and thought I had closure, but their profiles were still alive and I didn’t have the heart to unfriend. Then the other day I was startled to get an automated birthday notification from one them. It was time to unfriend but it got me thinking about what happens to our social media accounts and online identity when we die.

A few platforms, like Twitter and Google, have policies around accessing or deactivating accounts of deceased users. Or, you can choose to memorialize an account on Facebook.

The government addressed this concern by adding a breakdown of what to consider when creating a social media will on the USA.gov personal finance and estate planning site:

Social media is a part of daily life, so what happens to the online content that you created once you die? If you are active online you should consider creating a statement of how you would like your online identity to be handled, like a social media will. You should appoint someone you trust as an online executor. This person will be responsible for the closure of your email addresses, social media profiles, and blogs after you are deceased. Take these steps to help you write a social media will:

  • Review the privacy policies and the terms and conditions of each website where you have a presence.
  • State how you would like your profiles to be handled. You may want to completely cancel your profile or keep it up for friends and family to visit. Some sites allow users to create a memorial profile where other users can still see your profile but can’t post anything new.
  • Give the social media executor a document that lists all the websites where you have a profile, along with your usernames and passwords.
  • Stipulate in your will that the online executor should have a copy of your death certificate. The online executor may need this as proof in order for websites to take any actions on your behalf.

Thing is, a list of usernames and paswords might be less than helpful since we often change them. I suggest investing in a password manager, like 1Password. Then all you’ll need is one master password on that list.

Rocket Lawyer has a social media will that you can fill out online. It allows you to state how you’d like your online identity and other digital assets, such as email accounts and computer files, to be handled after your death.

It’s never too soon to get your virtual affairs in order.

About the Author:  Tim Baran is the Community Manager for Rocket Matter, the leading mobile online legal practice management and time and billing software.

Reviews of STM’s Cases for the iPad Mini

By J. Benjamin Stevens on Posted in iPad, Product Reviews

STM has been making a variety of high quality laptop bags, packs, fitted tablet cases and phone cases since 1998.  Their website states their mission is “to come up with more comfortable, secure and stylish means of transporting your digital gear.”  In fact, we have previously used (and liked) the Alley, one of STM bags for the 13″ MacBook Pro, so we were anxious to review STM’s new lineup of cases for the iPad Mini – the Marquee for iPad Mini; the Grip for iPad Mini; and the Skinny for iPad Mini. 

Skinny for iPad Mini

The Skinny is advertised as a “slim and sleek folio” that offers complete protection for your iPad mini. Price: $34.99 

Pros: The cover of the Skinny is made of a hard shell back and front flap which is textured cloth-like, making it easy to grip when carrying. The hard shell back is lined on the inside to give extra protection to the back of your Mini – helping you avoid inadvertent scratches.  Probably the nicest feature is that all the buttons and device ports are very easy to access.

Cons: The biggest downside to the Skinny is that that front flap does not fold flat against the back when open. If you typically use your iPad while it’s propped up on your desk, this may not be a problem, but if you tend to hold your Mini in one hand while reading, this make it very awkward to hold.  Another downside is the loop closure which is difficult (at best) to break-in for easy closing.  Also, because of the angle you must hold the cover in order to close the loop closure, the device does not always automatically “go to sleep” with the cover in place or automatically “wake up” when you re-open the cover.

Grip for iPad Mini

The Grip is advertised as having a “tough polycarbonate plastic with a unique soft touch finish” designed to fully protect your new device. Price: $39.99

Pros: The grip texture is soft, just as advertised, even if it does have a more “plastic-y” look to it. The kickstand works as promised and is more secure than it may first seem. As with the Skinny, the Grip also has the soft lined interior to avoid scratches, and the cover closes easily and completely putting your device automatically to sleep when not in use.

Cons: This is a weightier option than the Skinny, or at least it feels that way. Further, while we loved the kickstand, women who have longer fingernails may need to get assistance in snapping it out of the cover (or risk losing a nail).

Marquee for iPad Mini

The Marquee is advertised as “premium soft touch leather” that is “slim and protective construction for a comfortable and easy carry.” Price: $79.99

Pros: Out of the three cases we previewed, this was probably our favorite. The cover really is quite elegant and stylish , and we found it very easy to grip while holding. The front cover folds back flat, and it offers two positions for typing and viewing.  There is even a loop for storing your stylus, something not found on the other two cases.

Cons: The only con would have to be the lack of color choices at this stage. We previewed the blue cover, which was very nice, but it would be great to see other options (red, green, grey, or purple?) in the future.

Thanks to STM for providing these cases for us to review.  If any of our readers have used these cases, we welcome their comments and feedback below.

Reasons Mac-Using Attorneys Should Attend ABA TECHSHOW 2013

By J. Benjamin Stevens on Posted in Presentations, Technology

If you need a quick legal-tech fix, or if you’re looking for more legal-tech knowledge, or if you need some massive CLE, you should consider attending the American Bar Association’s TECHSHOW 2013, which will be held in Chicago at the Hilton from April 4 – 6, 2013.  Why? There’s so much to mention, but one of the highlights will undoubtedly be the Mac Track.

This year’s Mac Track was planned by the amazing and brilliant Randy Juip, and it lasts all day on April 5th.  The faculty members include Ben Stevens, Reid Trautz, David Sparks, Larry Staton, Victor Medina, and Mark Metzger, who will present the following sessions:

In addition to the Mac Track, there are CLE-approved sessions in the following categories: Paperless Productivity; Litigation; Large Firm; Social Media; Tech Grab Bag; Cloud Collaboration; Meet the Author; Solo/Small Firm; Tablets & Smartphones; E-Discovery; Advanced IT; iOS in Action; Android; Windows 8; 60 Sites in 60 Minutes; A plenary presentation on the CraigsList Killer; and keynote speaker David Pogue!

TECHSHOW also features a packed EXPO hall, with hundreds of legal-tech vendors, countless social opportunities (including Taste of TECHSHOW dinners!), and all sorts of other amazing stuff. If you haven’t considered TECHSHOW, or even if you’re on the fence, put some thought into attending. The early-bird registration deadline is coming up on March 11, 2013. You can get more details at www.techshow.com. There are very few legal conferences that are as useful to attorneys as TECHSHOW.  Plan to attend – you won’t regret it!

Rocket Matter Celebrating 5th Anniversary and Giving Away Prizes

By J. Benjamin Stevens on Posted in Office Management, Online Resources, Software, Special Offers, Technology

Rocket Matter, the world’s best law office management program, has announced that in celebration of its fifth anniversary, it is kicking off a year-long celebration and giving away iPads, Android Tablets, and Kindle Fire devices to celebrate the occasion and their commitment to mobile lawyering.  

I remember the first time I ever spoke with Rocket Matter’s CEO Larry Port back in the Fall of 2007, when he called me to discuss an upcoming legal software product that he claimed would revolutionize the industry.  He asked if I would be interested in checking it out for my firm, and I agreed.  When Rocket Matter launched in late February 2008, we were on board from day one, and we’ve been with them ever since.

Discussing this milestone, Larry says

It’s been a great ride so far, and we’re just getting started. We’re committed to making the lives of attorneys a whole lot easier, and the best way to do that is to keep improving the product and get more mobile devices into their hands.  Our Five-Year Celebration of Legal Mobility aims to do just that.

If you haven’t taken a look at Rocket Matter yet (or recently), take a few minutes to do so.  It has really improved our efficiency and as a result made us better lawyers, and it can do the same for your firm too.  You can also get more information about their tablet giveaways can be found on their website.  Again, happy anniversary from The Mac Lawyer to my friends at Rocket Matter, and may you have many many more years of success!

“The Fine Art of Practicing Law on a Mac” Named One of the Best Articles of 2012

By J. Benjamin Stevens on Posted in Articles, Office Management, Software, Switching to Macs

“The Fine Art of Practicing Law on a Mac“, the article that Randy Juip and I published in the March/April 2012 issue of Law Practice Magazine, was recently honored by that publication as one of its Best of 2012. In our article, we discussed the hardware and software options available to run a law office on a Mac – whether in the office, on the road, or in the courtroom.  Randy is one of the leading authorities on legal technology, and it is always a great pleasure to write or present with him.  If you haven’t yet read our article, check it out here.

JuryPad Jury Selection App for iPad

By J. Benjamin Stevens on Posted in iPad, Product Reviews, Software

This review takes a look at JuryPad, an app for the iPad from Bench & Bar, LLC that is designed to assist litigators in conducting voir dire and quickly and easily selecting their jury.  If you are a trial lawyer who regularly works with juries, you owe it to yourself to take a look at this fantastic easy to learn and easy to use app.

In the trial screen, you set up your case, including the number of primary and alternate jurors, the number of strikes for each side, and other background information. Throughout the app, typing is reduced to a minimum by utilizing many pop-up menus for data entry. Also, there is no shortage of help for new users (including a sample trial for you to tinker with), information buttons that display overlays of each button’s actions, a “Quick Guide” to get you familiarized with the app, and a link to instructional videos. 

The app also has a menu for sharing your trial database with other users of the app or to export your trial as a spreadsheet or a text file. The app also comes with a spreadsheet template if you wish to enter jury information on your laptop, PC, or Mac to later import into the app.

After setting up your trial, the user is taken to the jury pool screen. Here, you can view detailed information regarding each juror, and even rate your jurors on a scale of 1 to 3 or 1 to 5 stars – depending on your preference. Tapping on a juror’s address will take you to Google’s Street View to “virtually” tour the jurors‘ homes and neighborhoods.

Using pop-up menus, you can seat or strike your jurors. You can also search for jurors‘ details, sort your jury list by name, rating, and juror number. 

The app also lets you filter jurors to show how each party used its peremptory challenges to prepare for a Batson Motion.   Tapping on the pie chart icon will take you to a series of screen’s that display various demographics of the entire jury pool.

You can evaluate, seat, and strike your jury using either a jury “list” or a seating panel that you can customize to hold over 300 jurors at a time.

Finally, when you are done picking your jury, you are taken to the “Jury Box” where you can drag and drop you jurors into their positions for trial. You can also assign predictive badges if you want to track how receptive you believe the jurors are to each party’s presentation of the case. 

Bench & Bar will soon release an update to JuryPad that includes the ability to create and save custom voir dire questions to suit your needs at trial. Also, the app will include a “Scratch Pad” that will let you take handwritten notes on jurors if you find yourself pressed for time while evaluating your jurors.

JuryPad was developed by Bench & Bar, LLC, a company that was founded by trial lawyer and legal technologist, Stephan Futeral, Esq., who is based in Charleston, SC. It is currently priced as $19.99 on the App Store, and you can get more information here or by visiting Bench & Bar’s website.