Becoming the tech-savvy family lawyer

Efficiency is key to maintaining and building a family law practice. This guide considers their unique daily routine to assess the tech gadgets that will fit into an existing practice and provides expert guidance on technology tools that are mobile, accessible, and have a user-friendly interface. The authors make recommendations on ways to streamline and manage a more efficient practice, from client meetings outside the office to case management, trial preparation and discovery, marketing, and much more.

• About the Authors p. vii
• Acknowledgments p. ix
• Preface p. xi
• Chapter 1 How Tech Savvy Are Family Lawyers? p. 1
• Chapter 2 Your Commute p. 23
• I Voice Recorders p. 23
• II Cell Phone Personal Assistants p. 26
• III Voice Recognition p. 28
• IV Directions p. 29
• V Connecting with Others p. 31
• VI Finding Parking p. 32
• VII Finding Your Car p. 33
• VIII Paying for Parking and Other Services p. 34
• IX Hands-Free Chatting p. 35
• X Minimizing Commuting Costs p. 36
• XI Logging Mileage for Clients and Tax Purposes p. 36
• Chapter 3 Working While Out of the Office p. 39
• I Keeping Up with Current Events p. 39
• II Accessing Your Office Files p. 41
• III Attending Conferences and Continuing Legal Education Programs p. 47
• IV Using Your Smartphone p. 50
• Chapter 4 In the Office (or Home Office) p. 53
• I Case Management, Time, and Billing p. 53
• II Time Keeping p. 77
• III Paper Management p. 79
• IV Client Remote File Access p. 83
• V Coworker Chitchat p. 84
• VI Calendars p. 85
• VII Scheduling Meetings p. 88
• VIII Privacy p. 89
• IX Office Essentials p. 90
• X Emergency Preparedness p. 92
• XI Contacts p. 95
• XII Office Library p. 97
• XIII Using Dual Monitors p. 98
• XIV E-mail p. 98
• XV CLEs in the Office p. 99
• XVI Banking p. 100
• XVII Atmosphere p. 101
• XVIII Task Lists p. 103
• XIX Getting Paid p. 105
• XX Taking Notes p. 106
• Chapter 5 Client Meetings p. 113
• I Intake Forms p. 113
• II Video Conferencing p. 114
• III Virtual Phone Numbers p. 116
• IV Conference Calls p. 117
• Chapter 6 Client-Based Technology p. 119
• I Scheduling Children p. 119
• II Obtaining Information p. 121
• III Creating Budgets p. 122
• IV Making Asset Lists p. 123
• V Keeping a Diary p. 123
• VI Virtual Visitation p. 124
• Chapter 7 Negotiations, Including Mediation p. 127
• I Dry Erase Boards p. 127
• II Using Televisions, Monitors, and Networking p. 128
• III Online Dispute Resolution p. 130
• Chapter 8 Discovery Issues p. 133
• I Web Searches to Find Information p. 133
• II Computer Hard Drives and the Secrets They Hide p. 135
• III Keyloggers p. 136
• IV GPS Trackers p. 137
• V Subpoenaing Tech Companies p. 138
• VI Virtual Property p. 139
• VII Discovery Production (with Less Paper) p. 140
• VIII What to Look for in a Cheating Spouse p. 142
• Chapter 9 Trial Preparation p. 143
• I Prepare Your Client p. 143
• II Know Your Law p. 144
• III Prepare Your Evidence p. 145
• Chapter 10 In Court p. 149
• I Note Taking p. 149
• II Internet at the Courthouse p. 151
• III Briefcase, Boxes p. 151
• IV Tablets p. 154
• V Court Initiated Technology p. 155
• Chapter 11 Promoting and Marketing Your Law Firm p. 157
• I Social Media p. 157
• II Your Firm's Website p. 160
• III Working around Other Websites p. 162
• Chapter 12 Work-Life Balance p. 163
• I Streamlining Grocery Shopping and Meal Planning p. 163
• II Find Movies p. 164
• III Exercise p. 164
• IV Life Coaching p. 165
• V Barbecue p. 166
• VI Sleep Better p. 166
• VII Increase Brain Power p. 166
• VIII Shopping Easier p. 166
• IX Lifestyle p. 167
• Chapter 13 Conclusion p. 169
• Appendix A  p. 171
• Appendix B  p. 177
• Index p. 181