using technology in your law practice - mo sasf
TRANSCRIPT
© 2016 Downey Law Group LLC. For educa!onal purposes only.
Using Technology in Your Practice
Michael DowneyDowney Law Group LLC
What’s Your Tech Savvy?5 – Written code for my law practice4 – Automated documents and/or accounting3 – Practice Management Software – use it
* Calendar/communications* Manage client files* Send bills
2 – Practice Management Software – have it1 – Can create documents and send email0 – Email – assistant prints them, dictate/handwrite response
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DISCLOSURE
• I will discuss real products• I use – and will disclose use – of many of these products
• All or virtually all these products have competitors• I am not getting paid to tell you about any of these products (or their competitors)
Downey Law Group LLCFounded February 2015Two (or more) lawyers
Raphael NemesMyselfMelanie Barker (contract)
“Devoted to legal ethics and the law of lawyering”
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What Law Firms Do
• Seek clients• Client intake• Represent clients– Prepare documents– Advise clients
• Bill clients• Receive payment from clients
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ABA Model Rule 1.1 cmt [8]
• To maintain the requisite knowledge and skill, a lawyer should keep abreast of changes in the law and its practice, including the benefits and risks associated with relevant technology, engage in continuing study and education and comply with all continuing legal education requirements to which the lawyer is subject.
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© 2016 Downey Law Group LLC. For educa!onal purposes only.
Marketing and Intake
Seeking Clients
• Who are your clients?• How do you get clients?• How should you get clients?
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What Works (Corporate-‐Focused Firms)
61% Visiting clients
9% Firm-‐sponsored seminars
12% Organizational Involvement
3% Speeches
0% By-‐lined Articles
2% Website
3% Newsletter
10% Other
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Marketing Continuum (AT)
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LinkedIn Buzz
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SEO and SEM
• SEO – Search Engine Optimization• SEM – Search Engine Marketing
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SEM
SEO
SEM
“Old” Results
(New Results)
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Nurturing Clients/Prospects/Referrals
• CRM (Client Relationship Management) • Email newsletters – Constant Contact–Mail Chimp– AW Weber – and lots of others
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Why Use Email Newsletter Systems
• Manage your list(s)• Circumnavigate spam filters• Deliver attractive newsletters
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Newsletter Contents
• Videos or podcasts• Checklists• Survey results• Client stories (or firm/employee stories)
• Event advertisements• Job posts
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Contact by Prospects• Answer telephone– Staff (receptionist)– Receptionist company
• Ruby Receptionist• Gabbyville• Smith.AI• Back Office Betties• Direct Line• 24x7 Attorney Answering Service (and many more)• (Partial list at http://profilesandreviews.com/ruby-‐receptionist-‐complaints-‐reviews/)
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Online Intake
• Intake form on website– Shorter is (generally) better– Beware obtaining “disqualifying confidences”
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© 2016 Downey Law Group LLC. For educa!onal purposes only.
Represent Clients
Practice Management Software
• Matter management– Documents creation/management– Timekeeping– Tasks
• Practice management– Billing and invoicing– Calendar– Communication
Practice Management Options
• AbacusLaw• Clio• MyCase• ProLaw• Rocket Matter• Tabs III
• TimeMatters• Worlddox
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http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/migrated/tech/ltrc/charts/pmtbchart.authcheckdam.pdf
Why Practice Management Software?
• Matter creation• Conflict checks• Calendaring• Contacts• Document management (cloud)– Client portal
• Timekeeping and billing• Communications – tasks, email, and more
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Clio
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Invoicing
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The "Cloud"
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Terms of ServiceGoogle Docs (6/2015)
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Terms of Service – Dropbox (6/2015)
Outsourced Brief Printing
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Bates Labeling
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© 2016 Downey Law Group LLC. For educa!onal purposes only.
Money Issues
Credit Card Payments
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Options for General Processor
• Receive only payments for past work (paid into operating account) OR
• Track fees deducted from operating account by processor . . . carefully
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Legal-‐Industry Processors
• Usually allow deposits in two accounts:– Operating account (normal)– Trust account (with all chargebacks and fees deducted from operating account)
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(Other) Banking Tricks
• Use on-‐line banking to track expenses– Credit card transactions on-‐line– Bank transactions on line
• Receive account updates from banks
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Accounting System
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Payroll System
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© 2016 Downey Law Group LLC. For educa!onal purposes only.
Other Helpful Hints
Internet Access
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(Free) Conference Calls
• Multiple sources for free conference calls– Personal dial-‐in and password– I use “FreeConferenceCalls.com”
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“Less Paper” – Office Scanning
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• Fujitsu ScanSnap c. $400
Scan on the Go – App
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• Genius Scan -‐ $6.99
Business Card Scanning
• WorldCard HD -‐ $6.99
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Need a “Travel Monitor”?• Duet Display -‐ $13.99
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Michael DowneyDowney Law Group LLC
(314) 961-‐6644(844) 961-‐6644 toll free
Thank You