Archive for September, 2009
Sanction Training: 8 Tips for Power Users
Posted by Joseph Ficocello in Litigation Support, Trial Presentation on September 29, 2009
Trial presentation systems have become an integral part of the trial process. From pre-trial preparation to the actual in-court presentation, the selected trial presentation software and skill of the operator will often contribute to the outcome. Sanction, a product developed by Verdict Systems and now wholly owned by the Alexander Gallo Holdings Company, is considered by many to be one of the top two trial presentation applications on the market today. While this is not intended to demote the abilities of other software applications, such as Visionary, TrialMax or TrialSmart, Sanction and TrialDirector are probably the most common mainstream marketed solutions available. Developing a level of comfort and skill with the software is imperative, and these 8 tips for power users (and even those brand new to the software) will hopefully solidify best practices and sharpen your edge. Read the rest of this entry »
Guide: A Small Law Firm IT Setup for Under $10,000
Posted by Joseph Ficocello in IT, Strategy, Technology on September 22, 2009
Unfortunately, the global recession has not passed the legal community. As The American Lawyer reported, thousands of jobs have been shed at firms and corporate legal departments across the country, roughly 2.78 percent of the 111,377 lawyer positions that existed at Am Law 200 law firms a year ago. While less than 3% might not sound like a lot, it is if you’re part of the statistic. Several firms that weathered a century of practice have unfortunately shuttered their doors and vanished. While the light at the end of the tunnel may seem dim, the recent economic news and results have allowed many legal practitioners to do what they’ve always dreamed of – hang their own shingle, be their own boss and operate their very own firm.
For the newly minted firm equity partner, one of the most complicated areas can be the creation of an adequate and functional IT environment. This struggle has impacted many legal practitioners within the industry, and on a personal note, several of my friends. To help those who are now on their own and lack a dedicated IT department, I have created a step-by-step purchasing and strategy guide to help a small firm of partners get off the ground with a budget of under $10,000. Read the rest of this entry »
Geotagging: A Potential Nightmare for E-Discovery
Posted by Joseph Ficocello in E-discovery on September 11, 2009
E-discovery is a rapidly evolving profession, industry and skill set. Although it has been an element within litigation for many years, the field is never quite “complete.” New file formats, unique levels of metadata and the ever evolving number of potential containers or sources continually seek to test an e-discovery professional’s level of thoroughness or expertise. The identification, processing and management of custodian related data requires diligence, experience and a comprehensive understanding of modern techniques. Technology, however, is rarely willing to stand still. One of the more recent “hot topics” within e-discovery circles has been the birth of geotagging within discoverable data. This level of data is created and based on geographical information or elements that are either automatically provided or included based on the user’s request. One of the most common applications of this is the recording of GPS data on photographs, however the “common” definition of geotagging can be extended into other areas, such as user positioning and geolocation (i.e. where you just sent your last Facebook update from). While this might seem to be a relatively harmless addition to the open plains of Metadataland, in the opinion of this author, it could potentially become a nightmare for e-discovery professionals. Read the rest of this entry »
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