Affinity Newsletter Header
May 2011
Feature Review - Worldox iPad App and Worldox Web Mobile
PCLaw and Time Matters Workshops
FREE Mind Mapping Webinar
Upcoming Events
Stay Tuned for New AU Schedule in June
Affinity and ALA
ABA TECHSHOW Recap
Amicus Upgrade Discounts
Word Tip of the Month
Affinity Receives Amicus Attorney Award
SpeechExec for Blackberry
Credenza for Outlook
Managed IT Services
Green Corner
Current Versions of Law Office Software
Join Our Mailing List
Greetings!Law Day 2011
Spring is in the air.  This is the season of rebirth and fresh ideas.  We are shaking off the winter cobwebs, basking in the sunshine, and taking a second look at what we do and how we do it - both personally and professionally. 

It is appropriate that May begins with "Law Day."  Law Day was first officially recognized by President Eisenhower in 1958 as an occasion to reflect on the role of law as a foundation to our nation and an essential element to a civilized society.  Here at Affinity Consulting Group, we celebrate Law Day, indeed the entire month of May, by bringing you fresh and innovative technologies to make your law practices more efficient.

In this month's newsletter, we feature a review that combines today's hottest tech gadget, the iPad2, with the state-of-the-art Worldox document management system (DMS).  Also highlighted are upcoming seminars, including essential PCLaw and Time Matters workshops, a FREE mind mapping webinar, and many other educational programs.  In addition, we recap the technology topics covered at the recent ABA TECHSHOW in Chicago chaired by Affinity Partner Paul Unger, Esq., of our Columbus office. 

 

Also included in this month's newsletter is an announcement about Affinity's expanded relationship with the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA), a Microsoft Word tip, the latest on a new Philips dictation product for Blackberry smart phones, information about Credenza practice management for Outlook, Green Corner, and our Current Versions list of important law office software. 

Worldox Feature Review - Worldox iPad App and Worldox Web Mobile

Affinity's document management guru, Senior Consultant Greg Bray, recently received an iPad2.  He immediately set out to explore the wonders of this new device and how it works with the state-of-the-art Worldox document management system from World Software, particularly the Worldox Web Module.  

 

What Greg found was an awesome synergy between the iPad2 and Worldox that allows mobile lawyers to access their documents from anywhere they can get Internet access.  You don't want to miss this fascinating story of how this slick tablet computer interfaces with the even slicker document management software. 

 

Read the Worldox iPad App and Worldox Web Mobile Review.

 

PCLaw PCLaw and Time Matters Workshops

Make the Most out of your Software - Learn How to Maximize PCLaw and Time Matters for Your Practice.   

 Time Matters 

When it comes to technology, simply having it and knowing the best ways to use it in your day to day business can be two different things. Join instructors Steve Best, Alex Macdonald & Art Roehrenbeck in Columbus, Ohio, for one of our upcoming workshops where we'll teach you the ins and outs of two of the leading legal software packages: PCLaw and Time Matters. In three days' time, you and your staff can learn the functionality of business-critical applications that you need to take your productivity to the next level.

 

PCLaw "Back Office" Workshop - May 16 & 17

Time Matters "Basic" Workshop - May 26 (AM)

Time Matters "Advanced" Workshop - May 26 (PM)

 

For more information, click here or contact Alison Lukan at alukan@affinityconsulting.com or 614.340.3444.

Mindjet FREE Webinar - Mind Mapping for Lawyers 

Mind mapping is an extremely effective way for any busy lawyer challenged with managing a heavy case load, organizing evidence and testimony, tracking tasks, and meeting deadlines to create order from the chaos of their work.  As a result, mind mapping is becoming an increasingly popular tool for litigators and transactional attorneys alike.  It allows them to visually organize their thoughts and tasks, while providing tools for team collaboration.  Read about this innovative software - Mindjet MindManager 9.

 

This FREE webinar will be hosted by Trotter & Maxfield litigator Dave Maxfield and Affinity Partner Britt Lorish.  The webinar will provide an introductory look into how lawyers are leveraging this unique technology in various practice areas. 

 

Register for the FREE Mind Mapping seminar here. 

Events Events in May      
5/5 - Affinity Partner Paul J. Unger, Esq., will speak at the 2011 Probate Law Institute sponsored by the Columbus Bar Association. 

5/9 -
Affinity Partner Britt Lorish and Trotter & Maxfield litigator Dave Maxfield host a FREE webinar on mind mapping for lawyers featuring Mindjet MindManager 9 (see article above). 

5/10 - Affinity Partner Barron K. Henley, Esq. , will be presenting sessions on Intermediate and Advanced Microsoft Word and Law Office Paper Reduction Strategies at the Solo & Small Firm Practitioner Forum sponsored by the Virginia Bar in Charlottesville.

 

5/12 - Affinity Partner Paul J. Unger, Esq., and Barron K. Henley, Esq., talk about Paper Reduction Techniques, Acrobat and PDFs, Document Management Systems as well as iPads and Tablet Technology for the Ohio Bar's I'm Buried in Paper - What Can I Do? seminar in Akron. 

 

5/12 - Affinity University Class on PracticeMaster Version 16 New Features.  A complete line-up of Affinity University classes will return in June.  See our web site or watch for our June newsletter for the full schedule.

 

5/16 - Ohio Bar's I'm Buried in Paper - What Can I Do? seminar in Columbus (see description above).

 

5/16 & 17 - PCLaw Back Office Workshop in Columbus (see article above).

 

5/17 - Ohio Bar's I'm Buried in Paper - What Can I Do? seminar in Perrysburg (see description above).

 

5/18 - Ohio Bar's I'm Buried in Paper - What Can I Do? seminar in Cleveland (see description above).

 

5/20 - Affinity Partner Barron K. Henley, Esq., speaks at the 51st Annual Probate & Estate Planning Institute in Acme, MI.  Barron will cover document automation and assembly, e-document discovery, and attracting and keeping good clients.  

 

5/22-25 - Visit the Affinity Consulting Group booth at the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) Annual Conference & Exposition in Orlando at the World Center Marriott hotel.  Affinity Partner Debbie Foster will speak on 75 Finance tips in 75 Minutes at the Conference on Tuesday, 5/24. 

 

5/24 - Affinity Partner Barron K. Henley, Esq., speaks on The Best in Basic Law Office Technology for Michigan's Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Plymouth, MI.

 

5/26 - Time Matters Basic and Advanced Workshops in Columbus (see article above).   

Affinity University Logo New Affinity University Classes in June
Affinity University is the leading source for web based training sessions for the legal community.  No software is required and sign up is simple.  Please visit the Affinity University web site frequently in May as we announce updated and new course content starting in June 2011.  
Association of Legal Administrators Affinity Partners with ALA
Affinity Consulting Group is partnering with the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) to become a provider in the ALA's Value in Partnership Program (VIP).  This program provides discounts and special benefits to ALA members.  Affinity is exhibiting at the ALA Annual Conference and Exposition in Orlando from May 23-25 (see Event listing above for details). ALA members, stop by our booth at the Conference to learn about the special Affinity University packages available exclusively for you. 
ABA TECHSHOW Affinity at ABA TECHSHOW - A Recap
We hope you made it to last month's ABA TECHSHOW 2011 in Chicago.  Affinity Partners Steven Best, Esq., Debbie Foster, Barron K. Henley, Esq., Britt Lorish, and Paul J. Unger, Esq., presented on a variety of law office technology topics.   Paul Unger chaired this year's TECHSHOW.  Britt Lorish served on the TECHSHOW 2011 planning board and is vice-chair for TECHSHOW 2012.   Mark your calendar now for TECHSHOW 2012, March 29-31, 2012, at the Hilton Chicago.  

 

Read about the presentations given by Affinity partners and consultants at TECHSHOW 2011.    

Last Month for Amicus Attorney 2008 Support - Upgrade Discounts End 5/31!  
As of June 1, 2011, Gavel & Gown Software will no longer be providing support for Amicus Attorney 2008 and Amicus Accounting 2008.  If your firm is running Amicus 2008, there are substantial discounts until May 31, 2011, for upgrading to Amicus 2011: 
  • 30% off Amicus 2011 upgrade licenses.
  • 40% off Amicus 2011 upgrade licenses with the purchase of an Annual Technical Support Plan.
  • 50% off Amicus 2011 upgrade licenses with the purchase of an Amicus Maintenance Plan.   

If you have questions about upgrading Amicus 2008 to Amicus 2011, or wish to take advantage of these substantial discounts, please contact your Affinity Consulting Group office.

Microsoft Word Tip of the Month - Basic Paragraph Formatting the Easy Way  MS Word
Lawyers work in words, but they persuade in paragraphs.  Paragraphs, not words or sentences, are the key building blocks in your documents.  Setting the correct formatting for paragraphs need not be a chore involving either the Ribbon or the mouse.  You can use simple keyboard shortcuts to change paragraph formatting.  With your cursor in the paragraph you want to change, use the following key combinations:
  • CTRL+1                  Single Line-Spaced Paragraph
  • CTRL+2                  Double Line-Spaced Paragraph
  • CTRL+L                  Left-Aligned Paragraph
  • CTRL+E                  Centered Paragraph
  • CTRL+R                  Right-Aligned Paragraph
  • CTRL+J                   Fully Justified Paragraph
  • CTRL+M                 Increase Paragraph Indent
  • SHIFT+CTRL+M       Decrease  Paragraph Indent

There are many other keyboard shortcuts to streamline your use of MS Word.  Microsoft maintains a web page with links to keyboard shortcuts to nearly every Microsoft product, including Windows, Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.

Amicus Attorney Affinity Earns Amicus Attorney President's Club Honor
Affinity Consulting Group has once again received the prestigious "President's Club" award from Gavel & Gown, makers of Amicus Attorney practice management software. 
SpeechExec for BlackberryPhilips Announces New Products for
Blackberry, iPhone, & iPad

Following up on its announcement of Dictation for the iPhone and iPad in time for ABA TECHSHOW 2011 in Chicago, Philips Speech announced a new dictation product for the Blackberry (selected models).  All new products allow dictation recorded on these devices to be converted into a form that can be transcribed by Dragon NaturallySpeaking Pro or Legal (Ver. 11) using Philips Speech Exec Enterprise V4.0 or Speech Exec Pro Transcribe V7.0.   

 

Although not intended to replace Philips and Olympus digital recorders used by many attorneys, the new product, offered as a cloud-based service (ASP) by Philips Speech for a reasonable annual fee, allows you to use your iPhone, iPad and Blackberry as a dictation device from any location with cell service.  After the dictation is converted to the industry standard DSS file format, the dictation can be transcribed for immediate correction by any customer PC running the Philips software noted above PLUS Dragon Pro or Legal V11. 

 

For more information on any Philips SpeechExec product, including SpeechExec for Blackberry, iPhone and iPad, contact Affinity consultant Phil Metcalf  

Credenza Affinity Consultants Receive Credenza Certification
Affinity Partner Steven J. Best, Esq., Senior Consultant Art Roehrenbeck, and Consultant Alex G. Macdonald, Esq., are now certified Credenza consultants.  Credenza is subscription-based software that adds practice management capabilities to Microsoft Outlook.  The major shortcoming of using Outlook to manage a law practice has been its inability to organize information based on files or matters rather than contacts.  Credenza adds a Files module to Outlook. You can relate any Outlook item to a file or matter.  This includes contacts, events, tasks, notes and emails.  Credenza also adds modules to Outlook for tracking phone calls and recording time by file or matter.  There is no start-up cost and subscriptions start at $9.95 per month with no commitment. 

 

For more information about Credenza, contact your Affinity Consulting Group office.

Managed IT Services Affinity Offers Managed IT Services
In addition to our expert consulting services in the area of law office software, Affinity Consulting Group offers a full range of Managed IT services.  Small and medium-sized law firms can rarely afford a full-time IT staff.  Let us be your IT staff.

 

For information on the many IT services we can offer your firm, contact your Affinity Consulting Group office. 

GreenGreen Corner - A Comprehensive Guide to a Greener Office
The National Association for Legal Professionals published the Law Office Green Guide - a comprehensive guide to making your office more environmentally friendly.  The 12-page downloadable PDF document contains tips on how to save paper, reduce energy consumption, and avoid unneeded travel.  The tips include:
  • Print drafts on back of previously-used paper.
  • Email copies of letters, pleadings, documents, etc.
    to attorneys and others working on a project in PDF
    format, to be printed out ONLY if necessary. 
  • Place a recycle collection container at each work
    station.
  • Switch out disposable items, like paper plates, plastic
    cups, and plastic cutlery, for durable items such as
    glassware, stoneware, and silverware.
  • Replace cleaning supplies with environmentally safer
    supplies.  A 50/50 hydrogen peroxide/water solution is
    not only environmentally friendly, but also an effective
    disinfectant, as well as highly economical.
  • Try video conferencing instead of traveling to face-to-face meetings.   
Current Versions Current Versions of Law Office Software
Check out our list of the current versions of important law office software we support.  Staying current is an important way to protect your data and documents.

Read the complete Current Versions list.
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