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Visit Our Blog
|  The Affinity Consulting Group Law Office Technology Blog has up-to-date information on hardware, software, and tips for using technology in your practice. Click on the icon above to visit now.
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Greetings!
June is a time for new beginnings. Couples get married and leave single life behind. Students graduate and move on to the next level of education or the world of work. June also begins the summer season when many families relocate to a new home.
This month Affinity Consulting Group has a couple of important new beginnings to announce. First, if you visit our web site, you will see that it is all new. The web site was redesigned and reconfigured to provide better service to you. See the article below for the highlights. Then drop by, check it out, and let us know what you think. In addition to a completely revamped web site for June, we are "rebooting" our convenient and affordable Affinity University on-line classes by offering 16 AU classes this month. As a special bonus, each of the last two classes includes a special give-way. Read the AU article below for details. Another new beginning happens each time you replace a piece of the law office technology on which your office relies. In our feature article this month, Affinity Columbus Partner, Barron K Henley, Esq., tells you how to get the best deal on technology products for your office by effective use of the Internet.
This month's newsletter continues our most popular series of articles presenting tips for Microsoft Word. Also included are the Green Corner column and the Current Versions list, plus a preview of a key feature in the upcoming release of PCLaw version 11.
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 Feature Article - How to Use the Web to Save Money on Tech Purchases
Affinity Partner Barron K. Henley, Esq., is obsessed with saving money on technology purchases. He is also obsessed with finding the right product to meet his (and your) needs. Saving money and finding the right computer, printer, scanner, monitor, smart phone, etc., requires considerable research. But there are ways to make that research efficient and productive. Barron shares his shopping secrets with you in this month's feature article.
Read this month's Feature Article by Barron K. Henley Esq. |
 Affinity University "Rebooted" - 16 Classes in June
Affinity University is the go-to resource for online training on the legal software you and your team use every day. Focusing specifically on real world tips and tricks, our certified experts provide training on popular Practice Management, Time/Billing/Accounting, Document Management, Productivity Software and even Microsoft Office.
To celebrate our new line-up of AU classes, an Apple iPad will be given away to one lucky attendee of the June 27th Outlook Advanced 2010 class. An Android tablet will be given away to one lucky attendee of the June 30th Word 2010 class. We are also celebrating our new partnership with the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA). For all AU classes in June, ALA members attend free. If you are an ALA member, before registering on-line, contact Jennifer Ramovs via email at JRamovs@affinityconsulting.com for the fee waiver promo code. If you would like to join ALA and attend all June AU classes for free, visit the ALA web site. |
 Affinity's New Web Site - Better Design for Better Service
Affinity Consulting Group's new web site is on-line. The new site is more than just a pretty face. It is designed to improve our ability to serve you. For example, if you have arranged for a remote support session with one of our consultants, the link to get started is now at the very top of the web site just to the right of our toll-free telephone number. The Affinity Store has been updated and expanded. You can quickly order and pay for law office technology hardware and software ranging from speech solutions such as the cordless Philips SpeechMike Air and Dragon NaturallySpeaking 11 Legal Edition, payroll solutions from Pensoft , and Mindjet MindManager 9 mind mapping software. There are many other changes and enhancements. Visit our new site, look around, and let us know what you think. |
 Events in June June 1: Affinity Partner Steven J. Best, Esq., speaks to the New York City Paralegal Association on Sanity Software: Making the Case for Case Management and Legal Technology Tips, Tricks, Gadgets and Cool Stuff.
June 2-4: Affinity Partner Britt Lorish speaks at the Indiana State Bar Association's Solo & Small Firm Conference in French Lick, IN. Brit speaks June 3 on Top 10 Technology Mistakes You Cannot Afford to Make!, Suddenly Solo: What You Need to Hitthe Ground Running, and Champagne Technology on a Beer Budget (Technology for Tightwads).
June 3: Affinity Columbus consultant Alex Macdonald presents PCLaw: Time, Billing And Accounting For Lawyers for the Ohio Bar in Columbus.
June 3: Affinity Partner Paul J. Unger, Esq., speaks about Facebook, LinkedIn & Social Networking: Legal Research, Background Checks & Law Firm Marketing for the Ohio Bar in Columbus.
June 10: Affinity Columbus consultant Alex Macdonald presents PCLaw: Time, Billing And Accounting For Lawyers for the Ohio Bar in Cleveland.
June 10: Affinity Partner Paul J. Unger, Esq., speaks about Facebook, LinkedIn & Social Networking: Legal Research, Background Checks & Law Firm Marketing for the Ohio Bar in Columbus. June 14: Affinity Columbus consultant Alex Macdonald presents PCLaw: Time, Billing And Accounting For Lawyers for the Ohio Bar in Perrysburg.
June 14: Affinity Partner Paul J. Unger, Esq., speaks about Facebook, LinkedIn & Social Networking: Legal Research, Background Checks & Law Firm Marketing for the Ohio Bar in Perrysburg. June 17-18: Affinity Partner Barron K. Henley, Esq., speaks on document drafting, e-document discovery, and attracting and keeping clients at the 51st Annual Probate & Estate Planning Institute in Plymouth, MI, sponsored by ICLE and the Probate & Estate Planning Section of the State Bar of Michigan. June 24: Affinity Columbus consultant Alex Macdonald presents PCLaw: Time, Billing And Accounting For Lawyers for the Ohio Bar in Akron.
June 24: Affinity Partner Paul J. Unger, Esq., speaks about Facebook, LinkedIn & Social Networking: Legal Research, Background Checks & Law Firm Marketing for the Ohio Bar in Akron. |
Microsoft Word Tip of the Month - Don't Lose Work to Crashes 
Lawyers and law firm staff members likely spend more time using Microsoft Word than any other application. Word and Windows are both much more stable than they were a decade ago. But even today, crashes are not unheard of. The best protection against lost work is preparation. This month we show you how to prepare for those pesky crashes. Read the Microsoft Word Tip of the Month. Learn even more Word tips by registering to attend our Affinity University Word 2010 Basics and Word 2010 Advanced on-line classes. |
 PCLaw Version 11 Features New Mobility Services
PCLaw's Travel Edition (TE) was useful, but was clearly falling behind the times. It required cable or cradle-based syncing between your computer and your mobile device. With PCLaw v11, there is a new Mobility feature that handles real-time data transfer between your PCLaw database at the office and your Apple iOS device (iPhone or iPad), Android phone, or Blackberry. This feature is included in PCLaw v11 with your Annual Maintenance Plan (AMP) subscription. PCLaw Mobility allows you to capture time and expenses on your phone or tablet in real time. You lose less billable time and are able to respond to your clients more quickly because case information is instantly accessible on your phone or tablet. The system is secure because no data is stored on your phone or tablet. What you see on its screen is a window into your PCLaw database at the office. Shortly after PCLaw v11 is released, users will also be able to access their calendars using their mobile devices. This will include the option to link Outlook to PCLaw and your mobile device. Watch our blog for an announcement concerning the imminent release of PCLaw v11. Learn more about PCLaw v10 and v11 by registering to attend our Affinity University PCLaw Tips and Tricks on-line class. |
 Affinity Offers Managed IT Services
In addition to our expert consulting services in the area of law office software, Affinity Consulting Group offers a fu ll 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.
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 Green Corner - New Processors Save Energy, Boost Performance
Desktop and notebook computers with the second generation of Intel's Core series microprocessors, code-named "Sandy Bridge" are starting to appear on the market. They can be identified by their model numbers. Core i3, i5, and i7 processors with model numbers in the 2000's are the new chips. These second generation Core processors boost performance while also saving energy. One of the ways these processors save energy is by eliminating the separate graphics processor. Sandy Bridge is the first processor line from Intel that combines the CPU and graphics processor on a single chip. These processors are also able to shut down processor cores when they are not needed, also saving energy.
If you are in the market for a new computer, particularly a notebook PC, and want to maximize performance while reducing energy consumption, you will want to seriously consider a second generation Core series "Sandy Bridge" processor. |
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 Current Versions of Law Office Software
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