Current Versions list on our web site.

Choose from on-demand courses in Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint as well as Amicus Attorney, PCLaw, Time Matters, PracticeMaster, Tabs3, Worldox, Dragon NaturallySpeaking, Fujitsu ScanSnap Scanners, Adobe Acrobat, and the popular iPad for Legal Professionals.

 

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December 12, 1 p.m. - Time Management for Lawyers with Debbie Foster and Jennifer M. Ramovs.

If you plan is to install a shiny new operating system on your Windows PC this holiday season, we suggest you hold off - at least until you check with us.  Many of the mission-critical law office applications we support are not yet certified by their respective vendors to work with Windows 8.  The last thing you need at year-end are glitches in your time/billing/accounting or practice management software due to a premature operating system upgrade. 

By most accounts, Windows 8 is notable technological achievement.  Our consultants testing Windows 8 agree that It boots more quickly and runs faster than Windows 7 on the same hardware.  However, it looks and works in ways that even Windows 7 "experts" are not able to immediately grasp.  Most importantly, complex law office software depends on certain code in the operating system.  If that operating system code changes, the software may not work properly.  There will be a time when we can recommend Windows 8 for your law firm, but we are not there yet. 

 

What if you need a new computer NOW and Windows 8 is the standard operating system offered on every desktop or notebook PC you find on the shelf at Best Buy, Office Depot, Staples, etc.?  There is no reason to buy "off-the-shelf" computers for your law firm.  Pre-configured computers at big box stores are not usually the best choice for the tasks you need your computer to perform in a law office setting.  For example, few will have the "Professional" version of Windows with networking and security features needed by any business operation.  A custom-configured PC can be ordered from several major computer makers with Windows 7 Professional pre-installed along with the right to upgrade to Windows 8 when you are ready.  

 

If you have questions about buying a new computer, contact us and we can custom configure a system for you based on your specific needs.  For more information about the Windows 8 upgrade process, watch the Affinity blog over the next few days for a post by John A. Federico, Esq., on this topic.

Is your firm stressed out trying to compile your holiday card lists? It shouldn't take so long that it becomes a Valentine's Day list.  There is no reason to devote hours of staff time to this task while your are also addressing critical year-end issues. 

Instead, let Affinity help you easily export and format your holiday card lists into easy to manage labels or files available for upload. Whether you're mailing out holiday cards, sending e-cards or the like, we can quickly and easily help you gather your holiday card mailing lists. Whether you use Tabs3, PCLaw, Practice Master, Amicus Attorney, Time Matters, or just good ol' Outlook - we will produce quality labels or e-mail lists for your holiday greetings to your customers and vendors.

For help with your holiday card lists, contact your Affinity Consulting Group office today.

The legal technology world is increasingly operating system agnostic. There was a time when law firms used only Windows PC's. Today, from observing our own clients, law students about to graduate, and our own consulting staff, it is clear that Apple products have made inroads into the legal technology area.  

 

In order to better serve our Apple-using clients, and those who may be considering a Mac, iPad, or iPhone, we are pleased to welcome Jeffery Schoenberger. Jeffrey 

 

 

For Affinity, Jeffrey specializes in Apple, Mac, iDevice, and document automatic projects.  Jeffrey can be reached at jschoenberger@affinityconsulting.com, or on Twitter or App.net @jrsch. Read the inaugural installment of Jeffrey's MacCorner monthly article below.

  

If your are interested in using Apple's iPad in your law practice, view our on-demand iPad for Legal Professionals class for just $20 this month only using promo code Holiday2012. 

December 3 - Technology Ethics, Professionalism and Substance Abuse, Columbus, OH and Live Simulcast to Akron and Perrysburg, OH - Paul J. Unger, Esq., and Barron K. Henley, Esq.

December 7 - iPad for Legal Professionals, Philadelphia, PA - Paul J. Unger, Esq.

December 17 - OSBA Cleveland Legal Technology Conference, Cleveland, OH - Debbie C. Foster, Barron K. Henley, Esq., Paul J. Unger, Esq., and Jennifer M. Ramovs, Esq. (See detailed article above).

December 18 - Legal Technology Show & Tell, Montgomery, AL - Steven J. Best, Esq.

December 20-21 - OSBA Legal Technology Conference for Solo and Small Firm Practitioners, Dublin, OH - Debbie C. Foster, Barron K. Henley, Esq., and Paul J. Unger, Esq. (See detailed article above).

Admittedly, these tips are not something you will use year-round.  But it is the holiday season, so let's have some fun!  Microsoft Word is an incredibly full-featured program.  It can do many things to make your law firm more productive and profitable.  It can also help you create holiday letters and cards with a bit of flair. 

An often overlook source for Word tips is Microsoft itself.  Microsoft's web site offers a selection of Word borders, clip art, and other media.  Microsoft also offers a wide selection of free downloadable holiday Word templates (including the template pictured to the right).  These include party invitations, gift certificates, gift tags, letters to Santa, and, of course, Christmas cards. 

So go ahead, have some fun with Word for a change.  In January we will get back to our regular Word productivity tips.

And don't forget to take advantage of our huge discount on our on-demand Affinity University classes this month including Word Basics, Word Advanced, and Word Share and Compare by Affinity Partner Barron K. Henley, Esq.  Each class is only $20 this month with promo code Holiday2012.

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 Affinity serve as your IT staff - we can manage your technology resources for you and correct any problems, often before you know anything is wrong.
 

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

Whether you are in the process of applying or re-certifying to become a Certified Legal Manager (CLM), Affinity University Live Webinars are a great way to get relevant training on the software you use every day. And the best part is - you get CLM credit.

New Applicants may use any Live Webinar toward their Information Technology education requirement, and CLMs going through recertification can use any Live Webinar toward their Operations Management education requirement.

 

And remember, ALA members receive a 25% discount on all AU courses. Contact Jennifer M. Ramovs, Esq., our Director of Education, to find out how. 

 
Whether your are decorating your office or your home, traditional incandescent holiday lights can add significantly to December's electric bill.  Just as you can save money in your office by switching to higher-tech light bulbs such as compact fluorescent or LED bulbs, you can save on holiday lighting with a technology upgrade to LED bulbs. 

There will be an upfront investment in purchasing LED holiday lights.  However, if you are like most of us, half of last year's incandescent light strings that worked when you put them away will not work when you take them out this year.  Purchasing new strings of lights is more necessity than option - so why not purchase more efficient lighting that also has the benefit of lasting years longer?

Traditional incandescent C9s use about 8-9 watts each; C7s use about 6-7 watts each; and mini lights are usually between .5 and 1 watt each.  Compare that with LEDs that typically use between .05 and .07 watts each.  That means a LED bulb uses only one-tenth the electricity of an incandescent mini light while projecting more light.  The energy savings over a larger C9 or C7 are in the range of 100 fold.  Add to the joy of the season with savings on your electricity bill by switching to LED holiday lights when your decorate your office or home.