|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current Versions of Law Office Software
|
Make sure you stay current by checking out the Current Versions list on our web site.
|
|
Spend More Time Enjoying Your Day and Less Time Worrying About Technology
- Technology Audits and Consultations Can Help Streamline Your PracticeIs technology stressing you out? A lot of times, the things we  buy to make our business better - computers, servers, software applications - only end up giving us one more thing to worry about. At Affinity, we are focused on restoring your quality of life - and that means removing the questioning and concern that can come with the ever-evolving world of legal technology. Rather than spend your time trying to sort out a plan for your money and technology, we can help you come up with a plan that is specific for your firm. Regardless of the age of your practice, or if you have broad or specific needs, Affinity has something to help you find the answers you need. Our goal is to work with you to understand where you are, what you need, and then to deliver a plan to you on how to get there.
|
|
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.
|
|
Affinity University - Classes in March
This month's schedule leads off with a blockbuster webinar on Friday, March 9, by Affinity Partner and nationally known word processing trainer Barron K. Henley, Esq. The eternal debate between Word users and WordPerfect stalwarts may never end, but users of each program must learn how to work with documents created in the other program. In this one hour course, Barron will teach you basic tips and tricks for working with both programs, things to consider when converting, and ways to minimize frustration as you toggle between both programs. You won't want to miss this one!
Also this month, the Florida Bar has approved our March 19 two-hour webinar, Time Management for Lawyers, for CLE credit. Debbie Foster and Jennifer M. Ramovs, Esq., will help you improve your productivity.
Join us for:
Play Nice! Working with Word and Word Perfect with Barron K. Henley, Esq. - Friday, March 8, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM EST, $99 Microsoft Outlook 2010 - Contacts and Calendars with Jennifer M. Ramovs, Esq. - Tuesday, March 12, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM EDT, $99 Outlook - Advanced Tips and Tricks - Wednesday, March 13, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM EDT, $99 Word - Mail Merge with John Federico, Esq. - Thursday, March 14, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM EDT, $99 Adobe for Legal Professionals - Monday, March 18, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM EDT, $99 Time Management for Lawyers - Tuesday, March 19, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM EDT, $79 Microsoft OneNote - Monday, March 25, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM EDT, $99 Worldox GX3 Basic Tips and Tricks with Greg Bray - Friday, March 29, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM EDT, $99
|
 iPad/Tablet Safety and Productivity Tips
- by Paul J. Unger, Esq. The Pew Research Center finds that 22% of U.S. adults polled own a tablet, while another 3% regularly use someone else's. Pew attributes the popularity to cheaper tablets released in late 2011. About 68% of tablet owners acquired their tablet within the last year, 32% in 2012 alone. Furthermore, according to Apple, cumulative worldwide sales reached 84 million units as of Sept. 21, 2012. For legal professionals, Android and Windows-based tablets are providing some competition, but the winner is still Apple. The wide selection of legal specific apps for the iPad still cannot be matched by competing Android or Windows tablets. However, with success comes responsibility, and when it comes to lawyers, accountability, security and saving time is extremely important when serving clients. Here are my "best-practice" recommendations and tips to make the most effective and safest use of tablets for lawyers. Read the iPad/Tablet Safety and Productivity Tips article. |
 Upcoming Events & Speaking Engagements March 5 - Legal Technology Show And Tell: Skills To Make E-Practice Painless, Alabama Bar CLE, Montgomery, AL - Steven J. Best, Esq. Register here.
March 11 - Implement Technology Into Your Next Trial, ICLE, Plymouth, MI - Paul J. Unger, Esq. March 12 - Know What You Own: Why you need to invest in a Technology Audit, Free 30 Minute Affinity Consulting Group Webinar. March 22 - 8 Days A Week - Strike A Chord? Tips For Maximizing Your Time & Minimizing Stress, Cincinnati, OH, Barron K. Henley, Esq. March 22 - iPad For Legal Professionals, Concord, NH - Paul J. Unger, Esq. March 27 - iPad Basics for Legal Professionals, Cleveland, OH - Paul J. Unger, Esq. March 27 - iPad Advanced for Legal Professionals, Cleveland, OH - Paul J. Unger, Esq. March 28 - Sanity Software: The Case For Practice Management Software, Columbus, OH - Paul J. Unger, Esq. March 28 - Solo And Small Firm Institute, Albuquerque, NM - Barron K. Henley, Esq. |
|
MacCorner - How to Minimize the Effects of "Apple-Picking"
- by Jeffrey Schoenberger, Mac Specialist/Consultant, Columbus Office 
Over the last few months, big city thieves have developed a new business: "Apple picking." The unsuspecting victim is sitting in a public place using a Macbook or iDevice. A stranger runs up, snatches the device from the user's hands, and escapes in a waiting vehicle. According to a recent MacWorld article, a laptop is stolen every 53 seconds. 97% of stolen laptops are never recovered.
Last month's MacCorner focused on digital security - avoiding viruses and other malware. This month, we will address physical security for your Macs and iDevices.
|
Spring Cleaning for Your Office Technology
- How to Clean Without Doing More Harm Than Good
 Recent cold fronts, storms, and blizzards notwithstanding, spring is almost here. While those in northern climes wait for the snow to melt and southerners seek the passing of that last winter cold snap, it is time to clean the winter dust and crude from your computers and other tech equipment. It may be a myth that a clean car runs better, but it is no myth that a clean computer runs cooler and therefore is less likely to suffer a failure that cost you time, money, and irreplaceable data. A clean scanner is less likely to mishandled paper in its automatic feeder mechanism or leave lines on the canned image.
Spring cleaning of your tech equipment isn't hard, so long as you are careful and follow basic rules for each type of device. This month we will look at cleaning procedures for the most common law office tech items - computer, monitor, scanner, keyboard, and mouse.
Read our Spring Cleaning Guide.
|
 MS Word 2010 Tip of the Month - Two Computers? No Problem!
Many of us regularly use two different computers, such as a desktop at the office and a laptop computer at home or on the road. We may have Word installed on both computers, but due to customizations we made to Word's Ribbons and Quick Access Toolbar on the office PC, for example, the Word user interface on the laptop may be different, causing confusion and reduced productivity. In most cases, you will want to use the same Word settings and preferences on each PC. Fortunately, there is a way to copy your Word Ribbon and Quick Access Toolbar preferences from one computer to the other. In a typical MS Office installation, use Explorer to browse to the folder C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office on the computer that has your customized Word settings. In Word 2010, you will find a file in that folder called Word.OfficeUI. Copy that file and email it to yourself or transfer it to a USB flash drive to move it to the second computer. Then paste the file into the same folder on the second computer. Restart Word and you should be all set.
Don't miss our Working with Word and WordPerfect Side by Side (March 8) and Word - Mail Merge (March 14) AU webinars |
 Turn an iPad Mini into a Lawyer's Productivity Tool Last month we looked at the Android-based Nexus 7 tablet made by Asus for Google and how to make it a productive tool for law practice. That article concluded with the observation that the iPad Mini may be better suited to the task. So this month we will look at the apps and accessories you need to make the iPad Mini a useful productivity companion. |
Dragon NaturallySpeaking 12.5 Update Released
- by Phil Metcalf, Affinity Speech Solutions Specialist
 The Dragon NaturallySpeaking 12.5 update includes new featuresand bug fixes. Dragon 12.5 is available for existing customers as a free service pack downloaded to your computer, and for new customers through a full download or DVD purchase. The system requirements for 12.5 remain the same as for 12 but with added support for recently released software. For further information please contact Phil Metcalf at pmetcalf@affinityconsulting.com or 540.767.7633. Read the details of the Dragon NaturallySpeaking 12.5 update here.
|
|
Affinity and the ALA
|
News Updates
|
Affinity University Live Webinars Qualify for ALA CLM Credit 
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. |
 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 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. |
Green Corner - Avoid Traffic and Save Gas with Waze 
Lawyers are always on the go. Trips to court, depositions, and other meetings are a daily occurrence. When on the road, your enemy is traffic and construction slowdowns. If you frequently travel to the same locations, you may know where traffic backs up or where construction zones are located. But if you are heading somewhere unfamiliar, or if there are backups due to accidents, you could get caught in traffic and waste both time and increasingly expensive gas. Fortunately, if you have a smart phone or a tablet with a cellular data connection, you can use a crowd sourced navigation app like Waze to guide you past traffic and construction backups to your destination. Waze is available for the iPhone, iPad, and Android devices. Waze differs from other navigation and mapping services because of its community-based approach. The app allows users to instantly submit updates to Waze's servers reporting on traffic tie-ups, accidents, and road closures. Those updates then become available to all other Waze users in real-time. Information about traffic speed and routes is also passively uploaded to Waze whenever you drive with the app open, making that information immediately available to other Waze users. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
