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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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Tech for Which We are Thankful
2013 is soon drawing to a close. Everyone reading this newsletter has reason to be thankful. We are, after all, still here. Given the trials of everyday living, not to mention the economic pressures on small businesses such as law firms, survival can no longer be taken for granted.
Beyond survival, we want to prosper and enjoy life and career. While technology can be frustrating when it doesn't work right, it can be liberating when it does. Each of us has at least one tech service or product on which we rely to make our lives more productive and enjoyable. This month we asked our consultants and non-consulting staff to nominate the technology product or service for which they are most grateful. This month's feature story will highlight some of those selections.
A law firm's prosperity, indeed survival, often depends on its ability to accurately and completely capture time, generate bills, and keep track of its general and trust accounts. One of the best ways to do that is with PCLaw. If you use PCLaw or are interesting in implementing this high-value software that not only does time/billing/accounting, but can also handle other practice management tasks, this is your last chance to sign up for the live two-day PCLaw Training in New York City on November 13 and 14. Registration closes at the end of business this Friday, November 1.
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Live in New York City - PCLaw Training Nov. 13 & 14
- Registration Closes This Friday, November 1
 Our PCLaw two-day User Training class will help maximize the use of your firm's time, billing and accounting software. The instructor, Affinity Partner Steven J. Best, Esq., will detail everything from PCLaw's basic features to tips and tricks that you will use daily. Existing users will have the opportunity to enhance their PCLaw skills and new users will get an excellent overview to begin using the software. Regardless of what version you are currently using, this class is sure to help you make the best use of PCLaw.
 This workshop is designed for the mid-level beginner to intermediate user of PCLaw. We will use PCLaw version 13 during this course, but users of version 8-12 will also find great benefit. Laptop computers are NOT provided at this workshop, but you may bring your own. Instruction is done with an overhead projector and a special and unique PCLaw manual written by your instructor.
For details and to register, click here. Don't delay!
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HotDocs Document Assembly Boot Camp
- For Estates & Trusts Lawyers, Columbus OH, December 2&3
 Why Document Assembly: There is no more powerful tool for Estates & Trusts lawyers than document assembly technology. Imagine generating your entire set of documents for a client in just minutes while achieving higher accuracy than ever before. By using a flat fee billing approach for such transactions, you will dramatically improve profitability while providing better, faster service for your clients.
What Is HotDocs: HotDocs is the preeminent document assembly software that integrates with both Word and WordPerfect. It is a tool which allows you to automate your own documents using your own language.
Who Should Attend: Any lawyer or legal support staff person who wants to acquire as much trusts & estates document assembly knowledge as possible in two days. What You Need to Bring: The class will be hands-on. You will need the following:
- A laptop which runs Windows (XP, Vista, 7 or 8). It can be a Mac, but you must have Windows running via Boot Camp or some other method because HotDocs is Windows-only. If you don't have a Windows laptop, you can rent one from us for $35/day.
- Word (version 2003 or more current) or WordPerfect (version 12 or more current)
- HotDocs Professional versions 2006, 2007, 2008 or 2009, or HotDocs Developer versions 10 or 11. (If you don't currently own HotDocs, you can download a 30 day free trial of HotDocs Developer the day before the Boot Camp and you'll have plenty of time to make an informed purchase decision.
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| Events & Speaking Engagements in November
November 19 - Free Webinar - The Case for Practice Management: Why Outlook is Not Enough (see article below for details).
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| Free Webinar - The Case for Practice Management
- Why Outlook is Not Enough
 Outlook is a powerful program for contact management and calendaring. However, it falls short of being true Practice Management. In this 45 minute webinar presented in cooperation with Gavel & Gown, makers of Amicus Attorney, we'll cover some of the main reasons that firms should not rely on Outlook for their Practice Management needs. From conflict searches to understanding the client and matter-centric organization of a law firm, true Practice Management programs, like Amicus Attorney, give legal professionals the tools they need to maximize efficiency and profitability. Join us on Tuesday, November 19, 2013, at 2 p.m. EST for this FREE WEBINAR. To register, click HERE. |
Dangerous "Ransomware" Malware - Cryptolocker
A special type of computer virus or malware known as ransomware has hit many users recently. Ransomware is not new, but this new variant, called Cryptolocker, is particularly troublesome.
Click here for tips on how to avoid Cryptolocker and precautions you can take to minimize the damage if your computer is infected by this dangerous malware. |
MacCorner - MILOfest 2013
- Jeffrey R. Schoenberger, Esq., Mac Specialist/Consultant, Columbus Office 
MILO stands for Macs in the Law Office. MILOfest is the annual conference for Mac-lovin' lawyers and their families. It focuses on the use of Macs, iPhones, iPads and anything else bearing an Apple logo to assist in the practice of law. This year's conference was in Orlando.
MILOfest, which I mentioned in the August MacCorner column, was a fun and festive opportunity to meet with fellow Mac-using attorneys and learn some new tips, tricks, and software. I thought an excellent article would be to recap some of the cool things from the conference and encourage you to mark your calendars for next October.
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Affinity University - Our First Course Designed for MAC Users Returns this Month!
Affinity University is excited to offer our first course designed specifically for MAC users. Join Affinity Consulting Group's Jeffrey R. Schoenberger, Esq., for a five-part series on Word 2011 for MAC returning for a second engagement starting November 6.
This series will cover Word - Basics, Word - Introduction to Styles, Word - Share and Compare, Word - Forms and Templates, and Word - Mail Merge.
Classes are one hour, are held once per week, and are conducted via live webinar. Register here.
Bonus! When the last class in the series ends, attendees will be provided with a link to watch the recorded training, accessible for 6 months!"
Don't forget our on-demand AU webinars offering basic and advance classes on leading law office software packages including MS Office, Adobe Acrobat, Amicus Attorney, Tabs3, Worldox, PCLaw, and Dragon NaturallySpeaking along with classes showing you how to use important productivity devices such as ScanSnap scanners and the iPad.
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 Tablet Market for Lawyers Heats Up
- Updated Products Improve Choices
Things suddenly got a lot more interesting for lawyers shopping for a tablet device for productivity use. We are not talking about content consumption devices like the new Kindle Fire HDX or even the Google Nexus 7, currently the top-rated Android tablet. Instead, we are talking about tablets that can actually be used to make money in a law practice.
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 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. |
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