Cyber Security Is Becoming A Threat To Small Law Firms

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There were 781 publicized cyber-attacks on various public and private entities in 2015, which was a 38 percent increase from 2014. It is estimated that the average cyber security breach in a corporate network exists within that network for up to 200 days before the attack actually begins. The spotlight on security threats was heightened in 2016 when the Democratic National Committee was hacked and several of its top secret emails were released to the public.

When security threats such as cyber security start to affect larger corporations and government agencies around the world, the inevitable effect is a focus on the security of legal documents. Law firms are not commonly known for their ability to adopt technology.  However, many are starting to realize that taking on security costs to meet the rising demands of clients is the only way to stay in business. For smaller law firms, it could mean closing their doors for good.

Cyber Security Is An Issue In Many Law Firms

When the Panamanian law firm of Mossack Fonseca and Company had a leak of 11.5 million formerly confidential Panama paperslegal documents, legal clients all over the world started asking more questions about the way their law firms handle cyber security. In the past, law firms could brush aside client concerns about security threats with various promises to handle the issues as they arise. But these days, clients are starting to have security audits of their law firms and many firms are scrambling to become compliant with their clients’ needs.

One of the biggest problems for law firms of all sizes is that they have rules of ethics and issues with document handling that other professions do not have. A massive leak of legal documents, such as the one experienced by Mossack Fonseca and Company, could be severely damaging to clients. The standard services and products available are not easy to conform to the needs of legal firms, and that is a problem.

Smaller Firms Are Struggling The Most

Most of the solutions created to help law firms with cyber security issues are geared towards large and medium-sized firms. In many cases, these services cannot be scaled down to help smaller firms, which puts smaller firms in a very dangerous situation. With client requirements regarding security escalating, smaller firms are finding it difficult to meet those requirements in a cost-efficient manner.

For smaller law firms, the best solution to cyber security issues is to hire a security expert and give that expert the budget they need to secure all of the firm’s legal documents. This means investing in additional software, hardware, and expert personnel that will put a strain on the bottom line of any small law firm. Security costs associated with cyber issues are escalating, and the in-house solution that would best serve smaller firms is turning out to be extremely expensive.

 Moving Forward With Security As A Small FirmCyber attack loading

As the issue of cyber security becomes more prevalent in the legal field, smaller firms are finding that being behind the times is not working to their advantage. With clients asking for full security audits and making decisions on whether or not to go with a firm based on those audits, many smaller firms are finding that they have to spend a lot of money now in order to be in business later.

The inability to properly plan for security costs is one of the biggest issues smaller firms are facing. As more and more security breaches are made public, law clients are going to continue to raise the bar on cyber security. Smaller firms that have neglected securing their network for years will suddenly find themselves needing to make difficult decisions, and quickly.

There may come a time very soon where the legal world is faced with government regulated security requirements, such as those found in the healthcare field. In order to be able to maintain those potential security costs and take care of current security threats, smaller firms are going to have to start planning now to upgrade their security and possibly take on a whole new cyber security department.

A Guide To Mobile Lawyering

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For years, traveling from one place to another has been an essential component of the lives of many lawyers. In fact, mobility is essential to the manner in which many firms work with their clients. In the past,  this often involved carting about heavy briefcases full of important documents, but with the help of technology the process of mobile lawyering has been made easier than ever. As many firms have made the transition to a paperless office, client information and important files are available electronically, making them readily accessible on the go.hand holding a smartphone

Laptop: This is perhaps the most important tool for mobile lawyering. As you don’t want to have too many heavy objects weighing you down, it’s advisable to find a laptop that is lightweight and small, with powerful features and a large capacity for storage. If you find an effective laptop that suits your needs, it can even replace your desktop computer, saving time and space. Whether you prefer Mac or Windows, there are suitable options for both.

Smartphone: While smartphone use amongst the general public is quite common, mobile devices can be particularly helpful for lawyers on the go. In scenarios where a laptop isn’t required, smartphones allow you to perform basic functions such as checking and sending emails. Furthermore, there are hundreds of time-saving mobile applications made specifically for lawyers. You can see our full list of the Best Mobile Apps For Lawyers to find out which apps you should be using on a regular basis.

Word Processor: Laptops are an obvious and simple choice for fulfilling word processing needs. For small amounts of information, the notepad of a smartphone can be well suited for the documentation of information. Another option is buying a digital recording device for dictation, and sending the recording to a service that will convert it into a document for you.

Internet Access: Depending on where your meeting will take place, there may or may not be available wifi. An aircard is a wireless broadband modem that allows you to convert cellular data to wifi for your laptop. Investing in an aircard is a good way to ensure you have internet access wherever you go. Also, many cellphones allow you to set up a wireless hotspot, which will provide you with wifi access almost anywhere.

Storage: Having an external storage device promotes redundancy, and equates to a greater deal of information available on the go. This can mean an external hard drive, or even just storing information on the cloud.

Printing: Although at times this is unnecessary, some attorneys bring a small, portable printer along to meetings and other out of office engagements. Many portable printers are wireless, making them easier to transport. Furthermore, some have scanning capabilities, which can be helpful in converting a hardcopy into an electronic file even when away from the office.

For many, lawyering on the go is not a preference, but a necessity. If you invest in the proper tools, tending to business on the go can be done with considerable ease.

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5 Time Saving Apps For Lawyers

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Regardless of their chosen field of practice, lawyers are always on the go, and they have very little time left over to keep track of everything they have to do. Fortunately, we live in a day and age in which smart phones, tablets, and computers can do the heavy lifting for them, allowing them to save time and effort while becoming more organized and efficient. With the right apps and software, a busy lawyer can get access a wondrous world of information that will help make his or her job easier, less time consuming, and less stressful. Read on to find a list of our five favorite apps to help lawyers save some much needed time.

Our Top 5

  • SpeakWrite – As one of the most effective note taking and dictation apps available, SpeakWrite can be used to transcribe whatever you say in an incredibly efficient manner, allowing you the ability to multitask and focus on other important activities as you redact emails, notes, and schedule appointments in an easy and hands free manner.
  • iJuror – Jury selection can be a complicated affair, especially with the large amount of information a lawyer has to keep track of. To assist in this task, iJuror allows an attorney to take notes that help in the monitoring process of jury selection. It has a capacity for up to 96 jurors at a single time, lending a versatility and practicality few apps can provide. As if this weren´t enough, it incorporates a sharing feature that allows for colleagues to add their two cents, making for an efficient way to keep track of which jurors would be most favorable to the case at hand.
  • The Deponent – Depositions are time consuming and can become tedious and tiring, but they can be made easier with the help of The Deponent, an app that includes 300 different questions that can be used by attorneys during any deposition. Additionally, lawyers can add their own questions, as well as PDF files and Word documents, which allows them to manage the details of a deposition with ease. To make matters better, it also integrates Dropbox and Box.net, which makes The Deponent one of the best apps for lawyers on the market today.
  • LawBox – Nothing can help attorneys save time like having a reference service right at their fingertips, and that is exactly what LawBox is all about. As one of the most complete reference apps available, LawBox will grant you access to a large number of legal codes from various jurisdictions across the United States, together with everything you need to know about procedure in different areas, making it a must have for lawyers around the country.
  • Fastcase – A favorite of lawyers all over, Fastcase is an app that allows the user to access one of the largest online law libraries around. This comes in especially handy when research or a quick reference are required during a negotiation or an argumentation. Fastcase is so versatile it includes a voice search function, as well as the use of keywords, making it an easy to use, time saving app all attorneys should have. The best part is that it can be used on both Android and iOS platforms, covering the complete spectrum of mobile devices.

It’s Only The Beginning

While these are not the only apps available that have the ability to help a lawyer save time and become more efficient, they are the ones that have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that they can assist an attorney in the most effective way. Efficiency is an important element in a successful lawyer’s career, and with the use of these amazing tools you can become more efficient and save time that will better serve other, more important, endeavors.

Time Saving Software For Lawyers

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Software For LawyersIf you are an attorney, you are more than likely a very busy person and you do not want to be spending a lot of time doing things like needless billing and other administrative things on a daily basis. Sure, you can hire an assistant or secretary to do a lot of these kinds of things for you but there there are many different kinds of software that you can buy to help you with your productivity and help you save your valuable time.

Introduction To PerfectLaw

The technology of these kinds of software can dramatically improve the efficiency, productivity and bottom line of your firm. One of the software programs that can be used is PerfectLaw. It is an all in one software that attorney’s and/or the entire law firm can use.

You can share the software program with everyone in your firm which can eliminate double entry. It can help you monitor, analyze and control your firm’s operations by giving you greater insight than ever. It has effective training tools in it such as video lectures by industry experts and interactive Q & A sessions. You can also use it to scan and store all of your documents.

Keeping all of your files organized is very important for a successful law firm. You can use PerfectLaw to provide instant access to your on-line files and help keep your digital desktops well organized. You can organize all of your case information, including dockets, contacts, documents, and more into icons for quick and easy reference. All shared cases can be put into one database for ease of access for everyone.

All of the billing and accounting procedures can be a big pain but it does not have to be this way. You can use this program and work completely on-line and go completely paperless. All of your bills, reports, vendor invoices, and client checks will be at your fingertips in a moment’s notice. Using PerfectLaw will keep you from having to look for certain documents in multiple places.

The use of PerfectLaw can also help you with many of your IT needs. Your document management will be much easily accessed. You can easily use the search engine to help you search for documents. It is integrated with databases through major state law publishers such as Lexis-Nexis and Thompson West. You can also  download portions of the software onto your iPad and/or iPhone. It is also run on the Microsoft platform (which is the industry standard).

Law Firm Technology Find What Works Best For You

At KLW we believe in utilizing the best possible technology for our industry. We highly encourage choosing software programs that suit your law firm.There are so many different software programs that you can choose from. You need to look into each program and see if it meets the needs of your firm. Many of the programs can be configured to suit your firm’s needs. If you find a program that you like, you do not have to buy the entire suite of programs; you can purchase just the parts that you think will benefit you and your firm.

Top 5 Exercises To Do In The Office

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Top 5 exercises to do in the officeSitting in a cubicle eight or more hours a day for five days a week can really take a toll on your body. Our bodies are meant to move, not be stationary, which is happening to most of our population. People are finding it harder to take time out of their busy schedules to workout and improve their state of well-being. Many of us say it is because of our late night hours in the office, we are exhausted after working all day, or by the time we get to the gym we do not have enough time to complete our workout. However, sitting all day and not keeping our bodies active will really put a damper on our health. Staying active can improve our health, giving us improved productivity during the day. Since many people say that they do not have time to exercise, here are the top 5 exercises we recommend doing in the office.


Lower Back Stretch

Sit tall at the edge of your chair and put your left arm behind your left hip. Twist gently to left and hold for 20-30 seconds. Repeat on the right side to even out the exercise. Doing this stretch will enhance your flexibility and muscle strength, and ultimately improving your core strength.

Walking Around the Office

Although many people forget to get up and walk around during work, it is one activity that will benefit your body. Try to get up every half hour or hour to take a walk down your office hallways, talk to your co-workers, deliver a message instead of writing an e-mail or even if you need just get up and stretch those legs. You will get the blood pumping and your muscles will continue to stay strong, not to mention burn some calories! Walking is one of the most underrated forms of exercises, yet will produce the same benefits as another exercise.

Chair Squats

Do you hate sitting in your computer chair all day, and are just aching for the need to get up? Well doing chair squats will be the perfect work environment exercise for you to do! Doing squats improves your core, thighs and glute muscles. All you need to do is stand in front of your chair with your feet shoulder width apart. Place your hands on your hips, then squat down towards your office chair as if you were about to sit. Instead of sitting, stop just before you touch the chair and come back to a standing position. We recommend doing 20 repetitions before sitting and working again, but always do as much as you like! If you would like to challenge yourself, try doing the squats with one leg! You will build up your leg muscles without having to use a leg press machine at the gym!

Desk Push Ups

With this office exercise you do not have to worry about getting onto the floor to do push ups, plus we don’t want you to mess up your business suit! Take five or ten minutes out of your day to strengthen your upper-body, especially your biceps and triceps. Standing about a yard away from your desk, and your feet together, slowly do a push up. Aim to do at least 20 repetitions, then gradually increase the amount you do in a set. If you need to, do ten at a time and take a minute break before you finish the rest. Always remember to exhale on the way up and not the way down! Try to get the whole office involved to see how many each employee can do at the beginning of the month and then how much they improved at the end of the month!

Tricep Desk Dips

Going off working your biceps with the desk push up exercise, try doing the reverse tricep dip. This will shape the back of your arms, leaving you with toned arms for any season (ladies this is great when you wear short sleeves to the office!). It is very simple to do, just face away from your desk, putting your palms on the edge. Dip down a few inches until your elbows are bent at a 90 degree angle and then push yourself back up. Soon you will have killer arms just from your desk!

If you find that you do not have time to go to a gym for a workout, these exercises will sure help. Try to take time out of your day to do one or all five of the exercises a day and see if their is an improvement to your body. The office might not be the first place you think of when working out comes to mind, but it sure is a place that it can be accomplished.