Are Smartphones Confidentiality Risks for Lawyers?
Jared Correia of LOMAP posted some important factors attorneys should consider in response to a question he frequently gets: Should solos use a smartphone as their primary telephone? He pointed out a number of concerns that the lawyer should address, including the ability to “wipe” a lost or stolen phone, and Plan B for practical issues such as dead zones and dead batteries, for a mobile lawyer.
I would like to add another security issue that should be taken into account. All lawyers, including those who also have a regular land line at the office, should give some thought to this. More and more issues are surfacing about apps having unexpected access to data stored on or transmitted by smartphones. Today the Washington Post reported that “Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has called on the FTC to investigate Apple and Google after reports that smartphone and tablet apps could pick up more data from consumer’s phones than they realize.”
Last fall HTC Android phones were reported to have security flaws that would expose access through some apps to email addresses, call logs, GPS information and other data on the smartphones. Gizmodo posted a video showing hidden spyware on Android and Apple smartphones that Read more
Post Date: March 7, 2012
UH Practice Skills Class on Technology
On April 10th, 2012, from 10:30am-12:00pm, Debra will be speaking to the UH practice skills class on technology.
Debra will discuss technology in the practice of law.
For more information contact: Luke J. Gillam: lgilman@jw.com
Post Date: February 28, 2012
Are Lawyers Acting Like Elderly Aunts?
A few months ago my 81 year old aunt asked me to help her with emails on her laptop. She had finally succumbed to years of pressure from family members to get a computer. Now she could be included more in the family conversations and picture swapping. She could easily keep in touch with loved ones across the country. But she still wasn’t using her laptop.
When I sat down with her, I discovered two main problems. First, she didn’t really understand some very basic concepts, like how the mouse worked. She had trouble remembering that she needed to point and click. Second, the interface was unfriendly to an elderly person. She couldn’t keep up with where the mouse pointed, and kept losing the cursor when it zipped across the screen. With a few adjustments, I slowed down the reactivity of her mouse and made the cursor bigger and bolder so her old eyes could keep up with it. Then I “co-piloted” with her as she sent some emails, gently reminding her what to do, until she had enough practice to fly on her own.
Now that her confusion has been reduced, she has taken an active interest in reading and sending emails. She’s progressing, but her emails still look like they were typed by a drunk. She has a long way to go to catch up.
Lawyers or Little Old Ladies
If lawyers in your firm keep resisting technology, soon they will be like my aunt… Read more
Post Date: February 23, 2012
Using Virtual Paralegals: Frequently Asked Questions
by Cathy Ribble
This month I want to discuss the most frequent questions I receive as a virtual paralegal. Questions come from many different directions: attorneys considering a virtual paralegal relationship, paralegals interested in working virtually, and curious lay people. Ironically, for the most part, the same questions come from each group. Read more
Post Date: February 16, 2012